ZEPPELINS OVER LONDON.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 69, 20 November 1915, Page 3

ZEPPELINS OVER LONDON.

RECENT AIR RAIDS DESCRIBED. The following interesting particulars concerning the Zeppelin raid on Loudon are supplied by Mr it. Ellison, representing the National Dairy Association olANew Zealand. Writing from Colonial House, Tooley Street, London, under date September 13, Mr Ellison says:— “it has occurred to me that possibly a few first hapd particulars of the recent Zeppelin raids might be of interest, and 1 propose very briefly to touch on the outstanding aspect of this new form of warfare. “During this time last year great doubt was expressed as to whether the Zeppelin was likely to prove an effective means of attack by the henna us, especially, on a city like London so far removed from their base ; opinion seemed equally divided as to then ability to come so far afield. Ahe authorities, however, took the precautions at an early stage and prepared to meet any attempted raid. “London, since the commencement of the war, has been more or less reduced to semi-darkness. Recently this condition has been very • uch accentuated. Street lamps have been reduced to a minimum, and the remaining ones are darkened to such an extent as to render them nearly useless. In many of the suburbs the street lamps are not lit at all, the illuminating of shop fronts is prohibited, and at the seaside towns on the East Coast all lights are suppressed, even in private dwellings lights are not allowed to show.

“In and around London there arc many searchlights installed, some oi which are extremely powerful. During the earlier part of the evenings the sky is swept by those lights in search of hostile air craft and on many points of vantage anti-aircraft guns aie installed. So far, however, the latter have failed to bring down any of the Zeppelins. • “For some time past raids have taken place over some of the East Coast seaside towns, ■ particular attention having been bestowed upon Southend, which is on the Esses side and close to the mouth of the Thames, the Ormans evidently mistaking this lor Chatham. Later they got as far up as Gravesend, and here they did a considerable amount of damage, ol this particular raid I had actual knowledge as coming home late from the City we distinctly heard the booming of bursting shells as wc walked iiom the station at Sidcup to our home. From where we live Gravesend is situated about twelve miles distant. “The first Zeppelins to reach London did not get over the City proper. They confined their attention to Leyton and Walthamstow. These districts are served by the Great Eastern Hallway from Liverpool Street Station, trains from here run to and from Southend and it is generally believed that the Zeppelins have followed trains up from Southend to the City, which would lead them to the districts named. It is a fact that these two districts and adjoining parts have received more attention than any other quarter. “On Tuesday evening last we were awakened close upon midnight by a terrific explosion, and knew instantly that a night attack by Zeppelins was in progress 4 Hurrying to one of the windows at the back at the house, we saw shrapnel shells ■bursting in the air, but no sign 'of the enemy aircraft the firing came from the direction of M oolwichi and we could only conclude that they had been firing upon a Zeppelin. We remained outside fo.t another hall an hour, and at the end of that time concluded that as far as our own particular locality was concerned the dancer had passed for the time, when suddenly we could hear in the distance the faint throbbing noise of some kind of motor. This sound gradually increased, and from the unfaraibanty of tlie sound we made sure it was a Zeppelin. This proved only too true. It was a beautiful clear starlight night. -The heavens above us seemed filled with the strange noise ot this Zeppelin, and yet for a time we could not see anything of it. Eventually my wife located it, so high up that it was almost invisible and looked only about twenty feet in length. It passed almost directly overhead, and for the time being we felt rather uncomfortable, as we feared they might drop a I bomb. Through field glasses it was plainly* to be seen, and at the great height at which it was travelling lookled very much like the picture one sees lof submarines, Fortunately for us the monster passed over and disappeared .'in an easterly direction on its way back to Belgium. My belief is that the violent explosion which awoke us was the last bomb dropped by tins

Zeppelin at New Cross on its back. The explosion must have been terrific, as ibis part of London is about eight miles from our place. “I went to New Cross afterwards and saw some of the damage done. A house close to the railway station was completely demolished, and a little further off a largo hole was blown in ono of the streets. 1 also saw two different houses in Canterbury Street, off' Old Kent Road. One of these—a large three-storied building—had been reduced to a heap ol ruins and several lives lost. 1 came in contact with a small storekeeper, who told me he helped to rescue the family fioiu one of these houses. Fortunately no one was killed in this instance. He said the bomb bad crashed through the roof, passed through a bedroom on the first floor, through the room below, and buried itself several icct in the ground.' He found the tenant, a woman, had been carried by the falling debris, through the ceiling from her bedroom to the floor below. She was covered in dust and plaster, and when found was speechless; the floor of the bedroom was practically destroyed, little being left but the ratters*. The children in this house had a miraculous escape.

“The following night there was still more violent attacks, and many bombs were dropped right in the City itself. Several extensive fires were caused, and in some cases the premises involved were not covered against bombs. One large establishment off Cheapside employing some hundreds of hands was destroyed, and it is said the proprietors are absolutely ruined. “The concussion from a bursting bomb broke the windows of the offices of the National Bank of New Zealand, which are situated only a few hundred meet from the Bank of England. This particular raid on Wednesday night was the most destructive ono yet experienced. During the attack the searchlights managed to locate one of the Zeppelins, and thus enabled the guns to concentrate their fire at it, but due to the great height or to some at present unexplained reason, our guns were apparently unable to do it any material damage. It was, however, a remarkable sight to watch the Zeppelin being shelled, and it was obvious to those who were watching the scene that the rapid and constant bring of the guns was causing the German crew some uneasiness, for the Zeppelin was first steered in one direction and then in till it disappeared in a white cloud or mist. It is stated that the Germans have a process whereby they can develop the airship in a vapour which hides it effectually for the time being as if it was obscured by a cloud. This may or may not, be a fact. “My clerk, Mr Brown, who lives at Walthamstow, has had experience of quite a number of raids. This and adjacent districts have been visited so persistently that the people do not care about retiring for the night boI fore one or two o’clock in the morn-

mg. “All kinds ol' wild rumors and statements have been circulated as to the damage done and the number ol li\ es lost, most of which are utterly unreliable. 1 believe, however, that at Brocyley a family consisting of father, mother, and several children were all killed, a lad of sixteen, who was away from home, being the only one left. It is said that a bus containing several passengers and the driver and conductor'was killed, the bus being blown to : piece. 4 by the explosion of a bomb. On Monday evening a German Taube aeroplane visited Margate shortly before six o’clock in the evening and dropped a number of bombs, feereial people were injured, but none fatally. The nights are rapidly getting longer, and tire month of September being as a rule Very calm, it is a favorable opportunity for these raiders. Aitei all it is a senseless, wicked business. There is no more protection against air raids than against an earthquake; women and children, old and young, and non-combatants all suffer alike. Repeated raids upset the people, hut they have no military value and cannot affect in any way the progress of the war. “The Zeppelin, as a fighting machine has, so far, proved useless.”