AIR ASSASSINS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2738, 5 April 1916, Page 5

AIR ASSASSINS

THE RAIDS ON SCOTLAND

TRAIL OF THE BOMBS

LIEUT. BRANDON'S PEAT

By Telegraph-Press A6sociation-oopyright

London, April 3. Sunday night's visit was the first by a Zeppelin to the east coast of Scotland: Over twenty bombs were dropped. The airship remained over the district for forty-five minutes, and stopped over the north-eastern county for thirty minutes. Twenty bombs were dropped over a considerable agricultural area, but without doing any damage. Searchlights were fixed on the raider. The precautions taken in London in elude further redudtion of lighting The' threatened raid was taken with the utmost sang froid. The London correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" states that one of the Germans rescued from the Zeppelin declared that larger Zoppelins, armed with more powerful bombs, would coma to England. The correspondent- adds: "Breithaupt's capture is of the greatest importance. He is the only Zeppelin commander who has won the Order of Merit. He is an exceedingly clever man." WE WERE WELL PREPARED NO PUBLIC PERTURBATION.' (Rec. April 4, .10.40 p.m.) London April 4. England was unperturbed over the air raids occurring on three successive ilights. The newspapers emphasise the fruitlessness of these nrarderous invasions, which were devoid of the slightest military achievement—only the killing of unfortunate civilians. The bombs fell mostly in the poorest quarters, except in the Scottish city, where the hotels suffered. _ .. ~, Although the ZeppelinsNcruised about for several hours, drawing our bombardment, the indications were that the authorities are now better prepared. TOO HOT FOR THE ZEPPELIN'' AIR RAIDER GREETED WITHTERRIFIC FIRE. (R«c. April 4, 10.30 p.m.) London, April 4. A town in the Eastern County reports that a Zeppelin, flying low, was subjected to a fierce shrapnel fire, and rose .rapidly, accompanied by an appalling series or terrific explosions, indicating that the commander, terror-stricken, had loosed every projectile on board. He disappeared in the direction of the coast, leaving many craters, large enough to bury hay stacks. The Zeppelin, returning, dropped eight bombs on Dunkirk! two civilians being killed and four injured. An engineer was arrested! in an East Coast town, and charged with being in possession of a signalling lamp. Flashes were seen at midnight.

HOW A SCOTTISH TOWN SUFFERED. , (Rec.. April 4, 8.50 p.m.) London, April 3. The residential quarter of the Scottish' town was bombarded. No publio building of importance was struck. Five people were killed in a passage adjoining a tenement building, and two domestics were killed in a- doctor's bouse. hotels were struck, soveral people being killed, and others seriously injured. ' THE OFFICIAL ACCOUNTS INDISCRIMINATE BOMBDROPPING London, April 3.^ Official.-—Six Zeppelins participated in last night's raid. Three raided the south-east counties of Scotland, one the north-oast coast of England, the remainder the eastern counties of England. The air vessels crossed the Scottish coast between 9 and 10.15,- and remained until 1 o'clook in the morning. Their course did not indicate any special locality of attack. Thirty-six explosive and seventeen incendiary bombs wore dropped on various places, damaging some hotels and dwelling-houses. Seven men and three children were killed, and five men, two women, and four children injured. One raider dropped twenty-two explosive and fifteen incendiary bombs on the north-east coast. « Two of the Zeppelins cruised over the eastern counties from 10.15 to 1 o'clock in the morning. - - Our anti-aircraft guns appear to have prevented their selection of any definite locality as an objective. They dropped thirty-three explosive and sixtyfive incendiary bombs. No casualties were reported in England. ■ Shortly before midnight a Zeppelin rained bombs on ceftain north-eastern rural districts, but, although surrounded by bomb craters, no house was hit. The only casualties occurred in a fowlyard. An unexploded bomb buried itself in a lawn, a few feot from the house. THE GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT ■ CHALLENGES BRITISH STATE- ' MENT. (Rec. April 4, 10.40 p.m.) Amsterdam, April 4. The German official communique- on the air raids states:—"Our airships on Saturday attacked the East Coast of England and bombarded with incendiary bombs the iron foundries, blast furnaces, and industrial works on the south bank of the River Tees, the harbour buildings near Middlesborough and Sunderland, for an hour and a half. Violent explosions, collapse of buildings, and outbreaks of fires indicated that good effects were obtained by the attack. Despite the vigorous alitj-aircraft bombardment, our airships were not harmed. "The British official report was tmtrue." ZEPPELIN'COMMANDER INTERVIEWED "WE HAD HIGHER MILITARY AIMS." Amsterdam, April 3. ■ The "Telograaf's" London correspondent interviewed Breithaupt, who commanded tho Zeppelin that fell into the Thames Estuary. Breithaupt said: lou must not suppose that wo set out. to lull wombn. We had higher military aims. No officer of the Gorman Army or Navy has killed women or children; such things happen accidentally m war." • . The interviewer states that it soemn the Germans expectod to be shot when caught. Breithaupt told the British: "I take the responsibility; my men are not responsible," , The captives state that the crew of the Zoppelin totalled eighteen. Only one was drowned. Tho Zeppelin was nearing tho British coast when it was snotted, and immediately they were struck. It was three days (?. hours) before thfiv SWA ahla to throw out 8 bomb. Tha Zermalin broke in the mid-

dlo and fell from a great height into the water. All the submerged were rescued after an hour. They, say the British were very kind. Asked if they could distinguish anything on dark nights they replied: "Nothing; only tlie land from the water." , AN AEROPLANE "STAR." LIEUT. BRANDON IN THE PUBLIC EYE. London, April 3. AH the newspapers, are publishing photographs of Lieut Brandon. ZEPPELIN RAIDON DUNKIRK The High Commissioner reports:— London, April 3, 4.10 p.m. "Last night a Zeppelin threw eight bombs' on Dunkirk, causing unimportant damage. Two oivilians were killed, and four wounded." REPRISALS. The High Commissioner reports:— London, April 3. In reprisals for the Zeppelin raid, 81 Allied aeroplanes dropped 83 bombs on tiie enemy's cantonments at Keylen, Elsen (? Elten, on the Rhine), and [Southulst (? Houthulst, in Flanders).

A HERO OF THE AIR

LIEUT. A. DE B. BRANDON By his daring and effective attaok on fte Zeppelin raider, Lieut. A. de B Brandon, the New Zealander, has eclipsed the famous exploit- of the late gallant Lieut. Warneford. who was the first airman to accomplish the destruction of a Zeppelin. Warneford's attack was delivered in the daytime, Brandon's at night, at a much greater alti; tude, and under much more dangerous, conditions.

Sub-Lieutenant Alfred de Bathe Bran' don is a son of Mr. A. de B. Brandon, of Wellington. He is 32 years of age, and went Home last year for the pur. pose of entering the Aviation Corps, He attended the Flying School at Hendon, and tho Military School at. Harrow, ond received his commission in the Royal Flying Corps later. He is a Wellington College boy, and later attended Cambridge University. Before the war he was a member of the legal firm of Brandon, Hislop. and Brandon. Followiiig the news of his exploit, his father yesterday, was .inundated with congratulatory messages. Mr. Brandon has so. far had ho news from bis son regarding his exploit. In tho course of the last letter he received his son had just obtained his commission, and vas waiting for it to be gazetted.. Ho ' was then 'at the Military A.viation School at Harrow, where- he had been engaged in flying experiments with a now model of an aeroplane, known as the "Avro" machine. As is well known the aeroplane (biplane and monoplane) has been at a disadvantage as compared with the "Zeppelin" airship, owing to the fact that these great "clippers of the clouds" (actual realisations of Jules. Verne's dreams) could rise or fall practically verticaliy,_ whilst the aeioplane has to,, mount in spiral circles. The advantage of tho "Avro" type of aeroplanes is that, though still a* thing of planes, it can ascend in shorter circles, - and therefore much quicker than other types of British machines. The "Avro" can climb vertically at the rata of between 50 and 60 miles an hour, and has a speed of 70 miles an hour when flying horizontally, It is this typo of aeroplane that'Lieut. Brandon had been given the opportunity of experimenting with, which points to tho probability that it was ill ono of these now machines that he made his 'sensational attack on the Zeppelin, i A number of members of tho legal profession in Wellington sent a cablegram to Flight Sub-Lieut. A. de B. Brandon • yesterday, congratulating him upon having, as stated in yesterday s messages from London, surmounted and bombed a Zeppelin on Friday night last. WORTHY OF A GREAT OCCASION A NEW ZEALAND GIFT AEROPLANE. . A suggestion vas made by the Hon. A. M, Myers at a- public meeting in Auckland a few months ago that an Aeroplane Fund should be started .' in New Zealand, by each large_ centre subscribing sufficient money for tho purpose of purchasing one machine. 1 At the same time, he pointed out that it was agreed that although thisr-would possibly not increase the number of machines that could be; manufactured, on account of the factories already being worked to their fullest capacity, jievcrtheless it would demonstrate that this Dominion is of one mind in wishing to give support to this important part of modern warfare, with the_ object of strengthening those who are in authority in their endeavours to wake thfe Empire mistress of the air as well,as of the sea. With the object of ascertaining what progress had been made in giving effect to his suggestion, a representative of The Dominion called on Mr. Myers yesterday. Tho Minister stated that ho'underscood about £700 Jiad been aheady collected in Auckland, but that apparently no effort so far ha<l .beon made- in this direction in the other large wmtres. Ho we it on to say: "Not New Zealand alone, but the whole of the Empire, has been thrilled by the exploit of Flight-Lieutenant Brandon, of Wellington, who, as reported in recent newspaper cablegrams, single-handed bombed a Zeppelin raider and apparently put an end to its murderous activities. The reports stated, that Liout. Brandon was anxious to have 'a smack' at the Zeppolins. Lot u? prove to the world, that not only the brave New Zealand lieutenant, but tho whole of his fellow-citizens in the Dominion here, are also anxious to have 'a smack' at tiie law-breaking marauders. New Zealand, lias now a splendid , opportunity "of-demonstrating in a.most | effective manner that she is not backward in appreciation of the horoic efforts of ono of,tho bravest of her sons by subscribing as a gift to the Mother Country, an aerop'ane, manned (if this con be arranged by tho Homo authorities) by Lieutenant Brandon himself, and to bo made famous by his further GXptell* in the; cuiuse of uur Empire and our Allies, If possible, tho machine

should be given a name which, would identify it with New Zealand... -v -.. "For every brave deed' performed by our men actually on aotivo service, let those whose duty it is to romain at their posts here show the_ world that they avo earnest in tiheir endeavour to 'go one better,' and that however magnificent a record New Zealanders have made in this war, those who are behind- them are -united in heart and mind in wishing to add .furSeer brilliancy to the 'tale land patriotism and generosity to 'Mle country who gave her birth and to whom she owes.so much." - ■-■■ - -

YUAN'S CRITICAL HOUR

THE ABDICATION UNFAVOURABLE PORTENTS . IN CHINA By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services,) (Rec. April 4, ( {5.26Vp.m.),.,^ Uondon l ,'!Aprir,4. , v The "Times" correspondent at Peking says that the situation is developing unfavourably for Yuan Shih Kai. Many of the provinces, ostensibly loyal, are actually neutral or secretly hostile. It is generally realised that-the initiative has passed from the Government to the Opposition. The cancellation of the Monarchy does not satisfy Yuan's opponents: who are demanding his abdicate. Yuan's friends are urging him immediately to assemble Parliament' and arrange for the formation of a Government which can be conducted upon Constitutional lines. GRAVE NEWS CHINESE POPULACE UNEAStf. A (Rec. April 5, 1.415 "a-m.)' ' ,', Pelting, April i. ■'.. The Chinese troops at the treaty port of Swatow 1 have declared their independence of the Central Government. A party of marines ■ from the United States gunboat Wahnington have been landed in the city. Chang-Sha-fu (in Hunan) has also declared its independence. The authorities have asked the American, Consul to send a warship to protect.,the.silk factories and ironworks. '; ;. \ _*.'; '. Canton reports that the river trade is decreasing owing to _the_ disturbed condition of the inland districts. Business in Canton is largely suspended, and the populace is greatly excited. Many have left the towns, and others are preparing to stand a siege. It is stated that the rebels refuse to*, make peace untH Yuan Shih-Eai'has're-' signed the Presidency, and General Huing Shih-Kuipg has been superseded,"

BRUSH WITH VILLA'S BANDITS

AMERICAN. CAVALRY INACTION i OUTLAW CHIEF Itf HIDING Bt Telesrapb—Press San Antonio (Texas), April 3. • American cavalry defeated 500 of Villa's followers 130 miles from _ the frontier, at Guerrero. The .Mexicans were surprised during the celebration of a victory over President Carranza. It is alleged that Villa murdered the entire Carranza garrison'.6f-.172.-_ - Villa had a leg broken.' He is. now' in hiding, ; ' : Four Americans were wounded andi thirty followers of Villa were killed.

'' AUSTRALIAN NEWS

■ » '' ''■■ TASMANIAN ELECTIONS - LABOUR GOVEBAMENT DEFEATED By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. April 4, 11.10 p.m.) Hobart, April 4. The elections resulted in the defeat of the Labour Government through the Liberals capturiag a - seat. - The- finalreturas give ,the' Liberals.'fifteen .seats' and Labour fourteen, while there ie.one - Independent. The last-named ■brqhie J from the Liberal Party during the last Parliament. , ~...,. -.-....... THE METAL INDUSTRY A .CO-OPERATIVE COMPANY ANKOUNOED. .... By Telegraph—Press Association. (Rec. April 4, : -9.30 p.m.); "".'-■' Melbourne, April 4. Mr. Mahon (Minister for External Affairs) has announced the formation of a co-operative company to deal with the metal industry. There is every prospect of it being placed on e. footing free from the ■possibility; of German control in the future* 'Every mining and treatment company at Broken Hill has been brought into the Broken Hill Smelts Proprietary excepting the Sulphide Corporation, which possesses its own metallurgical works. ARRESTED ON THE MAKURA By TeleßraDh—Presß Association— Copyright (Rec. April 4, 9.30 ; p.m.) " : : ; Sydney, April (4. Detectives boarded the Makura on her arrival at Sydney, ..and arrestedRalph Stanley Lewis on a charge of allegedly stealing £410 at Auckland. He was remanded till April'l2. THE WORKERS' STROKE. DEVELOPING A LA TORTOISE. Sydney, April 4. Speaking at the emnloyees' picnic of Hoskins, Limited, Mr. Charles Hoskins .said he was afr'ajd that'in Australia there was a growing tendenoy" for men te develop, a- tortoise-like ! stroke. ' .. ~.-'• ITEMS IN BRIEF. STATE GOVERNOR RENOUNCES RACE MEETINGS. Adelaide, April 4. The State- Governor (Sir H. L. Galway) has announced his intention not to attend race meetings until the end of the war. < THE LIQUOR REFERENDUM. Sydney, April 4. The Legislative Assembly "has fixed the taking of the liquor referendum within fifty-three days.^ australian trade with japan: Sydney, April 4. Mr. Suttor, Now South Wales Commercial Agont in the East, has arrived. He expressed the opinion that Japan would beat Germany in commercial expansion. Ho emphasises the fact that there-is practically an inoxhaustible demand for Australian prodiiots, particu» larly wool.