Article from the 23rd December, 1914, in the Scarborough Pictorial which describes the describes the Governments version of what happened when Scarborough was bombarded by the Germans.
THE OFFICIAL VERSION - HOW THE ENEMY GOT AWAY.
The secretary of the Admiralty made the following announcement late on Wednesday night:-
This morning a German cruiser force made a demonstration upon the Yorkshire coast,in the course of which they shelled Hartlepool, Whitby and Scarborough.
A number of their fastest ships were employed for this purpose, and they remained about an hour on the coast. They were engaged by the patrol vessels on the spot.
As soon as the presence of the enemy was reported, a British patrolling squadron endeavoured to cut them off. On being sighted by the British vessels the Germans retired at full speed, and, favoured by the mist, succeeded in making good their escape.
The losses on both sides are small, but full reports have not yet been received.
The losses on both sides are small, but full reports have not yet been received.
The Admiralty take the opportunity of pointing out that demonstrations of this character against unfortified towns or commercial ports, though not difficult to accomplish, are devoid of any military significance. They may cause some loss of life among the civilian population, and some damage to private property, which is to be regretted, but they must not in any circumstances be allowed to modify the general Naval policy which is being pursued.
