THE BIGGEST RAID TO DATE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 209, 23 May 1918, Page 5

THE BIGGEST RAID TO DATE

SUNDAY'S ATTACK ON LONDON GERMAN SQUADRONS COME IN RELAYS London, May 21. Snndnj's raid was one of the biggest yet attempted. A large number of enemy machines took part in the attack on tho capital, and camo in relays. Everywhere the barrago was magnificent, and tho British airmen also fiercely attacked tho invaders. American airmen assisted for the first time.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. ' THE OFFICIAL REPORT. London, May 21. Tho Press Bureau reports: Probably 20 or 30 Gothas took part in tho London raid on Sunday. A group entered tho Thames estuary at 11 p.m., and skirted the coast of North Kent. They wero lioavilv shelled. British airmen engaged a Gfotha at 11.30 at closo range. Tho Gotha disappeared in the clouds, and shortly afterwards burst into ilamcs at a height of 7000 ft., and fell, a blazing wreck. The remainder of the raiders traversed Kent, dropping bombs, but do. ing no damage. Tho other group entered Essex, and reached London, where a Gotha was brought down by gunfire. A few dozen bombs wero dropped in tho London district, damaging small dwellinghouses. The casualties wero in nowise heavy or proportionate to the material damage. All the raiders .were hotly (engaged by tho anti-aircraft defences. Home attempted to descend in tho'Thames estuary, while others proceeded eastwards over the land. Some o£ the machines were probably severely damaged while attempting to penetrate the London defences. At least three more failed to escape. Two were brought down before they crossed tho coast, one of them being destroyed by British airmen, and a filth fell in ilamcs at sea, and the sixth and seventh wero observed falling at sea, but this is unconfirmed. The casualties total 37 killed and IGI injured. Except for two outbreaks 'of fire in larger premises, which wero soon controlled, the damage was confined to tho wrecking of smaller dwollinghouses by concussion—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.-Rcuter.

FRESH TERRORS FOR THE RAIDERS DEADLY SYSTEM' OF HIGH-EXPLO-SIVE GUNFIRE. • London, May 21. The "Daily Express" reports a high authority as stating that the number of invaders brought down is mainly duo to the latest 6ystem of concentrated bghexplosive gunfire, and the efforts of tho British aviators, who forced tho enemy within range of the anti-aircraft batteries. High explosives can now. be directed to a far greater height than before, while tho vapidity with which tho rango can bo adjusted is a feature of the newest guns.—Aus.-N.Z, Cablo Assn. RAIDERS SUFFERJURIHER LOSSES TWO FORCED TO DESCEND OFF THE DOGGER BANK. (Roc. May 2% 8 pju.) London, May 21. A telegram from Copenhagen,'states that a steamor and fishing boat have arrived at Gothenburg, eaoh with two German airmen whom' they had saved from two aeroplanes of a large and-new type which were forced to descend in tho vicinity of the Dogger Bank owiug to shortage of petrol. The Germans destroyed'their aeroplanes. From this it would appear that tho London air raiders puttered fur. ther losses en route home—Reuter. NEW GERMAN STEEL-CLAD WAR 'PLANE HOW THE AMERICAN AIR HERO MET HIS FATE. New York, May 21. The New York "Times" correspondent with the American Army states that Lufberry volunteered to attack a giant Ger. man aeroplaue, tho engines of which were armour-plated, while the gunners wore steel suits, and tho pilots sat in a 6teel house. Several American airmen suit streams of firo against the German machine without result. They resembled swallows pecking at a giant bird of prey. Lufberry attacked it, but Ins tank was set on fire, and ho leaped from tho mnchino at a height of 2000ft.-Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.