In the Air

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 58, 8 July 1915, Page 5

In the Air

Great Bri ish Aerial Raid.

WILHELMSHAVEN SPIED.

ADMIRALTY PLAYS THE CAME.

RECONNOITRING HELIGOLAND

AND THE KIEL CANAL.

United Press Association

(Received 8.20 n.m.)

New York, July 7

Berlin reports that a great British aerial raid was made upon a German port, supposedly Wilhelinshaven.

No details have been received

in London

While the German statement reassures ' the German people that the attack was unsuccessful, and while there are no reports of heavy damage, it is realised that the amount of information to he gathered in reconnoitring over Heligoland and the Kiel Canal will he most valuable to the Admiralty,

Some authorities assert it is the most significant' aerial sue* cess of the war, and that the party accomplished their purpose and got away,'" apparently wit limit loss.

It is quite probable they dropped bombs and did considerable damage which the Germans will not admit.

Gorman j airships sighted the advancing British naval forces off Terschelling at (fawn, which comprised several hydro-aero-planes, and were accompanied by and destroyers.

WILHELMSHAVEN. Wihelmshaven ranks officially as Germany's second war harooiir, though its strategical position makes it, in fact, the principal base of a German fleet operating in the North Sea. it began its career as a naval station as late as 1890, since when enormous sums of money and infinite labour have been expended on its development. In area the dockyard is almost four times as large as that of Kiel, and it is even more modern in equipment. It contains a bewildering number of docks and basins, together ' with building slips, repair shops, depots, and store-houses. There are three Dreadnought graving docks and four smaller ones, and live floating docks, of which the latest can raise vessels up to 39,<500 tons.

Only one of the building slips is available for constructing Dreadnoughts, but a second is being lengthened sufficiently for this purpose. The total number of officials and workmen is about 10,500 under peace conditions. At Wilhelm shaven were built the Dreadnought battleships “Nassau,” “Ostfriesland.” and “Konig,” ami at the present moment the battle-cruiser “Ersatz Hertha” is building there. Wilhelmshaven is the base of the First Battle Squadron. the Scouting Squadron (i.e., all the battle-cruisers and other cruisers of the High Sea the 2nd Torpedo Division, and of a submarine flotilla. It is very heavily fortified. The approach to the Jade Channel is commanded by the batteries of Wangerooge, an island garrisoned by seamen guhhdrls; and said to have very powerful guns. There is a flying station at Wilhelmshaven, with hangars for a dozen seaplanes. About 110 miles due west of Wilhelmshaven is Tershelling island at the mouth of the Zuyder Zee. This island about is about HO miles South West of Heligoland. The presence of a British naval aerial fleet and escort seem so close to Germany’s naval bases seem to portend extensive operations against the German fleet.