ANOTHER RAID ON LONDON.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 July 1917, Page 3

ANOTHER RAID ON LONDON.

THIRTY-FIVE PERSONS KILLED

FOUR ENEMY MACHINES DESTROYED. (per Press Association. —Copyright.) WELLINGTON, This Dav. The High Commission reports, London/July 7th, at 12.40 p.m., Lord French reports that an enemy air raid of probably about twenty aircraft, bombed Thanet, on the East Coast of Essex and London this morning. Numbers of aeroplanes and aztillcry attacked tho .raiders. Casualties and damage are not reported. WELLINGTON, This uuv. The High Commissioner reports from London, July 7th at 5.20 p.m., The Admiralty report that naval aeroplanes met the returning raiders forty miles off the East Coast. Two crashed into the sea and a third one fell flaming into the Scholdt. Our machines are .safe.

Lord French reports the casualties in the air raid were killed: men 26, women 6, children three. Injured: mon seventy-four, women thirty, children thirty- seven. Another machine was downed at the moutli of the Thames.

FIFTEEN RAIDERS. (Reuter’s Telegrams.) LONDON, July 6th. Over fifteen aircraft raided London and dropped many bombs, causing fires. Anti-aircraft guns fired all round them and British aeroplanes were soon aloft and chased the enemy to the coast. A DAYLIGHT VISIT. FLIGHT ACROSS LONDON. LONDOO, July 7. British official: At about 9.30 o’clock this morning a considerable number of hostile aircraft, probably in two parties, appeared over the Isle of Thanet and on the East Coast of Essex. After dropping bombs at Thanet the raiders proceeded to London, moving parallel to the north bank of the Thames. Approaching London from the north-east they changed their course and proceeded north and west, and crossed London from tho northwest to south-east. Bombs were dropped at various places in the metropolitan area. The number of raiders is uncertain, but probably there were about twenty. Our artillery and a large number of aeroplanes attacked the raiders. Reporta of the results of the engagement and the damage and casualties have not yet been received. The Admiralty reports that naval aeroplanes engaged the returning raiding squadron, forty miles from the East Coast- Two enemy machines were observed to crash into 'the sea and a third fell in flames ' at the mouth of the Scheldt. All our machines returned. THE TOTAL CASUALTIES. FAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION ' & REUTER.] LONDON, -July 7. British official. —The latest casualties in to-day’s air raid total twentyeight mon, six women and three children injured.

An enemy neroplano was brought, down at the moutS of the Thames. * SEVEN AEROPLANES HIT. LONDON, July 8. Th© Admiralty Dunkirk airmen watching for the returning raiders missed them, but encountered and destroyed three enomy seaplanes, and also downed four aeroplanes. THE LATEST TOTAL. \ WELLINGTON, This Day. The High' Commissioner reports from London July 7th. at 11.40. a.m. As a result of the air raid thore wer e 47 killed and 141 injured.' Four raiders wer© downed. , BIGGEST YET MADE. A GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION

(Reeoived, This Dav at 8.50. a.m.) LONDON, July 8.

On© party of night raiders crossed southeast coast town, unusally low but did not drop bombs. One raider returned seaward and the remainder proceeded inland. The raid on London occurred about 10.30. The enemy squadron was ouo of tho largest yet sighted in England. British patrols lie-cam© active- as seen as their approach was signalled.

There were several duels over London and this supposed to have caused tho raiders on a sudden clinng© of course homewards.

Large numbers of bombs were dropped.

Three of the enemy group appeared to receive the first check as they reached the inner northern district,

The gunners found the range and the machines began to waver and get out of line, the squadron being scattered somewhat.

Crowds in the. streets took the ram coolly and watched until the homos began to drop. Then they took cover.

As soon as the British machines arrived, tho enemy squadron quickened their pace and the main body raced away, leaving two machines in the rear. The latter wore apparently engaged by the British, but the haze prevented the crowd seeing what happened. Soon all were lost to sightThe bomb dropping lasted two or three minutes. Th© inhabitants of a. town in Kent, ten miles from London, had a fine view of ..the aerial batt'oFifty aeroplanes w«ro counted, divided into two squadrons, the larger being the enemy squadron, which held tho eastward position. AnfcL-airaraft (shells were bursting among them, while the smaller English squadron closed rapidly from the westward. Notwithstanding th® heavy

shrapnel burst, the enemy appeared almost stationary for a few minutes. As the English drew nearer the enemy moved* rapidly south-eastward, the English going, in hot pursuit-

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A GiffiAT SPECTACLE.

WATCHED BY CROWDS.

(Received, This Day at 8.50. a.m.) LONDON, JUiy

The enemy apparently approached the coast in two groups, north and south of the river, and joined forces before reaching the metropolis, ignoring the gunfir e en route, as they sped citywards. As a demonstration it was a well directed aircraft sight. The splendid machines flow in a ■wide-flung 1 crescent, led apparently by a single machine ut a higher level than the main body. Flying well north of the river, at a signal from the leader, they swerved southwards over the densest part of London, and flying low in a fan-like formation, made a long sweeping curve and then headed homewards, leaving a broad path of damage in their wake. Every vantage poirit, despite the danger, was thronged with watchers of the combat. There was a total absence of panic. By 11.15 the greatest battle yet soon over British soil had ended. J Opinions vary greatly as to the number which crossed to the coast. One estimate was as high as sixty. An (Essex town reports twenty-m-e were counted going to London and thirty-two returning. Duels were witnessed over Kent, where the British pursuers were reinforced by British pilots who mounted above the enemy, firing downwards on them. A 9 the river mouth was reached, a strong force of British engaged the raiders, who, after a fierce running fight, disappeared seawards. REPRISALS WANTED.

rAUSTRALIAN & V.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION]

(Received This

The'Lord Mayor of London int« - viewed regarding the air raid said it might to convineo .everybody. " he ease for reprisals had enormously strengthened andi had become a matter of urgency. The air forces should immediately act in accordance with the demand of a majority of the citizens

A DARING ESCAPADE

ANTI-GERMAN RIOTS

MIRACULOUS ESCAPES

AUSTRALIAN & CABLE ASSOCIATION]

reived Thi.^tn^nO

Londoners unanimously tribute the amazing daring of the raiders, who carried out their audacious plans with the utmost coolness, It is believed the entire squadron was oom prised of the Albatross types carrying three men, and capable of a wonderful turn of speed and ability of fighting /manoeuvres. Their machmo guns the able to shoot in any direction. It was noticeable that citizens did not take their former risks as the streets, immediately they were threatened, were almost deserted. Those which passod, were simultaneously thronged. Anti-German riots occurred in the evening in the vicinity. A largo body of men and women, mostly men, processioned, attacked and dismantled several German butchers shops, smashed the windows, penetrated upstairs and threw the furniture and pianos into the streets set fire to th© bedding in the middle of the roadway and threatened aliens with violenco.

A strong posse of police quickly patrolled the localities. Th© excitement continues.

Lloyd George, accompanied by Lord French, Lord Milner, General Smuts and Mr. Barnes, to-night visited the bombed areas of the city and East End. Crowds gathered in the Party’s wake, cheering and shouting: “Don’t forget reprisals.” A bomb tore off the corner of a great block of public buildings in a main street, dislodging giant granite pillars and broke off huge masse:U of coping stones and window frames. The street wa'g almost impassable, owing to the heaps of debris, wire v netting, brick and woodwork and tang!© °f telephone wires. The staff- aggregating thousands, including many girls were unhurt.

Th© street was barricaded to enable the Brigades to deal with a fire in an upper storey.

LONDON’S PREPARATIONS

STERN TONE OF PRESS.

(Received This Dav nt. 19.25. •- LONDON, July Bth

At one tim© when the hostile squadron was directly overheard thousands of girl clerks remained at their desk. The system of warning the principal workshops and warehouses, enabled the workers to reach safety. The large hospitals made elaborate preparations and arranged to receiv© an inrush of in-

jureds. . ' The first alarm was at 8.55 and the all clear signal at 11.30. As soon as th© raid was over, queues of people waited at tho public telephones, anxious for the safety of their relatives.

- The newspapers take a sterner tone of criticism of tlio defences and give attention to France’s lead in reprisals. They add that soldiers will not tolerate their homes being thus ravaged. Lord Montague in an article on th© best way of shorteningHho war, says it is to concentrate on the construction of aircraft and to embark on a vast oorial offensive.

A QUESTION

f “rkctkr’s” tf.lkgram.]

LONDON, July 8

Mr Joynson Hicks on Monday asks the Premier to appoint a committee to enquire into the causes of the failure to cope effectively with th© air raiders and whether Government will order punitive raids in German munition towns on the Rhine.