The raiders arrived, apparently in two parties, over the Essex
coast and the Isle of Thanet about 9.30 a.m. In the Isle of Thanet three persons were killed and three injured, and in the London area forty were killed and one hundred and ninety-four injured- Some fires were caused, but the damage was much less than might have been expected. Four of the twenty-two raiders were de- stroyed on their return journey. But that was not all. The Germans had organized certain fighting squadrons to help the raiders during their return, when they would be specially liable to attack, and out of these squadrons the R.N.A.S. destroyed six machines and injured another. We have written at length on the whole sub- ject elsewhere. We are conscious of having given much more attention to this raid than its military importance warrants, but as it may result in a settling of the public mind as to what is and is not possible in the way of defence we hold ourselves justified for domestic reasons. The people of London are as self-possessed as. ever. Fortunately they do not pay overmuch attention to some false guides who would try to impose upon the Government various very short-sighted methods of defence.
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