LIKE A SUMMER THUNDERSTORM

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 101, 22 January 1918, Page 6

LIKE A SUMMER THUNDERSTORM

AN AIR RAID IN LONDON. Describing an air raid, on London, Mr- Frank W, Getty, writing m the i\ew lurk "Tribune," says: "Like a summer thuiidersto-m an air raid comes. upon London, lhero is a distant rumuling ol co>ist B4 ns > with occasional Hashes of light just over the horizon, i'eoplfc in the streets begin scurrying for shelter. Those far from home have to decide whethei to risk a dash for it or take cover m the nearest builddng,. 'In a short while shrapnel, like the light drops of rain that precede a violent storm, begins to patter down. Hie last tew stragglers get under cover, and with a suddenness that startles the storm "A great white flash of light, followed by the terrific crash of a bomb. Then a thundering roar as dozens ot guns blazo forth.. The noise reverberates through the sky and rumbles along the deserted streets. Rlcctno lightc wink and blink and sometimes go out. Shutters rattle and window panes shake with the concussion. Shrapnel pelts down in a veritable shower, punctuated now and then with a nioro brilliant flash and the deeper, crash of explosives. It is the noise that frightens most people. The deafening detonations as the aerial battle reaches its height overhead set people shivering and treinbliiig in their basements or hastily improvised dugouts on the ground iloor. If one stays under cover there is no danger from the rain of shrapnel, and only an infinitiaemal chance of being struck by the lightning of a, bomb. . "Gi'.'dually the battle of noises drifts off to the eastward and out over the sea. Shrapnel no longer falls, and the lightning strikes further and further away each time. One can count the seconds between the Hashes and the rumble which follows. Windows go up and heads are thrust out. Everyone is asking his neighbour: "Did they strike near here 5 Is it all over?" ' Traffic is resumed in the streets.' The stars como out from behind the haze of smoke. The moon bathes the cuy in peaceful radiance. It raighi have been only a thunderstorm after all.