In the Air

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 41, 19 February 1915, Page 5

In the Air

SAVED BY A GERMAN. BRITISH AVIATOR BRICCS IN A TIGHT CORNER. Times and Sydney Sun Service. (Received 8.0 a.ra.) London, February 18. Aviator Briggs was captured during November. ' He received a grazing bullet wound in the ear after he lauded. A German soldier at a distance forty yards fired five ineffective shots. Briggs then lifted up his hands. The soldiers and civilians dragged him out of the machine, and while he was bent with his face downwards he received a heavy blow, supposedly from the butt of a rifle. A German officer saved his life by standing between Briggs .and the onrushing crowd and threatening to shoot anyone touching the* Britisher.

ZEPPELIN ACTIVITY. EXPLOSION ON ZEPPELIN RESULTS IN DESTRUCTION. United Press Association. Amsterdam, February 18. An explosion destroyed a Zeppelin at Faroe Island. The crew of sixteen were interned. An airship of the Parseval type crossed the Zuyder Zee in a vertical position, the crew being unable to right her. Later, she passed Hoorn, apparently without her car. Copenhagen, February 18. Officers of the Zeppelin explain that they were on outpost duty at the North

Sea, and after the explosion decided to cross to Denmark instead of drifting over the North Sea. When, landing they ignited the airship to prevent it becoming Danish property,’as it vas impossible to repair it in twenty-four hours.

There is much Zeppelin activity in Jutland and the Baltic. Two were observed at Hysted exchanging signals with a German warship. A Zeppelin also followed a Dutch steamer to Rotterdam.

DETAILS OF THE DESTRUCTION.

(Received 8.50 a.m.)

Copenhagen, February 18.

Zeppelin L 3, which was burnt at Fango, was one of Germany s best airships. They encountered a snowstorm and fought the elements for five hours, finally only one motor being workable. They -passed the Danisn frontier towns rapidly sinking, then the fourth motor ceased, and they landed, narrowly missing an hotel. Captain Fritz fired her to prevent revelations of her secret machinery and equipment.