"ZEPPS COMING!"

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2637, 7 December 1915, Page 6

"ZEPPS COMING!"

A NEW ZEALANDER IN ENGLAND. Mr. Fleming Laurenson, well known in local bowling circles, returned from a visit to England by the Ulimnroa yesterday. In the course of a chat he referred to the gradual change that was being brought about by war conditions in England, and tho solid defensive works that were everywhere in progress or in beirg. It was simply wonderful to make a trip up the Clyde now, and see tho ship-buildiug yards turning out war cralfc of every description . at. top• ; i>rqs3u,i'9.. ;The. } din from' the river was simply alive with wardships-, destroyers, torpedo boats, and submarines in various stages of completion. Ho was in London during tlie Zeppelin raids ol' October. Contrary to what olio might expect, the crowds rushed eagerly into tho streets "to see the show" as scou as a report of '.'Zepps coming" went round. On one particular night a big Zeppelin dropped .to 1500 ft. as it. passed swiftly over London, arid the sight of the monster air-craft, which was made clearly visible to everyone by the searchlights, was most impressive] Mr. Laurenson saw' the effect of one oxplosive bomb dropped in How Street by a. Zeppelin, tho same night' that it was dropped. It made a crater for itself about, twenty feet in diameter and some six or eight feet deep, tearing up and melting tlio , underground gaspipes, which ,were still flaming away when lie reached the spot. An enormous crowd had assembled to see tho bomb-pit, and a mild sensation was caused through a motor tire bursting with a loud report in the vicinity. In the stampede which ensued many women and children were trampled underfoot. Tho inoendiary bombs caused a good many fires, but the London Metropolitan Firo Brigade was so fine a./ body that it was equal -to any emergency. , Mr. Laurenson visited Leicester, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and other commercial, centres on business. In London and elsewhere he mot many prominent bowlers, and'on August 8 .on the South London green played a singles game against Mr. .D. Irving Watson, champion of England in 1913 and 1914, and 1 managed to beat him by 21 points to 10. Mr. Laurenson states that this green was tlie\most perfect one in London— a beautiful velvety mat of perfect texture and even resistance, lending itself to the finest play. The Londoners mostly played a quiet drawing game, with occasionally a firm running shot, but driving was practically tabooed —it was not against the rules of the game, but was simply considered, to be not the thing. ■ "