Astronomers observed flashes of light, too - on Mars, just before the invasion in “Ware of the Worlds”.
Something to think about. Reagan said it best in is speech to the U.N. General Assembly.
It only took a few hours for the Martian invaders to land in New Jersey. Those flashes of light were the rockets taking off. Obviously very fast rockets.
And the canals.....ah, the canals on Mars.