First-Hand Account of Germans' Attack on Paris, 1918

“Sixty Gothas in Raid on Paris….Passengers Arriving in United States Give Thrilling Accounts of Attack….Famous Buildings Wrecked….Bombs Tore Up Streets During Two-Hour Siege in Inky Darkness—Death Toll 245—Drop Nine Tons of Explosives” from the High Point Review, March 14, 1918

An Atlantic Port—Thrilling eyewitness accounts of one of the tremendous German air raids on Paris were brought by passengers arriving at this port on a French steamship recently. One of the passengers, in a position to know all the facts, declared that more than 200 men, women and children had been killed, that 60 fast Gothas had taken part in the raid and that over nine tons of explosive bombs had been dropped during a two-hour siege.

One American ambulance driver alone, according to a passenger, picked up 70 bodies during the night.

“The Germans picked out the darkest night in a long time to make their raid,” said this informant, whose name cannot be divulged. “

Their squadrons came over Vincennes, and headed for the heart of the city.”

Fought in Dark

“It was about midnight when the popping of the anti-aircraft guns woke me and gave the first alarm. I looked out, but nothing could be seen in the blackness, except the flash of the defending batteries, in every part of the city, and, occasionally, the sizzling trail of a bomb.

“French machines had risen to the attack at the first signal, but they were greatly handicapped by the darkness. The rattle of their machine guns could be plainly heard and there were several clashes, but for the most part the French fliers went winging blindly and at random through the dark.

“For two hours the city was pelted with bombs. Hospitals were hit and convalescent soldiers wounded. Famous public buildings—I am not allowed to tell their names, but they are known all over the world—were badly damaged, and some of the famous boulevards and public squares were torn up as by an earthquake.

Death Toll Put at 245

“From information I gathered the toll of death was nearer 245 than 45, as the official statement says. An American ambulance driver, a friend, worked through the night with other members of the corps, scouring every part of Paris, for the whole city was under fire. He picked up 70 bodies, in addition to scores of wounded.

“The next morning I found that three of the bombs had fallen and exploded on the doorstep of the house where I was stopping, tearing great holes six feet in diameter. I found several unexploded bombs nearby, of the shape of footballs, but considerably larger in size.”

After the attacking squadron had retired, according to the passengers, it was found that one of the enemy planes had been brought down. The people of Paris, the passengers said, were of the opinion that the raid was by way of reprisal for what French fliers had done over German cities.