NO MILITARY OBJECTIVE

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 6 September 1917, Page 6

NO MILITARY OBJECTIVE

GERMAN RAIDS ON LONDON. Describing the raid by aeroplanes on London on July 7, a correspondent of the American Associated Press states that the attack was plainly directed against the civilian population and the ■business and the financial buildings. There was no question that the Germans knew where they were, and it -was not scattering explosives blindly from a great height. Why more persons were not killed is a great mystery. Thousands were in the streets in the area bombed, but probably a much larger proportion took shelter in the solid buildings, taught by experience gained on June 13th. Among the places attacked was one of the most extensive metropolitan hospitals, on which the Red Cross was flying conspicuously. It escaped entirely, though several bombs fell close to it. The day ; s experiences showed that persons in solidly constructed buildings are comparatively safe, but the windows of these buildings were ■criwdod with young clerks, deter-

mined not to miss the spectacle at whatever cost. The fate of the humble dwellers in workmen’s houses were different. They had no chance for their lives. The sight, now familiar to Londoners, of distracted, sobbing mothers rushing about the ruins of tenements, fearing to find, and sometimes finding, the mangled bodies of their children, was the most moving incident of the raid. A thorough investigation of the results of the raid showed that no munitions or supply establishment had been touched. Apparently none was sought, since the Germans undoubtedly knew' their locations.

Five minutes after the explosions ceased the streets of the district attacked were jammed with masses of humanity. Fire engines, ambulances, patrol waggons, motors with nurses and doctors seemed almost to spring from the earth. Almost immediately waves of sightseers from the West End swept down and seemed to come in droves throughout the 'day.