HOSTILE RAID.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16737, 18 December 1914, Page 7

HOSTILE RAID.

YORKSHIRE TOWNS SHELLED.

FAST CRUISE" S ENGAGED. ESCAPED IN. MISTI By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, December 17. The Admiralty announces that a number of the fastest German ships demonstrated off the Yorkshire coast. They remained an hour, and when the patrolling squadron was endeavouring to cut tlnTm off they steamed at full speed and escaped in the mist. The losses on both sides were small. FOUR CRUISERS IN RAID. THE BOMBARDED TOWNS. LONDON, December 17. Two cruisers bombarded Whitby. A number of houses and the Abbey were partially destroyed. One person was killed and several injured. The Press Bureau states that the Gormans engaged the fortm.s at West Hartlepool and were driven off. Shells caused huge holes in several build.ngs, and the Town Hall was slightly damaged. . , The Scarborough wireless station is intact. Many residents of Scarborough fled Hullwards. The bombardment began at eight in the morning. It is reported that several buildings were damaged. The Exchange Telegraph Company reports that four German cruisers participated in the raid. THE ENEMY PUOED. FLEET REPORTED TO BE ENGAGED. LONDON, December 16. The Press Bureau says that important German movements are taking placo in the North Sea. following the

German bombardment of Scarborough and Hartlepool. Our flotillas are engaged at various points.

DITAILS OF BOMBARIMENT.

FORTY SHELLS FALL IN SCARBOROUGH. LONDON, December 16. Particulars of the German naval raid are meagre. The military authorities control telegraph communications. About forty shells fell in Scarborough, the objectives apparently being the wireless station and the Town Hall. Two struck St Martin’s Church during Communion. 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. Shells wore fired at the gasworks. The result is unknown. Rows of houses were destroyed. A number of people wero killed.

CIVILIANS KILLED. LONDON, December 16. It is reported that eighteen were killed and a hundred wounded in Scarborough. . Thirty shells were thrown at \\ hitbv. Some fell three mles inland. The damage was chiefly in the Meadowfio.d district. A civilian died from injuries.

BRITISH DESTROYERS ACTIVE. LONDON, December 16. The Press Association reports that a naval engagement took place at Hartlepool. A British destroyer flotilla encountered three German cruisers eight miles off the coast. AMERICAN COMMENTS. RULES OF WARFARE DISREGARDED. WASHINGTON, December 16. Naval experts express surprise that the Germans were able to bi through the British fleet and attack the English coast. It is thought that the Germans are simply endeavouiing o create a scare and are unlikely to accomplish useful purpose. It is pointed out that the German are disregarding the laws of warfare in bombarding unfortified and unprotected towns.

Apparently tho raid was carried out bv two or three fast German cruisers which dropped r,hells on towns along a fnrty-milo stretch of coast and disappeared in a fog.

OFFICIAL MESSAGES. The following messages have been, received through the High Commissioner’s office:— LONDON, December 16. The Germans are engaged in shelling Scarborough and Hartlepool. A British flotilla has engaged them. The situation is developing. Whitby, Middlesborongh and Redcar were also bombarded bv the Germans. A fortress at West Hartlepool engaged three vessels. The enemy was driven off. One small vessel fired at Scarborough and Whitby. LONDON, December 16. This morning a German cruiser force made a demonstration unon the Yorkshire const, shelling Hartlepool, Whitby and Scarborough. A number of fast ships were employed for the purpose and remained for about an hour on the coast. They were engaged by the patrol on the spot. As the presence of the enemy was reported the British patrolling snuadron endeavoured to cut them off. On being sighted by the Brrish vessels the Germans returned at full speed and favoured by mist succeeded in making gcod their esenne. The losses on both sides were small, hut full reports have not yet been received. The Admiralty points out that a.demonstration of this character, against unfortified towns or commercial ports is devoid of military significance and must not in any circumstances be allowed to modify the general naval policy.

WAR OETICE STATEMENT.

THE CASUALTY LIST.

ENEMY DAIAGED BY SHORE BATTERIES

ENTITE ABSENCE CF PANIC.

(Received December 17, 7.40 p.m.)

LONDON, December 17.

Tho War Office announces:—

Two German battle cruisers and armoured cruisers commenced the bombardment of Hartlepool at 8.15. The land batteries replied and apparently hit and damaged the enemy. Firing ceased at 8.60 and the enemy steamed off at 9. Our guns were untouched. A shell fell in the ltoyal Engineers’ jines and several in the lines of the Eighteenth Service battalion and Durham Light Infantry. The casualties of the troops were seven killed and fourteen wounded. Some damage was done in the town and the gasworks wore fired. People during the bombardment, especially at West Hartlepool, crowded the streets. Approximately twentytwo were killed and fifty wounded. Simultaneously a battle cruiser and armoured cruiser fired fifty shots at Scarborough, doing considerable damage. There were thirteen casualties. Two battle cruisers at Whitby fired shots, damaging buildings. Two persons were killed and two wounded. The War Office adds: “ At all three places there was an entire absence of panic. The demeanour of the people was everything that could be desired.” “ The Times,” in a loader, says: “The possibility of such a raid was widely known, especially on the east coast. We fully expect the Germans to come again, until they come once too often. They think to frighten us, but we are "not easily frightened. They might as well throw pebbles at the Rock of Gibraltar.” ERITISH DESTXERS APPEAR. RETIREMENT OF ENEMY. SC ME MNOR Er:G AGEWENTS. (Received December 17, 10.85 p.m-) LONDON, December 17. When the British destroyers appeared the enemy’s bigger ships desisted from the bombardment and retired. Some minor engagements were unproductive of decisive results to either side. WOMEN AND CHILDREN KILLED. INDIINAI ON AT BARBARIC ACT. LON DU A, December 17. Narratives show that men, women and children were killed and others wcunded. The indignation universally aroused by the attack, which in case of such undefended towns as Whitby and Scarborough is a manifest violation of The Hague Convention, is exceeded only by sympathy with the victims of tho barbaric act. NO MILITARY SIGNIFICANCE. WILL NOT KOOKY KAYAL POLICY. LONDON, December 17. It is generally agreed by experts that the bombardment was out of control. The North Sea fleet cannot be everywhere, and moreover the blockade of the German coasts is not a close blockade as in olden wars.

The Admiralty points out that demonstrations of this character against unfortified towns and commercial porta are easy of accompli ;hment provided a certain amount of risk is accepted, but ■me devoid of military significance. They may cause loss of life among civilians, but must under no circumstances bo allowed to modify the general naval policy which is being pursued. AN UNOFFICIAL REPOST. ALL R AIDING VESSELS SUNK. LONDON, December 17. An unofficial report from Blytli states that all the German raiding vessels were sunk. A mes ago from Stockton-on-Tees states that thirty persons were killed and sixty-four wounded at Hartlepool. TEE ATTACK ON SCARBOROUGH. ENEMY HUES RECKLESSLY SEA FRONT SWEPT BY SHELLS. HOSPI ALS AND CHIRCHES EOMBARCED (Received Docember 17, 10.65 p.m.) LONDON, December 17. A couple of flashes and the roar of big guns startled the people of Scarborough, most of whom were breakfasting by gaslight on an unusually dark morning. A light cruiser came close _ to shore, but the bigger vessel remained at a distance firing recklessly. The whole sea front was swept in rapid succausion by shells. Most of the

damage was done on Castle Hill. The castle keep was damaged. Shells struck the general hospital and the Royal Northern Infirmary, where there were wounded soldiers. None were injured. The Town Hall and several churches were damaged. The western part ot the town suffered badly. Many houses were demolished.

The guns were fired in threes after a few seconds’ pause. Terrifying explosions ind ented where the shells lodged. Three struck the Grand Hotel, doing heavy damage.

NEARLY A HUNDRED HOUSES DESTROYED. A wounded resident who has arrived in London estimates that nearly a hundred houses were destroyed in Ea t Scarborough. The population generally is calm.

OBJIC’S OF THE RAID.

FUTILE SH EMES.

LONDON, December 17

The objects of the raid were to relieve the depression in Germany and create a panic in England in the hope of retarding reinforcements being -eat to the Continent. Another object, equally futile, was to divert some of the warships guarding the North Sea and thereby enable would-be raiders to reach the trade routes or contraband' to enter Germany. The Emden’s fate and the result of the Falkland battle were great factors, and the newspapers recall Count Reventblow’s recent statement that Germans must see clearly in order to fight with success, and must fisht ruthlessly in the proper meaning of the word. MANY CHILDREN ELLED. SCARBOROUGH AND H ITLETOOI TRAGEDIES. , ENEMY USIS BRITISH SIGNALS (Received December 18, 12.15 a-m-) LONDON, December 17. The killed at Scarborough include several children and John Hall, exalderman. A postman was about to hand a letter to a servant when a shell exploded between them, killing both. A mother and a daughter fleeing from a house were killed on the doorstep. Elsewhere a mother and two children were killed. William Avery, a Salvation Army adjutant, was killed at Hartlepool. He leaves a widow and five children. When the thunder of the guns first was heard at West Hartlepool the 'Ulnbitants regarded it as gun practice Then they hoard explosions in the direction of tho railway station and shipyards and saw gasometers and timberyards on the waterfront burst into flames. The weather was hazy and nothing was visible except sudden jets of flame. The forts came into action and all the troops paraded to prevent a possible landing. Shops and offices were emptied and business was suspended. The waterworks wero partly damaged and several houses in the higher parts of the town were wrecked. Many persons ran to the park. Several oholls fell in their midst, but no one was hurt. The residents of Blackball Rocks, five miles from West Hartlepool, -aw ships firing broadsides and turning and firing tho opposite broadside. It is reuorted tlir.t the warships displayed British signals and wero taken for friendly vessels until they opened fire. One family, father, mother and "X children, at Hartlepool, were killed In another case one child in a family of four escaped. Several children proceeding to schoc. werp killed. A shell burst among a group of volunteers and killed seven.

RAIN CF SNELLS AT WHITBY

LITTLE DAMAGE DONE.

MARKED SFDRT IN RECRUITING.

(Received December 18, 12.30 a.m.) LONDON, December 17.

Under cover of the haze the warships approached within a mile of Whitby. The first shot lodged in Eastcliffe. Thou the vessels got the range and rained shells on the town. It is estimated that two hundred were fired. Many which fell short were directed at the coastguard buildings, which were slightly damaged. Windows were broken throughout the town, otherwise the damage apparently is not serious.

Many precautions had been prearranged on the eart coast. Gas. was cut off at North Shields. Military guarded the post office. News of the raid at many places, both on the coast and inland, caused a marked spurt in recruiting.

TYNE FLOTILLA IN ACTION. ENGAGES SEVEN GERMAN VESSELS.

LONDON, December 17

A wounded lieutenant and six men of a destroyer who were taken to a hospital at South Shields stated that three German cruisers and four destroyers attacked the Tyne flotilla. A shell exploded aboard a destroyer and wounded others besides the seven.

THE BOMB/ RD ED TOWNS. HARTLEPOOL. Hartlepool is on the east coast of England, nineteen miles east-south-east of Durham, with which city it is connected by railways. The parish consists of an almost insulated promontory on tho North Sea, curved so as to form. a natural harbour, and presenting, from its lofty and singularly excavated cliffs, magnificent sea and land views. The town, on the south ide of the peninsula, opposite West Hartlepool, has houses for the use of sea bathers, somo fine remains of the feudal fortifications which once defended it, a largo and curious church in the early English style, and a hnrbour with some of Iho largest docks in England, defended by strong batteries. It belonged to the Norman family of Brus or Bruce, until the thirteenth century, when by their accession to the Scottish throno they forfeited their Engl sh possessions. SCARBOROUGH.

Scarborough is one of the most poSular seaside health resorts in Great ritain. It was in the reign of James the First, in the year tho Pilgrim Fathers sailed in the Mayflower, to found the colony of New England —in 1620—that an old lady, Mrs Farrar by name, walking along the beach observed the stones over which some water trickled to have a russet colour, and on tasting the water found it to be slightly acid. Having herself given it a trial, she communicated the result to others, and as the waters were found

to be very efficacious for certain ailments, they became the medicine of the inhabitants. Their fame spread, and the spa became a place of great resort. Its reputation has been sustained, and Scarborough has been a favourite resort for holiday makers from that time on. It is a beautiful city, and enjoys a 6uperb climate. WHITBY. Whitby is a seaport town in the cmintv of York. North Riding, on the Esk, here bordered by a fine pier, and crashed by a swing bridge, seventeen miles north-north-west of Scarborough, at the termination of the railway from York. It has dry docks and ship yard 3. REDCAR. Redcar is a town and sea bathing place of Englnnd, in the county of York, eight miles north-cast of Milldesborough. MIDDLESBROUGH. Middlesbrough is a municipal, county and parl'amentnrv borouirh and seaport in the North Riding of Yorkshire. It is 2384 miles north by west from London on the North-Eastern line, and in 1901 had a population of 91.302. The town lies on the south bank of the Tees, five miles from its mouth in the North Sea, and is the centre of one of the most important iron-work-ing districts in the world. Besides iron and steel works, there are rolling mills, tube works, wire mills, engineering works, oil works, chemical works, salt works, and a cons'd°rable shipbuilding industry. The district abounds in blast furnaces. The docks are accessible to large vessels, the entrance having a depth of 32 feet. Extensive dredging operations are carried on in the river. The accommodation for shipping includes two graving docks, two patent slips, etc.