GERMAN BOMBARDMENT OF ENGLISH COAST.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 16, 26 February 1915, Page 4 (Supplement)

GERMAN BOMBARDMENT OF ENGLISH COAST.

the places op the raid.

ENGLISHMEN KILLED BY INVADER AFTER MANY HUNDRED YEAIiS.

December 16th, 1914", will rank as memorable day in English history, cfor 0 n that clay Englishmen were killed coa their own soil by an alien invader -for the first time since William the Conqueror and Harold fought at Many and terrible have 'been the wars which have torn the British Isles since that far distant *date, but they were internecine quarrels in which no Continental foe was -permitted to take a part. A small vbody of Frenchmen who did succeed ja landing on the west coast early f n the eighteenth century surrendered without firing a shot, and even the :ra id of that celebrated privateer Paui Jones later in tte same century was unattended by loss of life.

HARTLEPOOL'S EARLIER RAID. Hartlepool and Whitby, which, v. ;th their more famous neighbour Scarborough, were ok Dec. 16th shelled •T)y German cruisers, knew full "ell tho grim meaning of invasion in the <rlays when England was regarded by the North Sea rovers as their legitimate prey. The genesis of Hartlep'-'O. was a monastery built near the present town in 640, around which a small settlement had grown when the Danes descended upon the coast in A.D JM •«nd razed it to the grouad. Whitby -also suffered from the invaders. The -venerable ruins among which the Kaiser's messengers of "Kultur" fell were the relics of an abbey which, founded A.D. 657, became famous as the Westminster of the NovthumVian Kings, and was almost totally destroyed during the Danish incursion of A.D. S7O. If b to V.'Htby Abbey that we owe the earliest songi 111 cur r.atior2l literature, the works of the cowherd poet Caeloaoi. CONNECTION WITH TIAMBU'w.

To-day Hartlepool—or more su-lct--3y the Hartlepools, foi there are two •towns —-is one of the most important -ports on the east coast, with two tidal basins and six docks, in addition to a harbour which covers 300 acres. The entrance to the harbou" is protected by a breakwater three quarters of a mile long. Nearly thrm hundred steamers are registered a? belonging to the port, from which 111 times of -peach there were regular sriiings of -passenger steamers to Hamburg. Four .-shipbuilding yards, marine engine works, steel and ironplate rolling mills "blast furnaces, and other industries of much importance which are cinducted in the town make the German -attack upon it easily comprehensible Hut it is difficult to supply a motive lor the wanton bombardment of open,, unfortified places like Scarborough and Whitby, which are of no military significance. Whitby i 3 largely peopled by fisherfolk, although during the last few years efforts not unattended by success have been made to •popularise the quaint little town as -a pleasure resort. It might be said to nestle beneath the hoary ruins of the Abbey and to have borrowed from the ancient pile tnat quiet, dreamy peace fulness which has made Whitby the Mecca of artists and the haunt of those who are only happy away from the crowd.

A FAMOUS WATERING PLACE. Scarborough, on the other hand, is linown wherever the English tongue is spoken. Seventeen miles north of Flamborough Head, it lies in approximately the same latitude as Heligoland, from which it is a journey of 325 miles. Right away in the distant past, when Norman French was still the language of the Court and Saxon the tongue of the people, a castle crowned the bold peninsula which -gives this gem of the east coast so picturesque an appearance. This hill is known as Oliver's Mount, on account of the tradition that Cromwell was present at the siege of Scarborough Castle during the Parliamentary Wars and made the placo Ivis headquarters. But Scarborough's popularity as a watering-place dates from a far more modern period, although it may surprise, many people to learn that the famous resort is not the creation of the Great Northern Railway. It first became frequented by those who sought for health during the reign of King James 1., but i.he period of its real development is covered by the last generation. Today it possesses miles of promenades •and drives; the great marine parade, 4,200 ft. long, was opened as recently as 190 S. Its famous bays sweep away north and south from Castle Hill, the older and morel fashionable part being on the south, and behina the hill itself, while to the north extensive new districts have of recent years been opened up. Yesterday's reports indicated fhat the bombarding vessels -approached from the iiouth. The North Eastern Railway terminus, which was struck, lies about half a mile due west of the Aquarium, which is in the valley between South Cliff and the town, and tho Town Hall is in St. Nicholas Place. Westborough, Newborough, and Eastborough form the main street running from tho station to the harbour. RAIDERS IN A HURRY. The most fashionable church in the town, St. Martin's-on-the-llill. has been damaged by the Gorman shells, as have also been the Balmoral Hotel, the Royal Hotel, and All Saints' Church. The harbour, on the south side of the peninsula, is enclosed by piers and divided into two brisins, but, on account of the shallowness of tlie water, is of little use to vessels of large draught. The rrsid-j "at population of Scarborough is 35.i)<)0, which is increased threefold during tho season. These are the lirst English towns to learn in these latter days the meaning of a hostile invasion. Yet, in one sonne England is still inviolate; it. can still be said that no foreign T'o~> has set foot on h' r shore:; since .1 im'.G. Our unwelcome visitors yesierday were in too great a hurry to leave their ships.