THE WORST RAID TO DATE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 115, 1 February 1918, Page 5

THE WORST RAID TO DATE

BOMB HITS CROWDED SHELTER HEAVY CASUALTY LIST DREADFUL SCENES WITNESSED London, January 30. ■ The raid on London was one of the worst yet experienced. A bomb dropped on a large establishment used as a raid shelter in a thickly-populated district. There is no oxact estimate of the number of persons sheltering in it; the figures vary from three hundred to a thousand.' The staff states that the building was capable of holding a thousand people, and was crowded. Firemen who assisted to remove tho bodies declare that the- brigade removed about twenty-live during the night, and it is believed that thirteen others have sinco been recovered. Tho big brick building looks us if it was cut is half by a Hugo guillotine, tho Ulterior walls and doors thon collapsing. Tho police and fire brigade assert that it is impossible even yet to givo a reliable estimate of tho number of deaths, but it is certain thai tho majority were women and children. None of tho survivors seem able to give a coherent account oT tho torriblo events. The ensuing sceno was one of indoscribablo horror. Fire gave tho last touch. The basem'ent was a raging inferno within a few minutes. Tho brigade, police, soldiers, and civilians did what men could to rescue tho survivors, but many were injured and must liavo perished in tho ilames. Tho building was-soon aflame from top to bottom. Daybreak found it a smoking ruin. About a hundred employees wero working whon the alarm was given, and assisted those who were seeking shelter to reach the basement, and then tended those who needed attention during the raid. Many of those employees were among tho casualties. Many people had left the shelter during a lull in tho barrage, and flocked back when the resumption of gunfire announced that the air attack had been renowed. The bomb dropped almost immediately. -Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE OFFJaAL~KbTORT IUIDMS TURNED BACK BY THE BARRAGE. London, January 30. Following is the official report on thu latest air raid on London:—About liftocn Jiostilo aeroplanes delivered a number of attacks against London, but none penetrated tho capital. Ona group crossed the Isle of Thanet and proceeded towards London, but it was turned back by gunfire. Simultaneously three or four machines crossed the Essex coast/ but failed to penetrate the outer defences of tho city. A single aeroplane later passed round the north and west of London, aud dropped -bombs in tho south-eastern outskirts, while at the same time another bombed the districts north-east of London, whero no damage was done. There were no casualties. Later other enemy aircraft were turned back by gunfire between London and the Kent and Essox coasts. Three or four German aeroplanes engaged in a final attack between 11.30 and midnight, hut wore equally unsuccessful. There wore a few casualties in the south-western outskirts of the city. Our aeroplanes engaged the enomy machines. All our machines returned safely.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF THE casualties; (Rec. January 31, 10 p.m.) London, January 30. The Press Bureau states: "Three were killed and 10 injured in last night's air raid. It is feared that six other bodies are buried under the wreckage of a house."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.Reuter. THE GERMAN REPORT. (Rec. January 31, 10 p.m.) London, January 30. A German official report states: "Our aviators successfully bombed London, Southeud, Dunkirk and Calais."—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. LESSONS OF THE RAIDS LONDON DEFENCES PROVED TO BE EFFICIENT. London, January 30. Tuesday night's raid proved that London is increasingly difficult to approach. Tho Gothas attempted to pierce the fierce barrage, but most of the gunfire was distant, showing that the enemy was worsted. Finally tho Germans were forced to accept the inevitable and fly out to sea.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assir.