In the Air.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 33, 9 June 1915, Page 6

In the Air.

DESTROYING A ZEPPELIN. RUN DOWN BY AEROPLANES. BURNING MACHINE SETS FIRE TO NUNNERY. TERRIBLE SCENES FOLLOW. fUNiTiu Perm Abbooiation.] London,' June S. The Doily Telegraph's Rotterdam correspondent states that one, British and one French aeroplane attacked the Zeppelin at three o'clock in the morning as it was returning from a scouting expeditioTi on the Belgian coast, which is part of the nightly training for the London raid. The Zeppelin first rose to a tremendous height in an attempt to evade its pursuers, then speeding towards the airship station. On approaching Ghent it was necessary to descend to a lower altitude. The aeroplanes kept up a continuous rifle lire, and the Zeppelin replied with a machine gun and many rbund shells from a small cannon, but both were reslUtless. As the airship was dropping to reach the shed, both aeroplanes got above it and dropped bombs. < There was an explosion and the fire spread until the whole airship was enveloped in flame and smoke, and then it crashed down into the Grand Rcquinage de St. Li/.abeth (which includes 'seven hundred members devoted to charity), 'the nunnery of which is at present tilled with refugee Belgian women , and children. The burning mass set tire to the building, and terrible scenes were witnessed. Many of the crew were already dead and their bodies were flung in all directions, not one man surviving. Two nuns were killed in the fire. 'A man who was attempting to rescue a child leaped from a burning room, and both were killed.

HERO HAILS FROM CANADA. London, June 8. Wiirneiord, the Zeppelin hero, is a Canadian. He obtained a pilot's certificate only three months ago. KING'S CONGRATULATIONS VICTORIA CROSS BESTOWED. (Received 9.35 a.m.) London, Juno 8. Tiie King telegraphed Naval Flight Sub-Lieutenant Warneford : — , "| most heartily congratulate you on your splendid achievement. wherein you, .single handed, destroya Zeppelin. I have pleasure in confering on yon the Victoria Cross for your gallant act." WARNEFORD'S FINE COOLNESS. 'Received !).35 i1.n1.) Paris. June S. When Wariieford unexpectedly looped the loop, and the petrol escaped near the tank, lie landed (prickly and refilled from a reserve supply and reascended. In connection with the destruction of the Hangar, (he column of flame rose in such a height as to suggest that the bomb penetrated a Zeppelin within and ignited the escaping gas.