THE ZEPPELIN FIASCO

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 26, 25 October 1917, Page 5

THE ZEPPELIN FIASCO

DEBATE IN BRITISH PARLIAMENT HOSTILE MOTION WITHDRAWN London, October 23. In the House of Commons, critics of tho London air defences moved the adjournment of tho House to discuss l< i> day's raid. . Mr. Austen Chamberlain and Admiral Sir Hedworth Meux advised tho House to make short work of the motion. Mr. Bonar Law eaid he refused to help Germany by giving particulars of our methods of defending London. Of eleven Zeppelins, only one came over London. The view of the air service officers was that the mist did not save London, but it saved the Zeppelin. If the Germans ever smiled at our way of conducting war, they would have a.- happy time over the British House of Commons stopping its business to make this fuss over the greatest air defeat Germany I'ad over suffered. Two raids upon German towns with large populations had already taken place, and this is what happened: Owing to tho pressure by one or two members of tho Houso of Commons and the pressure by newspaoers to find out what we wore going to do, it was a fact that the Gormans, who know the only quarter from which the raids could teko place, had sent flying squadrons to await our flyers, and were ready to receive r.ur men. Tho motion was withdrawn.—Aus.-N.£. Cable Assn.

PRESS CRITICISM. PUBLIC'S DEMAND NOT SATISFIED. London, October 23, The "Daily Express", says:-"If the bombing of a town forty miles over the border is what tho Government means by bombing German towns, it is not what the public mean. Tho statement creates widespread astonishment. This continued lack of action is causing Widespread discontent."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

COUNTING THE STRAGGLERS

SOME UNCERTAINTY. Paris, October U3. It is still doubtful whothor five or six Zeppelins were destroyed in Franco, and whether four or five escaped to Germany, though it is believed that the /eppelin which landed sixteen men at Jlon-tigny-le-Roi now lies among tho Alps. Gorman prisoners stale that thirteen Zeppelins took part iu tlio raid, and eleven returned across France. All the crews bolong to tho Navy; Ihcro are no longor any land Zeppelins. The officers were arrogant, and claimed special regime and rooms at a hotel. They were much distressed when they were treated as prisoners. The officers and crow of L 45, which descended at Lnragnc, were captured by Madame Dupont, a farmer's wife; but she was nnabla to prevent the captain, Koeller, from setting fira to the

Zeppelin by shooting at it with his revolver.

It is believed that the Zeppelins' engines froze when they were stopped for two hours while drifting over London. This was tho real cause of the disaster, as it is impossible to restart them at a high altitude. The ships drifted over France, and wero forced to descend at dawn, when the French aeroplanes discerned them.—Aue.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

THE CASUALTIES IN FRIDAY'S ATTACK. London, October 23. The Press Bnreau reports:—"The total casualties caused by Friday's air raid were:—Killed, 31; injured, 56.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter.