ZEPPELIN RAID ON LONDON

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 175, 19 May 1916, Page 4 (Supplement)

ZEPPELIN RAID ON LONDON

The following extract from letter just received ftom a young New Zealander now resident in London gives a vivid description of one of the barbarous air rads which are now harassing the British Isles. The writer is Mr. Bruce Macyean, a son of Mr. A. H. Maclean, one in the employ of the Bank of New Zealand. Wanganui, and now living in London.' The young fellow is at present going through his practical course at the London University College Hospital. He says: "The Zeppelins are at us again. Last Sunday . evening, though it was snowing, 3 Zeps. came over and visited eight counties, with the casualty list of 12 klled and 33 injured. 1 saw nothing of the scene—London itself was not approached. When they do come to our part, the first thing noticed is the booming of our anti-aircraft guns. Sometimes jjust after going to bed one hears an occasional boom —of course we know what it means. In fact, we get so used to hearing about Zepps, that we take it very calmly, and don't like the trouble ot having to get out and dress. The booming gets nearer and nearer, and louder and louder and more frequent. Sometimes the guns may be heard in several parts all around one, and a Zeppelin not visible. Later, a Zep. is spotted with the searchlights/ and then there is a most interesting sight, that of the shells from our own guns exploding all around the "silvery cigar," and yet not seeming to hit it. They explode nearer to it, gradually getting their range—sometimes one thinks the Zep. is surely hit, but the shell explodes in the place where the Zep. had been a few seconds before. Present one may see huge clouds of black smoke seeming to emanate from the "baby-killer," and then it is completely or part hidden from view since the searchlight is unable to penetrate this thick bank of clouds.

Now is the Zepp's chance—it alters its course', we know not where to, and when the smoke (produced from the Zepp.) has blown away, nothing can be found of the monster. I have witnessed this very scene and I can assure j r ou it is very disappointing to find, after so many shells have been used the Zep. has "disappeared in smoke." It is a very impressive sight to see the elongated airship on its course suddenly turn upwards at an actute angle, look as if it were bound to slip backward, but nevertheless ascend most gracefully. But the air-craft has not finished, in tho distancj a good many miles off may be see the sky illuminated with a red glare. One knows then that part of the city is on fire, and heaven help the children! Next days one reads of the raid and tho number of casualties. This raid lam speaking of caused, I believe, 230 casualties, a large proportion being children and women, very few being military men. One reads stories how a bus conductor is blown to pieces, part of him being found 100 yards or more from the rest of his body. Such is the state of affairs when a nation like Germany wages war I • Ali file preceding may be due to one Zep., but greater damage is done when the number reaches six.