North Sea Activity.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 300, 17 December 1914, Page 5

North Sea Activity.

YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. BRITISH FLOTILLAS ENCAGED AT VARIOUS POINTS. (Received 9.30 a.m.) London, December 10. At 1.10 this afternoon .the Press Bureau stated that important German movements were taking place in the North Sea. The Germans were off Scarborough and Hartlepool and our flotillas were engaged at various points Naval Engagement off Hartlepool. PARTICULARS MEAGRE. MILITARY AUTHORITIES CONTROL THE TELEGRAPHS. FORTY SHELLS DROPPED IN SCARBOROUGH. WEST HARTLEPOOL BOMBARDED FOR 25 MINUTES. (Received 12.20 p.m.) London, December 16. Particulars are meagre, the military authorities having control of the telegraphic communications. About forty shells fell at Scarborough, the objectives apparently being the wireless station and. the town hall. Two shells struck St. Martin’s Church during communion, but the congregation remained calm. The cruisers steamed slowly past the town. The,, bombardment of West Hartlepool was simultaneous with that of Scarborough, and lasted twenty-five minutes. A shell fired the gasworks, but the result is unknown. Rows of houses were destroyed and a number of persons were killed. The Press Association reports a naval engagement off Hartlepool. A destroyer flotilla encountered three German cruisers eight miles off the coast.

FOUR GERMAN CRUISERS ENCAGED. SEVERAL TOWNS FIRED ON. Per Press Association. Wellington, December 17. The Premier has received the following from the High Commissioner; London, December 16th: The Germans shelled Scarborough and Hartlepool. British flotillas are engaged, and the situation is developing. Whitby, Middlesborough and Redcar have also been bombarded by the Germans. The fortress at West Hartlepool engaged the German war vessels, and the enemy was driven off., A small German war vessel fired on Scarborough and Whitby. THE TOWNS BOMBARDED. Scarborough is a borough and fashionable coast watering place in the North Riding of Yorkshire, and bas a population of 37,204. Hartlepool is a seaport on the coast of Durham, sometimes called “East Hartlepool, with the adjoining township of “West Hartlepool,” officially considered as one port. It has a good trade with flourishing shipbuilding and other industries. The combined population of Hartlepool is about-85,000. Whitby is a .seaport and watering place facing the German Ocean at the month of the river Esk in the North Riding of Yorkshire. It has jet manufactories, shipbuilding is carried .on, and lias a famous abbey. The two sides of the town stand on either side of the harbor with a stone bridge connecting them. Captain Cook was a native of the town. Middlesborough a. seaport in the North Riding of. Yorkshire on an estuary of the river Tees, is a centre of iron trade, shipbuilding, and coal export, having a population •of 104,737. Redcar Is a town and coast watering place in the Cleveland division of the North Riding in Yorkshire, having a population of 10,509; GERMAN ATTACK ON YORKSHIRE COAST. ONE KILLED AND SEVERAL INJURED AT WHITBY. MANY BUILDINGS DAMAGED. SCARBOROUGH RESIDENTS FLEE TO HULL. * United Press Association. (Received 8.50 a.m.) London, December 16. Two cruisers bombarded Whitby, a number of bouses being partially destroyed, including the Abbey. One person was killed, and several injnied. The Press Bureau states that the Germans engaged the fortress at West Hartlepool, but were driven ofl. lingo holes were made in several buildings, the Town Hall being slightly damaged. The Scarborough wireless station is intact. Many residents of Scarborough fled to Hull. The bombardment began at eight o’clock in the morning, and it is reported that several buildings were damaged.

EIGHTEEN CASUALTIES REPORTED AT SCARBOROUGH.

THIRTY SHELLS IN WHITBY.

(Received 12.35 p.m.) London, December 16. It is reported that eighteen were killed in Scarborough. Thirty shells were thrown at Whitby. Some fell three miles inland, the damage being chiefly in the meadowfield district. A civilian died from his injuries.

RAID IN A FOG.

OPERATIONS ALONG 40-MILE STRETCH OF THE COAST

(Received 12.35 p.m.) Now York, December 16. Apparently a raid was made by two or three fast German cruisers, who dropped shells on the towns on a forty-mile stretch of coast and disappeared in a fog. Scarborough alone reports eighteen killed and 100 injured.

The Exchange Company reports that four German cruisers participated.

SURPRISE IN AMERICA.

BREAKING THROUGH THE BRI-

TISH CORDON,

GERMAN BREACH OF INTERNATIONAL LAW.

(Received 12 p.m.)

'Washington, December 10.

Naval experts expressed surprise that the Germans were able to break through the British Meet and attack the English coast, though the Gor-

mans are simply endeavouring to create a scare, and it is unlikely they will accomplish any useful purpose. It is pointed out that the Germans are disregarding the laws of warfare in homharding unfortified and unprotected towns.