RAID BY GERMAN CRUISER SQUADRON ON LOWESTOFT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16214, 27 April 1916, Page 7

RAID BY GERMAN CRUISER SQUADRON ON LOWESTOFT.

iWARSHIPS LOMBARD TOWN FOR TWENTY MINUTES. FOUR CIVILIANS KILLED DURING THE ATTACK. SQUADRON CHASED BACK TO GERMANY BY LIGHT CRUISERS By Telegraph—Press Association— London, April 25. The Admiralty announces that at 4.30 a.m. to-day the German battle-cruiser squadron, accompanied by light cruisers and destroyers, and Zeppelins, appeared of! Lowestoft. The local naval forces engaged it for 20 minutes, shells being meanwhile rained on the town. After 20 minutes' firing the fleet returned towards Germany, chased by light cruisers and destroyers. Two men, a woman, and a child were killed ashore. The material • 'damage was insignificant. Two British cruisers and destroyers were hit, but none was sunk. The Evening News states that terrific firing was heard on the jßJist coast from 5 a.m. to 5.30 a.m., and shells were seen falling into the sea. On three previous occasions a German naval squadron has attacked, or attempted to attack, towns upon the east coast of England. The first raid occurred on November 3, 1914, when a fleet of eight large cruisers steamed ' into towards Yarmouth and opened fire. After a bombardment lasting three-quiirt-ers of an hour the enemy was driven towards Cuxhaven. Of the British pursuing flotilla, a submarine, several trawlers, and a tramp steamer were (destroyed by mines. The German cruiser Yorck, of 9000 tons, was also sunk by a mine. The bombardment caused no material damage in Yarmouth. A second raid was made on December 16, 1914. when two squadrons, Consisting each of a couple of battle-cruisers and a similar number of light " cruisers, fired upon West Hartlepool and Scarborough simultaneously. The iqufidron which attacked Scarborough also shelled the signal station at Whitby. (As a result of the raid, 102 persons were killed and 302 wounded. The third attempt, on January 24, 1915, was completely frustrated. While on their way to England tho raiding squadrons, consisting of eight cruisers and a number of torpedo-boats were sighted by Admiral Sir Davi dßeatty's battle- • • cruiser squadron south of the Dogger Bank. After a running fight tho German Cruiser Blucher was sunk, and two other enemy ships returned to port seriously (damaged. The British flagship, the Lion, was hit below the watcrline, but Fas afterwards towed into port safely. Lowestoft is a seaport on the coast of Suffolk, about 20 miles south of Yarmouth. Part of tho town is nituated on a lofty declivity, which includes the most easterly point of land in England. The harbour has a depth of 16ft at high tide. A great proportion of the population consists of fishermen, pad 6ome 600 smacks belong to the port.