ANOTHER DASHING BRITISH AIR RAID

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2388, 18 February 1915, Page 5

ANOTHER DASHING BRITISH AIR RAID

FORTY MACHINES IN ACTION HAIL OF BOMBS ON BELGIAN COAST TOWNS By Telcffrc-pli—Press Association—OoDyxight (Rec. February 17, 7.20 p.m.) London, February 16. The British Admiralty announces that forty British aeroplanes on Tuesdayafternoon dropped bombs on the German' heavy batteries at Ostend Harbour, the gun positions at Middlekerke, widened the breach at Zeebrugge mole, and dropped bombs on the transport wagons, barges, and trawlers at Ostend and Blankenberghe. . • ' Eight French aeroplanes attacked tho Ghestalles aerodrome, preventing the German aircraft from cutting off the British.

THE HIGH COMMISSIONER'S OFFICIAL REPORT. The Prime Minister has received tb& following from the High Commissioner (dated London, February 17, 1.30 a.m.): — _ ' . "The Admiralty reports that air operations by the Naval Wing against Bruges, Ostend, and the Zeebrugge district have been continued. On Tuesday afternoon 40 aeroplane's and seaplanes bombarded Ostend, Middlekerke, Ghestalles, and Zeebrugge, bombs being dropped on the heavy batteries situated on the east and west sides of Ostend Harbour, the gun positions at Middlekerke, transport wagons on the Ostend-Ghestalles Road, on the mole at Zeebrugge, to widen the breach made by former attacks, the locks at Zeebrugge, the barges outside Blankenberghe, and'the trawlers outside Zeebrugge. "Eight French aeroplanes assisted in the operations, making a vigorous attack on the Ghestalles aerodrome, thus effectively preventing the German .aircraft cutting off our machines. Good results were obtained."

Nine big raids have been made by the British airmen to date. About the time of the Belgian retreat from Antwerp, Major Gerard, R.M.L.1., went over from England, and put to the credit of the new service the first invasion of Germany by a force. This culminated in Lieutenant Collett winning his D.S.O. by dropping bombs on the Dusseldorf aerodrome. Commander Grey made a second flight over the Rhine Valley, damaging the station at Cologne. Commander Maris followed this by destroying a new Zeppelin in its shed at Dusseldorf, and at the end of November came the historic attack on the Zeppelin works at Friedrichshafen by Commanders Briggs and Babington and Lieutenant 'Sippe. On Christmas Day the attack was made on Cuxliaven by soven seaplanes, backed by the Arethusa, Undaunted, and other craft. Ostend made th« eighth big raid, and now the ninth is lecorded. Against these successes the Germans can only show two raids against England. One was over the Kentish country and Erith, on the Thames, on Christmas Day, and the other, moro lately, across the Norfolk broads. The damage done over the Thames was nil.