Loading...
Exeter Advocate, 1914-12-24, Page 7EN&LISFI COAST BOMBARDS Electric Sky Sign Floated High' in Air Over Whitby' Directed by Spies on Coast A de paten from London says The oas,alty lists of the German ntwa,1 raid ,account for .07 'civilians killed and 122 wottnned iu the bom- bardment of Scarborough, Hartle pool and Whitby. Seven soldiers were killed sand 14 wounded at West Hartlepool, The figures dhow : Killed Wounded 'Scarborough 20 19 Whitby. 2 . 2 Hartlepool 41' 101 West Hartlepool .. 41 14 Total. ... 104 136 Army officers who examined' the ruins caused by the bombardment 'estimate "that the Germans fired 200 ,shells, 'chiefly of ,the 9 -inch and 12 - inch kite/. Several 12 -inch shells which had not exploded were found later in the soft earth. The Hartle- pools were .raked from 'three an- ;gles by *the enemy, Lying off the peninsula, which the Germans.ap- proached from the 'south, both towns were shelled by the forward guns as the cruisers .advanced. Abreast of the peninsula the Ger- mans poured. ,a, broadside fire over the entire length of the sister towns. As the cruisers made their escape to the north=east they poured a fire from 'their rear guns on the north side of the peninsula. Many des- troyers were visible beyond •the 'Germans during the bombardment. At first these were believed to be- long to the hostile squadron, but 'competent observers say the Ger- mans fired both seaward and to-. i ard the shore, which seems to in- dicate that the Germans slipped be- tween 'the English flotilla and the coast during the heavy fog than pre- vailed .just before the bombard- went. The shore guns acquitted • .tlhem- selves credita113x and were not in- jured by the German fire. Persons " • who witnes'sed the fighting between the shore gees, and the cruisers say the smoke=stack of one of the cruis- ers was smashed and that many shots landed on another while it was standing broadside to the shore batteries. A despatch from London says : A short, fierce battle was. fought in the fog off the Yorkshire coast be- tween ,a mosquito fleet of British. destroyers and the powerful squad- ron of the Gerwan high fleet, which fled from the wrecked cities of Har- tlepool, Soarborouhg and Whitby. Racing to the coast in response to the wireless appeals that were flung /ruront from the bombarded cities to every British warship and depot, the destroyers encountered the. Ger- man battle cruisers before—their nearness was realized. In the mist that veiled the sea, the Tyne flotilla came into contact with the Ger- mans, and did their best to deI.ay the •flight" untis the. British battle cruisers and dreadnoughts could come up. They were not successful, and they suffered some punishment from the heavy, long range guns of the German cruisers, but they made a plucky fight The light cruiser Patrol and the destroyer Doon -were among 'the British dhdps which attacked the German cruisers. Both were struck by shells. They lost •five 'men killed' and fifteen wounded. The two vee - sets mentioned could have only a. small , chance •of doing any :serious damage to the larger German ships engaged. It is assumed here that the Brix • fish destroyers ninde such fast time in appry aching tihe Yorkshire coast after the wireless had given the alarm of the bombardment of the three cities that they found them- selves in the path of 'the retreat of the Germans. Sank Three Merchant: Ships. Employing a defensive trick they used to some purpose on November 3, the German cruisers dropped mines in their wake -as they slipped to sea in the fog. Three British nert:hant vessels were sunk by these mines, and at least seven men and probably more were killed. The steamer Elterwater, of 743 tons, struck a mine off Flamborough Head and went to the bottom. Twelve of her crew escaped, but seven were lost. The Princess Olga, a coaster of 438 tons, was blown up by a -mine off Hartlepool and about six miles from the coast. Members of. the crew of this ship reported that they saws .a German ` splaying mines near the point where" the Princess Ola was Lost. The thirdsteamerwas the Velar- en, A trawler brought to Grimsby four survivors from this vessel.; The Vaaren 'struck .a mine in the North Sea .on Wednesday night and 13 per- sons perished, The survivors were found clinging to an upturned boat, The certainty that the Germans dotted the sea with mines compel - ale the ,Admiralty. issue a warn- ,, rn.g to shipping, Navigators and agencies were informed that traffic between Flamborough Head and Newcastle is endangeredtry mines, n London, •and in all England rage against the Germane is tem- • pered by grief fo,rttfre.-helpiass wo- men ttrid eh:ildres -whos were 4trticlt out of life so suddenly and cruelly. A majority of the victims at Har- tlepool were wornei and -.ehildren,. 'ifteen school boy were killed' by .a single shell; only one lad ,in the group escaping,, Ten persons lost, their lives when a building in which they had taken refuge collapsed un- der the !shock of shells. Seven of the dead at Hartlepool were velem teers of Lord Kitchener's new army, They were sent with their oomrades to mean the trenches in antioipat%on of an attempt of the Germans to land an invading force. The Ger- nag`s had the range of the new de- fences perfectly, and this fact is only one. of many evidences that they had complete information from spies as to the location of defence works and important buildings. Directed by Spits. A startling story, indicating that the German ships were directed by espies on the coast as to where to ptrike is furnished to the Daily Mail by Louis Tracy.; the well known 'author. His 'home, "Fair- lawn," at Whitby, was under the fire of the German shells, Mr, Tracy said : "The whole coast was excited by a brilliant sky sign, which shone over the moors for half an hour. It was an ele'ctri'c lamp fixed to a kite, and as it floated high in the air, it marked the position of Whitby. "I saw it, and I can name dozens who saw it flaunting over our heads at 9.30 p.m., telling the German ships exactly where we were. It twinkled indefiance df our authori- ties." The raid has had one very impor- tant and useful effect. Recruiting has been stimulated as never before in the war. The station at Scotland Yard wad crowded all day with men to whom the news of the raid had brought= home sharply the actual peril that England is in and the magnitude of the task before her. at<is•safe.to say thatqhe•bormbard- menu of • Hartlepool, Scarborough and Whitby will bring forward not less than 200;000 men' who might have hung baek'in a feeling of false security. Pathetic Incidents. An old woman was picking up coal dropped from cars on the rail- way •embankment, when she was killed by a shell. An old man and his two daughters were just starting breakfast in the kitchen when a shell burst in the room, killing all three of them. A young woman went to the house of her aged mo- ther, intending to conduct her to a place of 'safety . Entering the pas- sageway she stumbled lacross her mother's body. A shell had pieroed the roof and killed her. An elderly man, who thought the gun firing was that of British ships at prac- tice, sat, down unconcernedly to breakfast. A shell carried . away the corner if his house, killing his two little grandchildren. ' "May" Astonish the World. On his arrival at Rome, Prince von Buelow, the former Imperial German Chancellor, and now Am- bassador to Italy, was informed of the bombardment of the English coast by German ships, but .showed no surprise. He said that this achievement had been arranged for prior to his departure from Berlin.. He added : "This is simply the prelude to what the German fleet is soon to undertake, whichmay 'astonish the world." BRITISH GAINS ARE IMPORTANT .Advanced Their Trenches Toward the German Lines Defend- ing Lille. A d•espatdh from. Paris says : The Belgian and French troops attacked south-west of Ostend and pushed their line up the ,seacoast to a point which is nearer Ostend :than the allies have been since they were compelled to evacuate the town on October 15. The .announcement is . made by 'the Es ench Government and confirms unofficial news that Westende, .a .suburb of Ostend, has been .attacked by the troops under King Albert and by the soldiers of the republic. The 'forward move- ment along the coast followed a heavy 'bombardment of. the German positions by British warships. The .allies offensive produced an 'advance also in the region of Ar- mentieres, and it is assumed that the British advanced 'their trenches toward the German lirires defending Lille. For many weeks the fighting between large forces 'covering the ground between Armentieres and Lille has been indecisive, bat there are indications now that the -allies are progressing at this point as well as at many paints to the north and south, In order to relieve the gna- dtally increasing pressure on their lines in Flanders and in the region o:f.Arras, the Germans delivered at- taeks' 'between Ypres and Menin, where advanceshad been, trade and positions seized by the .allies. These attacks* it is. officially annou•nced,. were repulsed; ' A. Belgian Christmas. —Fromm the New York Sun. WORK OF FLEET OFF NIEUPORT Enemy Subjected to One of the Most Dreadful Bombardments of War • A despatch froom Landon says-: "The task of -•pushing the Germans- out sof B'algi'iitn has begun on the whole line from. Ypres to the sea. The British, French and Bel- gian forces have combined for a vigorous offensive and the British fleet began an •attack -from off Nieu- port. "The. fleet opened a ,devastating fire ons one German stronghold near Lombaerbzyde and fired unceasingly for five hours. The French :and "Bel- gian :batteries placed loath and west of Nieuport added to the fire, and the Germans were subjected to one of the most dreadful bombard- ments of the whole war. They -fled from place to place as the shells carne bumbling about their oars in the trenches. 'The 'shells often hit, and theheaps of tread showed the tremendous `violence of the fire: "The firing oeased suddenly. The infantry was ready and, waiting. There were Belgian and French in- fantry, battalions sand also some French marines, and eoen the three roads leading eastward from Nieu- port were the some of the bravest charges of the allied infantry. The Germans were driven with rifle and bayonet headlong from: the trenches to the houses or killed as they stood between two of the anoat northern roads of the three. - "Radiating .eastward from Nieu- port was thet4aim of'Graoote Bram bourgh, which was strongly forti- fied, and which bas hiitherto'been a ' great menace to troops leaving Nieuport. The farm was assaulted by the'iniantry -after- a dreadful battering by •shell.' The German in- fantry formed on the road on the canal side opposed •thesrush, and the fiercest' kind of ,a. hand-to-hand en- counter ensued; continuing till dusk. The French marines made a glorious -charge, and bayoneted soores. The French infantry pushed on under a heavy riffle fire, and drove the Germans from the trench- es to the houses. "By nightfall the Germans had been driven back' from Lombaert- zyde and ,St. Georges and many of the strongest positions had been -.taken, Fighting of a hand-to-hand charaoter 'continued after dark and from hoose to house ..scores of Ger - rnans were killed .or wounded. "Meanwhile between Nieuport and the sea the British had given the Germans asurprise by sending down the Yser Canal barges armed with machine and quick -firing guns. These fired with deadly effect on the -Germans, .who were seeking to escape the shell fire •of the fleet. "Further ,south' along almost the whole line from. ithe sea to Ypres a violent offensive of a similar. kind was waged by : the ,allies, The French, though suffering heavy loss- es, inflicted far .greater nastxalties on the enemy. St. *tied, Zillebeke, and,the neighboring country, were cleared of the Germans and tremen- douts losses inflicted." "NO QUARTER" NO REPLY British Naval °Expert Says That German Naval' Raid Will. End [Humane Policy of British Admiralty A despatch from London says : Following is the comment of Fred T. Jane, the foremost naval writer in Britain, on the German naval raid: "The full story of the German North Sea raid is clearly in aocord with the senseless policy which, re- gardless of everything, has during the past few days been advocated in the German press. It its ra maritime application of the German land policy in Belgium—wholesale de- struction of helpless and inoffensive civilians in an effort to create a reign of terror. The British navy has hitherto seemed unduly humane in this .war. We have gone out of our way to save the energy's lives. We regarded the enemy as a 'civi- lized foe. Now all 'this is likely to be changed. 'No quarter' seems to be the only possible reply to the pure savagery of German action, The horrors of 'naval war will be in- creased, but the duration of opera- tions will pe.r:haps be shortened ac - "This is to our, advantage, but from no possible point of view has the German behavior been justified. Nor can it ever be forgiven. We shall probably manage to see to it that few of the German cruisers re- turn to harbor. If we are wise we shall hang any prisoners taken. Then, and 'then only, shall we ren- der ourselves immune from similar raids in the future. "In these days war is a more or less" exact science. The result of the success of any operation can be gauged beforehand. Germany must have known perfectly well that no material result could possibly ac- crue from the raid which her ships made on Wednesday. Perhaps it is a side issue, but the question certain- tainly. ,arises, How did the Germans get out so easily 2 It is not a ques- tion which should be insisted on. If tihe enemy got out so easily and finds return impossible, high stra- tegy may be perceived in the cue cording -1y, cumstances of their easy exit."' Wounded Return to the Firing Line A despatch' from Paris says: No cent. were still in hospitals, and fewer than 54 per cent. of the 1X per cent. bad been discharged French wounded returned to the from the army. Three and a half firing line before December 12, ae- • per cent. of the wounded' died, cording to interesting figiices stip- These statistics de'tnanvtrat-e the re-' plied bythe surgical de artment of markable aim-an,ee made. i sargery,g p,, �.� p � n the Ministry of �� ai. Of the re -and show a: lower percentage mot in,ainder 24 per emit, had been deaths from wounds than in any, given convalescent leave, 17 per preceding war. AT COMFLFTE Positions Fell One fter Another Until They bled From Sesta in Precipitate Discrder A despatch from Paris says: Tele- graphing from Nish, the sorrespon- dent of the Havas Agency says : "Full detail's of the ,fighting around Belgrade have not yet been received, but enough is known to show that there also the Austrians suffered a defeat of a fatal nature. After several days of stubborn fighting the Austrian, troops occu- pied a line of positions echeloned. from the northeast of Obrenovatz, as fax as Kovion.a, to the south-east of Ayala (nine miles from Bel-. grade), The latter position was carried. by the Serbs after several bayonet 'charges. , Other positions fell one after another, until the Austrians were completely beaten on the last hills. to thee north of Ayala. They were beaten also on the left flank by Servian columns de bouching front Obrenovatz. The Austrians retreated . precipitately towards the Danube and Save, over which. bridges had previously been thrown, and oxi • which . numerous monitors, lighters, and other craft waited to ferry the troops to the opposite bank. While the Austrians were crossing in the greatest haste, the Servians broke the last r esis•• tante, The Austrian Columns, which were left ,to, protect the retreat -were thrown into wild .disorder and aban- doned heavy guns, rifles and other equipment, throwing some of it in- to the Danube. "Servian .artillery, which was ra- pidly brought up to . positions cone manning bath rivers, ehtlled and destroyed several. bridges, The Austrian losses during the latter days were enormous, and those of the Servians were also serious, The Servians 'captured about 10,000 pri- soners, of whom 07 were officers, 30 cannon, including eight mortars, '2C machine guns, 239 ammunition wa- gons, 20 field kitchens, numerous horses, and a great quantity of sup- plies. Many Austrians were drown- ed" �VEMUIER TRA. E INC CASA Shows an increase of About Fifteen Million Dollars Over November, x913 , A despatch from Ottawa says An increase in the total trade of Can- ada for the month over the corres- po•nding period'•of last year is indi- cated in the trade statement for November. The total trade was $126,455,299, an increase of about fifteen millions over November, 1913. Exclusive of the import of coin and bullion, which has largely increased, both total exports and imports showed a decrease, this be- ing chiefly due to a falling off in the export of agricultural products. Total imports for November, in- cluding coin .and bullion, were $79,- 880,917 as compared with 152,016,- 560 in 1913, and. the total for the eight months ending November was $447,911,144 as eompared.with $446,- 169,481 in 1913. Imports of coin and bullion in November were 548,328,- 727 as compared with $1,814,404 in November, 1913. Exports in November, 1914, were $74,424,299 as compared with $107,- 964,48.4. Exports of manufactures hare increased, a healthy sign, and were $6,376,500 for the month com- pared with 54,841,922 in 1913. Ex- ports of animals and their produce were $8,470,602 compared with $7,- 795,511. Exports of agricultural products, however, dropped from $33,417,055 in November, 1913, to 518,846,286 this year. FRENCH COURT IN ALSACE. Event Marks the Occupation of Thann After 44 Years. A despatch from Paris says : The first French court in the recon- quered territory at Thann, Alsace, has .bean installed with ceremonial that was- dramatic in its simplicity. The court -room was crowded with girls in picturesque Alsatian ccs- tumes.and old men who had waited forty odd years for the day when France should return to Alsace. The courtroom was silent until the guard of honor of dragoons, posted back of the dais, drew their sabres at the word of eomn::and from their officers. Another officer the:; en- tered the room and advanced to the judge's desk, and in solemn tones said : "In the name of ,the French peo- ple—(the Iow sobbing of an Alsatian unable to restrain his emotion in- terrupted the officer, but, after a short pause he continued) -.and by virtue of the instructions of the general commanding the first army, we declare Monsieur Judge at Thann with jurisdiction," etc. That was all.. The young people rushed •cheering out into the street, while the eld men remained for a while in their places in quiet ecs- tasy. v A popular society, woman an- nounced a "white elephant" party. Every guest was to bring some- thing that she could not find any use for and yet too good to throw away. The party would have been a great 'success but for the unlook• ed for de.velepment which broke if up. Eleven of the nineteen women 'brought their_.husbands. EGYPT A BRITISH PROTECTORATE Suzerainty of Turkey Over the Country is Ter- minated A despatch from London says The Official Press. Bureau issued the following statement 'concern- ing themaking of Egypt a. British protecteeate : "His Britannic Majesty's princi- pal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs gives notice that in view of a state of war arising out of the ac- tion of Turkey-, Egypt is placed un- der the protection of his Majesty, and will henceforth constitute a Bri- tish protectorate. The suzerainty of Turkey over Egypt is thus termi- nates, and his Majesty's Govern- ment will adopt all measures neces- sary for the defence of Egypt, and the protection of its inhabitants and interests. The King has been pleas- ed to approve the appointment of Lieut. -Col. Sir Arthur Henry Mac - Mahon to be his Majesty's High Commissioner for Egypt.'' Enormous Damage in Aerial A despatch from Paris says: "De- spite German denials it is now clearly established that the recent aeroplane raids from Belfort were productive of real results. Six bombs were thrown on Friebuig, Baden, on Dece.inber 4. In order to mislead the Germans the leader cif the flotilla, a sergeant -major of Hussar. s, made a wide detour over the Black Forest, coming back on Freiburg without being molested. On December 9 the flotilla. firing in aids a single file at a height of 3,000 feet, amidst a furious storm of shells from the German gins, threw eigh- teen bombs, of which fourteen caused enormous. <az:,ma e. The leading aeroplane was struck by a shell splinter in the left plane, and several bullets grazed the gasoline reservoir, breaking seine of the stays, without, however, impairing the /stability of the machine. The aeroplanes, after undergoing a final bombardment, returned to Belfort without further incident. British Troops Landing ^A despatch from Havre, France, says: Phousanels of British troops are arriving here daily on trans- ports, and arc being moved to the north as rapidly as, possible, The British are snaking the port of .Entire , their main base of supplies,: t'Jn••the average, .15 British trans- ports arrive here daily froin•,South- artipton, Large •camps- have been leeal on the heights along the Seine far periods varying from two, • • at Havre to three years, and barracks are be. ing built. Extensive supply depots i have been established here, A •cross-channel transport would carry not fewer than 1,000 men, so that if the arrival have s ha e corrtintrea at -the same rate since the above despatch was written, at least 150,- 000 Hien must have teem landed in France iiia the last ten day. •