News from England

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 220, 24 February 1915, Page 5

News from England

* ESSEX AEROPLANE RAID. : ' PLUCKY SOLDIERS. , 1 Rceived 23, 10.3.) p.m. London, February 23. ■ Corporal Urge and Private Uoodril ■laced a stick through a nag.on. the Braißtree bouffi, and earned it flaming until they immersed it m the river. The narrowest escape at Bramtreej waß in a soldier's cottage, where there was a sleeping baby, whose room was shattered by shrapnel.* * THE SCARBOROUGH RAID. THE CASUALTIES SUMMED UP. London, February 22. Mr Asquith, in the House of Common 3, •aid that daring the late.bombardment Of the East Coast 30 women and 49 children were killed, and 13 L_ wora f n ' and 177 children wounded. The _total number of civilians killed was 1-7, and « the wounded 500. Coal has advanced 2s a ton retail. A Washington message states tuat the Government claims that the emtaTgo on the export of wheat is unnecessary. as the country can safely px P ort a million bushels daily until Jul}'. Commander Betlairs (Unionist) has been elected unopposed for Maidstone. i THE SCARBOROUGH RAID, f ' A LETTER FROM ONE OF THE INHABITANTS. An Oakura lady has permitted us to make the following ftrtract from a letter from her aunt, who was in Scarborough at the time of the bombardment by the Germans: — "I have been staying for nearly three months here at Scarborough, with a k friend of mine, and while hero we have Veen bombarded by the wicked Germans. I will try iuid give you some idea of what happened on that memorable morning. I was getting up at •about eight o'clock when I heard, as I thought, a elap of thunder —we have had very remarkable weather sine; I have been here —so I went on doing my hair, and all at one?, bang! bang!! bang!!! I rnshed from my bedroom into Mr P 's without any ceremony. I knew something unusual was happening. I said, "Whatever is tile matter." He said, "I have : ust seen a shell burst on the other side of the road, and no doubt the Germans are here and bombarding us." I may tell you we arc an unfortified, unprotected coast, and they took advantage of that, the cowards. Well, we rushed downstairs to Mr P 's aunt's room. She is an invalid, and sleeps on the ground floor. Well, dear, she and the servant maid were watching the glare and flash of the firing; from the back. Of course, w? all , knew what was happening. At the front, the people were flocking by in hundreds and thousands, with dear little children along at their sides and poor little naked babies in their arms, with just a rug or old shawl thrown round them. Oh. my dear, I shall never, never, forget it as long as I live. Mr P said we had better try and dress his aunt, who cannot stand, to be in readiness in ease v.-.-had to go, and he would go and fetch his motor. Thfn. if we were oblig.-d to go. things would be in readiness. Ij went to the front of the hou»e. and the poor fainting women were exhausted and asking for water. Poor tilings, how dieadful it was for them to he turned out of their homes, and their houses shelled to the ground. Well, dear, the shells were dropping all round us. as » the Germans were firing at the wirele-:s station; which is opposite our house, or nearly, just a little to the left. The officials at the wireless had just time to wire to the Admiralty headquarters "5.0.5." (Save our Souls), which tliev do in case of immediate danger. I thank

God, although th?v fired about eight shells they wore not successful in reach- * ing it, and although the shells were dropping all round us, yet we were all unharmed. and I can say I scarcely felt much alarmed as I had only put myself and the others in (lod's hands—and this is a proof to me, how Ho is aide (o take ci'v of His own. Mr P said he should ever be proud of his womankind, and the way they behaved in such a trying ordeal. T must go back a little no v, to where we dress'd Mr Ps aunt, and all was readv for I]."'if. I wa« trying to cook som- bacon and tomato';* and get us breakfast while tV maid put the finishing touches on the old lady, who is K4, and suffers with m rheumatic arthnrites in her legs. Tli "i. my drar. the firing and tlxGermans went back. Two of th ir fastest and mightiest crui-ers had -.■..■t | into our bay. and we quite unprotected. , I wish I could send yon a pit,-,- of on.' at the shells, but it is ton henvv. 5,. v .- E T*J of tlir hr»u- s in our rr>a<l wi-v struct, ami fipvrrnl Imii-rs rmt fnr fr^n

J* entirely demolished. and si~ many ;.s fonr poor souls killed in one bouse. T « will try and send von a paper. The People here are still verv n'rvons. fe.-l- ---► 'i? 10v come again, and Indeed - . ™»V. but tiot in the «ame way. ]f _ kind of devilish fhltig thev ■)r.-Hi-irig f, r t. V ''J Z*pp< ! jfw if somtiling, of th.^t