Zeppelin Over Britain.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 17, 21 January 1915, Page 5

Zeppelin Over Britain.

NIGHT RAID ON NORFOLK. SEVERAL BOMBS DROPPED. YARMOUTH AND OTHER PLACES VISITED. TEN MINUTES OF HORROR. CIVILIANS KILLED AND HOUSES SHATTERED. —^ [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] United Press Association. London, Jaaufcry 20. A German aeroplane, at 3.30 p.m , dropped bombs in Yarmouth, causing considerable damage, a ritan's bead being blown off. The aeropla.ie could be plainly heard. One bomb fell on the sea-iron:., another on the South Quay, a third" new the Drill Hall, and a fourth at the Trinity Depot. Aften ten minutes the aeroplane escaped in the darkness. It is believed that (the Zeppelin at Yarmouth droppd five bombs. Three people were killed, and several houses shattered. Thence the Zeppelin went to Shenngham, and dropped, two bombs without damage. It reached King's Lynn at 10.30 p.m., and dropped four bombs. Thence it travelled towards Sandringham, and dropped bombs in ih.it locality.

THE NEWS IN LONDON. ROYAL RESIDENCE AT SANDRINCHAM ATTACKED. 9 THE KING IN LONDON. • News of the Zeppelin raid was published in London at midnight. Special constables had been called out, and the firemen gathered at their stations. The anti-aircraft guns had been manned, and searchlights were playing throughout the evening, the general expectation being that the long-threatened Zeppelin raid was coming. A sensation was caused when the news from Sandringham was received, but fortunately the King had returned to London prior to the outrage. The night was dark and still at » Yarmouth. Places of amusement were in full swing, and many people were in the streets, where the propellers fir&t attracted attention. The aircraft was seen coming from the north 7 east.' Flashes of a searchlight were occasionally seen. The craft crossed the centre of the town, dropping bombs from a low elevation. Hearing the explosions, many streamed out of their houses, but others followed the advice of the authorities and conceale dtlieir families. The King is.in London, having lelt Sandringham on Tuesday afternoon.

FURTHER PARTICULARS. DESTRUCTIVE EFFECT OF THE MISSILES. The bulk of the damage was clone to private houses.

A bomb alighted on an empty house. Another struck a shop, and blew iff the head of Smith, a shoemaker. The authorities immediately cut off the electric light and telephones. Police and special constables were despatched in every direction to succour the injured. Fortunately no fires broke out. The Zeppelin proceeded to Sheringham where a bomb crashed through the roof of a working man's house, and entered a room where the man was sitting with his wife and child, but i it did not explode, the fuse having become detached during descent. After harmlessly dropping another bomb at Beston, the Zeppelin reached King's Lynn at 11.15 p.m.'from Sandringharii. Special constables scoured the streets, ordering lights out. The fire brigades followed. The lights of the Zeppelin frequently darted skyward. Altogether, seven bombs were dropped. One killed a boy, aged 17, and buried his father in the debris of the house, but he was taken out alive. Elsewhere a baby and its mother were injured. The aircraft left eastward.

EFFECT ON THE POPULACE. FULL DAMAGE NOT ASCERTAINABLE AT PRESENT. The whole period of the bomb-drop-ping did not exceed ten minutes. The first bomb at Yarmouth fell on the recruiting ground. Immediately alter the airship's searchlight flashed on the town, and the neighbourhood was shaken with a reverberating explosion. Windows were broken everywhere. When the bomb fell on the Drill Hall, which w&s struck, but not greatly dam. aged, regardles f s of the cautions given, the majority of the townsfolk rushed into the streets. Terrifying explosions followed in five or six parts of the town.

The full damage will not be known till daylight. It is impossible at present to estimate the number of killed and injured, but the ruinous condition of many buildings suggests that the casualty list may be heavy, particularly as most peoplo wore at homo at the time. ' THE CHIEF DAMAGE was done in the congested area on St. Peter's road, where it is reported that lour were killed. The road is a main thoroughfare, leading to the parade. Broken plate-glass from the shops cut several peoplo. A bomb broke the windows of forty houses at Yarmouth the stone ">■ sembling a gas explosion. Another fell near the quay, but caused no damage.

A SENTRY FIRED AT THE ZEPPELIN. Smith's head was blown oli" i.verity yards from the centre of the explosion. An elderly woman was killed .it a distance of fifty yards. A GREEN, LICHT WAS SEEN AT SEA. Tt is conjectured that this was a signal for the aircraft, showing the position of a German vessel, ready to assist the aviator in case of disaster. A resident of Shoringham states that there were two Zeppelins, at least 3000 ft. high. It was an aweinspiring spectacle, the crash from four bombs following. One ..roppevi on a piece of waste ground, waking a

hole 2ft. deep. The ground was ma do so hot that it was impossible to put one's hand near for three-quarte"S of an hour later. Another bomb was picked up uuexploded. A CHILD HAD A WONDERFUL ESCAPE. It had been put to bed, but cried, and its parents brought it downsia.rs. A few minutes later a bomb fell through the bed where the little one had been sleeping. One house at Sheringham caught fire, but no serious damage resulted. Approaching Kings Lynn, the ?tppelin dropped a bomb at Snettidml, where Queen Alexandra has a bungalow. It dropped others at Dersi lghall. Many houses at Kings Ljnn were damaged, the doors wrecked, hinges and windows shattered, furni tuve scattered'in fragments, ?>rd masonry hurled several hundred yards.

PROGRESS OF THE ENEMY. DAMACE AT THE YARMOUTH DOCKS. (Received 8.30 a.m.) London, January 20. The hydraulic engine-house at the Docks was destroyed. The airship was plainly seen at Sandringham. Eyewitnesses state that two Zeppelins passed Cromer at 8.30, coming to Mundesley and going to Witbourrie. About ten o'clock one airship came eastward, turning seaward ue-ir Sheiingham, and taking a course. BEFORE THE RAID. THE AIRSHIPS IN FLIGHT. HEAVY GUN-FIRING IN THE NORTH SEA. (Beceived 8.30 a.m.) London, January -JO.

Amsterdam telegrams stacod that an airship was seen in the morning crossing to the north of the Dutch Islands, including Amedand. Heavy gun firing was heard in a northerly direction soon after. A second airship was seen «t a great height going rapidly westward in the afternoon. Later, one airship returned. Of the three airships seen at Tirschelling, one was going eastward and the others south-westerly. The airships were in wireless communication with the Emden station. AEROPLANES, NOT ZEPPELINS. FAMILIES HOMELESS AT KING'S LYNN. CROMER'S LIGHTS OUT. (Received 8.45 a.m.) London, January 20. There are conflicting reports whether the attackers were Zeppelns or aeroplanes at Yarmouth, but the authorities are positive they were aeroplanes. It is generally believed tfcfy were aeroplanes, owing to the .nail explosives. Several houses were demolished at King's,Lynn, and twenty five families are homeless.

A soldier who was wounded at Yarmouth died.

The officials at Cromer promptly extinguished all lights, and no bombs were dropped. "MADNESS OF DESPAIR." AMERICAN PRESS COMMENT. (Received 12.30 p.m.) New York, January 20. The local newspapers severely comment on the raid on undefended places. The Herald asked whether it is the madness of despair. KILLED AND INJURED AT KING'S LYNN. BOMB MISSED AMMUNITION. (Received 10 a.m.) London, January 20. A woman's corpso was found at King's Lynn. It is believed thero were two other fatalities, and that several were injured. A bomb fell near the encamped troops' ammunition store at Grimston.