SHELLING OF SCARBOROUGH

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 59, 7 September 1917, Page 7

SHELLING OF SCARBOROUGH

SEASHORE CROWDED WITH

VISITORS.

(REDTER'S TELEGRAM.)

LONDON sth September. The submarine which attacked off Scarborough appeared at seven 'o'clock in the evening and opened fire when two miles from the shore. A dozen shells fell on the seashore, -which was crowded with visitors. Others fell in the town. British mine-sweepers returned 'the fire, and the submarine submerged and disappeared in a few minutes.

The big raid on Scarborough, Whitby, and the HarElepools took place on 16th December, 1914, in revenge for the defeat of Admiral yon Spec at the Falkland Islands. By means of spies, Germany managed to secure the lay-out of the British mine area, and sent through about aine ships,. comprising battlecruisers and light cruisers, which separated near the ports mentioned and bestowed upon each of them a more or less sustained bombardment, in spite of the fact that none of them was fortified. At Scarborough about 500 shells were fired, and the casualties numbered 18 dead (mostly women and children) and about 70 wounded., At Whitby two raiders fired several dozen shells, killing three and injuring two. At tho Rattlepools an antiquated battery fought the raiders with great heroism. For more than half an hour a furious cannonade continued, in which some 1500 shells were fired.' One ship concentrated on the battery, while the other two fired at the town and docks. The total death roll was 119, and the wounded over 300. Six hundred houses were damaged and destroyed, and three steamers that night struck the mines laid by tho raiders and sank with much loss of life.

Germany made much of the exploit, till she discovered that neutral nations, especially America, were seriously scandalised, and then she took to lame explanations and alleged that the towns were fortified. At the time her naval prestige suffered seriously by this fact.