OFFICIAL NARRATIVE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2596, 19 October 1915, Page 6

OFFICIAL NARRATIVE

By Tclegrath—Preaa Association—Oopyrislit

(Rec. October 18, 8.20 p.m.)

' London, October 17. The Press Bureau publishes an official account, - by .an eyo-wifcness, of tho Zeppelin raid. "The Zeppelins," says the writer, "flew high in order to prevent destruction from anti-aircraft guns. Tho darkening of the Metropolitan area, together with their height, _ certainly prevented tho enemy from discovering the exact position of places of >.importance. Tho official Berlin report proves that the raiders were grossly in error in their belief where they dropped their bombs. ; "The'raid occurred at on_ hour when practically none oxcept children were in bed. The places of entertainment were full, and the population were going about their ordinary pleasures and businesses. • Though hundrods and thousands of people- heard the bombs and the guns, the public remained calm and free from panic. There was less excitement than on the previous occasions. The official warnings about taking shelter were better observed. Most of the people, when the guns ceased, went quietly to bed.

A Midnight Alarm. "There was a second raid, about midnight, over another part of London. The sounds of the explosions were plainly heard in the theatres, but there was a commendable absence of panic. There were five distinct areas of attack distinguishable. In the first,- there was little or no residential property, chiefly large business buildings, with wide streets. Here four high-explosive bombs fell in the streets, while a fifth struck the back premises 'of a large building tlironged with people. One bomb penetrated to - the underground railways, melted' gaspipos, and started a fire lasting several hours. Almost all the glass in the neighbourhood was destroyed, and there were a number of casualties. All those who were injured had either been sitting in their front rooms or walking in the streets. "In the second area was a large .block of residential flats. One bomb fell into a garden. Two rooms on a ground floor were wrecked, while another demolished the top storey. There were no casual"ln the third area was a largo modern building of reinforced coucrete, with steel and concrete roof and flooring. A bomb which dropped on the roof did little damage, but an old building nearby was unable to withstand the shock. Fortunately- the inmates, warned by prerious explosions, took refuge in tho lower floors and escaped. "The fourth aiea of attack was entirely a working-class community, with houses and email shops. One group of houses was entirely destroyed by a. singlo bomb. The householders behaved with the utmost heroism and coolness.

Astonishing Esoapes. Tlio last area) of attack was a suburban district, consisting entirely of detached and semi-detached houses. Hero tho largest number of bombs were dropped. A' striking feature of the bombardment was the number of cases in which the'bombs missed the buildings and struck gardens onl.v. _ "There, were many astonishing escapes. A mother and daughter who were sleeping in an upper room were thrown into the 'street; both escaped death. . , "A bomb fell: into the. centre of a house, killed two children, and severely injured a third', also injuring the.father and mother. Twenty liou3es m the same road had tlioir doors and windows blown out. . - ■ ; ' , "Another fell into the street, wliere a youth was sayinir goodnight to a girl. The youth wa6 killed, and tho girl injured. An old man who was standing on the pavement had his ara blown off, and died."

UNVEILED RAILWAY LIGHTS,

WHAT THE CORONER SAW. (Rec. October 18, 9.25 p.m.) London, October 17. At the inquest on _ the bodies _of those who were killed in tho air-raids, the Coroner said that he had had pointed out to him signal-lights on railways which had' not been extinguished, * or wore not screened.. Ho had given that information to the Admiralty* ihe Coroner added that' these inquests wero not occasions for an angry outburst against the Germans, and warned ihe jury against ridiculous verdicts.