SURPRISE ATTACK ON LONDON

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 147, 11 March 1918, Page 5

SURPRISE ATTACK ON LONDON

ENEMY 'PLANES CHOOSE A MOONLESS NIGHT HELPED BY THE AURORA BOREALIS London, March 8. The Press Bureau reports:—"Enemy aeroplanes crossed the East Coa6fc at eleven o'clock on Thursday evening, : and proceeded towards London. The ' j raid is in progress."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable ' Assn.-Reuter. i A NEW DEPARTURE. j London, March-8. ' . Last night's air raid surprised London, marking- a new enemy departure ; in utilising aeroplanes on a moonless '1 night.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. , FURTHER OFFICIAL DETAILS. (Rec. March 10, 5.5 p.m.) London, March 8. The Press Bureau states: —"Seven or eight aeroplanes carried out last night's raid. Two bombed London. The first two raiders, following the Thames, were turned back before they reached tho capital. A third crossed the Esses coast, and bombed the south-west and north-west districts of London. A fourth crossed Essex, dropped bombs in tho north of London, and proceeded : south across the capital. After dropping their remaining bombs in tho ; northern districts, the rest- of:the ma- . chines turned back. Some damage was done to property, several bouses being demolished."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.Reuter. i AN "AURORA BOREALIS" RAID. (Rec. March 10, 5.5 p.m.) London, March 9. The raid was designated tho "Aurora Borealis" raid. The .glow in the northern sky gavo a light' resembling summer, and ample to enable the aviators to steer across the North Sea. Bands of red and whito light illuminated tho water, though only the northern glow was visible in London. The raid lasted until 3 o'clock in the morning. Though it was a great surprise to the public, tho remarkable barrage and speed of tho British airmen who went aloft showed that the authorities had not been taken unaivanu.—Aus.N.Z. Cablo Aasu. THE CASUALTIES. (Rec. March 10, 5.5 p.m.) London, March 8. Eleven people wore killed and fortysix injured as the result of last night's raid. It is feared that six others are still under buried wreckage.—Router. raid"o¥paris (Rec. March 10, 5.5 p.m.) London, March 9. A French official report states :— "Several enemy air squadrons raided Paris last night. Details are. lacking, but it is believed' that the casualties were fewer than from tho last raid." — Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. (Rec. March 10, 11.25 p.m.) '' London, March 10. A French official report states:—"Between ten and twelve squadrons participated in the air raid on Paris. They were hotly received by our anti-aircraft batteries and sixty-aeroplanes. Nine ■ inhabitants were* killed : and thirty-nine wero wounded. Ono Gotha was.brought down in Compiegtie.'- •' Four Germans on board were incinerated when found. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. LATEST OFFICIAL CASUALTIES. (Itec. March 11, 0.25 a.m.) London, March 10. A French official report states: "It is now reported that cloven people wero killed and forty-one injured in Paris and the suburbs as the result of tho air raid.—Aus.-N:Z. Cable- Assn.Reuter.