FREIDERICHASVEN RAID

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2358, 14 January 1915, Page 6

FREIDERICHASVEN RAID

details of the bombardment. PariSi November 26. Full details are now to hand of the brilliant aerial raid by British aviators over TTriedrichshafen. _ . < The plan of destroying, partly or altogether, the workshops of. the dirigible factory had. been decided upon by Commander Briggs, in order not .only to upset the construction and repairing of the German air cruisers, but also in order to make ;(» impression on German public opinion. Both objects were achieved. : The .bombs thrown completely wrecked the only workshops equipped with the indispensable tools and machinery for the repair of airships. The aims of tho British aviators , had been kept secret; only the Generals of their Staff were aware of the project. At ton minutes past ten o'clock on Saturday morning, amid the pood wishes of the Generals, the aviators flow off, rising to 1400 or 1500 metres. They made for the Rhine, the course of which tliey followed. Commander Briggs led tho flight, and as far as Scliaffhausen the aviators kept in sight of each other. Here, misled bv fog, Commander Briggs bore to the left, while Commander Babington and Lieutenant Sippo, without seeing each other, followed the Rhine.In sipjht of Constanco Lieutenant Sippe dipped, and crossed the town. just above the level of the houses. Ho made for the lake flying two metres above tho surface, invisible in the mist.' He flew on until lie had passed Friedriclishafen, when he rose again. As ho was rising, ho caught sight of Commander Briggs above him. already attacking the Zeppelin stronghold, and Lieutonant Sippe could see bombs bursting, • fired from the ground at bis comrade. Ho kept steadily on, with shrapnel bursting round him, and bombarded the sheds and workshops. Panic became evident urfl b9U,v

tenant Sippe alighted at the spot where lie had started. Commander Babington came down a few hundred yards away. Commander Briggs alone was missing. The Commander, who had been wounded, had been obliged to come down, and was attacked by German soldiers. He defended himself with courage and shot down seven of the enemy with his revolver. An officer arrived at this moment and Briggs called out: ''One step and you are a dead man." "Tie officer replied: "Siirrendei and your life shall be spared. n Commander Briggs then handed over lus revolver, and when the officer saw .that it was empty, and that he had been tricked, ho- struck the Commander with his riding wh'p. The magnificent feat of the three aviators was immediately rewarded. At the request of General joffre they were each awarded the Cross of the Legion or Honour. -

Lieutenant Sippe, who was in Paris yesterday, stated that the operation had _ been very successful.—Router's op.ecial Service. ■