MIDST FALLING BOMBS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2684, 2 February 1916, Page 3

MIDST FALLING BOMBS

A ZEPPELIN RAID ON LONDON. Writing from London to his brother on the staff of the AYellington City Council, Mr. James Osborne, a Loudon jeweller, now a upccial constable there, says: "I expect jou liavo heard all about the last 'Zepp." raid by now. 1 was in it, as it happened to be my week on duty. lam attached co the .IS Division at Bow Street. Tho damage was very great on our ground. I was guarding the Fisher Street (IIolborn) Electric Light Station at tiie, time. My colleague aud myself heard the booming in the distance some time before tho "Zepps." arrived, but our headquarters only know they were so near about ten minutes before, they dropped the first bomb outside the Lyceum Theatre. It was an awful crash, 1 can toll you. The first intimation that a bomb had fallen was like a (lash of lightning, followed by a terrific report. Then four others were dropped in Kingsway, just outside the Gaiety and Strand Theatres, and in Catherine Street. The one which fell in Wellington Street burst the gas main, and flames rose up in the air like a huge bonfirii. One cf our men was killed, and another injured. When I was relieved I went down 'to the scene of the first bomb. It was a bad sight. The Wellington publie-house aud ail the places round about had every window blown out, and all along the Strand shattered glass aud other things wero scattered over tho road. There were a lot people lying about the. road, who were taken to the hospital on a fire engine and on shutters." It was a cruel thing to see! I was called out from business the next day to help guard tho road at Wellington Street, and was on duty for live hours in tho morning and four hours at night. I did not get home until 1.30 a.®, on the night of the raid.. All'trains were stopped whilst the "Zepps." were about, and all the stations .were in darkness. The ''Zepps"' oi,me along over the Strand, Chancery Lane, and Lincoln's Inn about 9.30 p.m., and returned over Woolwich at about' 11.45 p.m. .1 saw them firing at uhem from the Waterl6o platform, but the shots did not seem to reach them. Never mind, I hope next time they will bang them to pieces, and wo .have fresh guns and naval gunners. I have just finished another week's duty. On Wednesday there was a jumpy time again. Tho "Zepps." were reported to be on the warpath again. It is n<?t pleasant I can assuro you, not knowing when they are going to drop one or two, and one unable to do anything by way of retaliation. You would not know London now. It is so dark at night, aud no one about much —it gives one the hnmp!"