The First Raids On Britain
The air attack on the Firth of Forth, the first enemy attempt to reach objectives in this country, and the attacks on warships at Scapa Flow, were strictly legitimate acts of war which showed both courage and skill. In the former the weight of the attack was directed against a fortified naval base, warships in the harbour and the Forth Bridge. As no warship suffered appreciable damage (though one had a very narrow shave), the bridge was missed, the casualties were caused by splinters as opposed to direct hits, and the losses of the German bombers were probably severe, this raid may be regarded as a costly failure. In two attacks on the Orkneys on Tuesday damage was done to the obsolete battleship 'Iron Duke,' with the loss of two German 'planes. This was the limit of the enemy's achievement ; and against it must be set an unsuccessful raid on the North-East coast on the same day and the bringing down of two enemy machines. Enough has already happened to show that what our 'planes accomplished at Wilhelmshaven may not be im- possible for the enemy on our coasts, though our fighters have proved their swiftness in taking the air and their courage in pursuing and effectively engaging the bombers.
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