In the Air

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 31, 4 September 1916, Page 2

In the Air

MOST FORMIDABLE RAID. THF SICHT OF A LIFETIME. WATCHING ZEPPELIN BLAZE AND FALL. Press Association—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 11.35 a.m.) London, September li. Official.—lt was the most formidable air raid. The principal theatre of operations was the Eastern counties, the objectives apparently being London and the industrial centres of the Midlands. Our new measures for the reduction and obscuration of lights undoubtedly proved efficacious, because the raiding squadrons instead of steering a steady course as was done in the last Autumn and Spring raids, groped about in the darkness searching for a safe avenue of approach to the objectives. Only three were able to approach the outskirts of London. One appeared over the northern districts at 2.15 o'clock. Searchlights immediately picked it up, and anti-aircraft guns and aeroplanes became heavily engaged. After a few minutes, the airship burst into flame and fell rapidly and was destroyed. We found in the wreckage of the engines the halfburned bodies of the crew.

Our experts hope to be able to reconstruct a portion of the framework. The large amount of wood used in the frame work seems to point to a shortage of aluminium in Germany.

The defences of London drove off the other two airships without thenbeing able to approach the city's centre.

A great number of bombs were dropped promiscuously in the East Anglian and south-eastern counties.

Complete reports of tbe damage and the casualties have not been received, but a list will be issued on Monday.

Many bombs fell into the sea and in remote county districts. Persons who picked up fragments have been ordered to submit them to the authorities. If valueless for reconstruction, they will be returned to the owners. In the Weekly Dispatch, an eyewitness says he was awakened by the sound of bombs and heavy gun-fire. Searchlights were playing in all directions. One of the Zeppelins was visible and almost stationary for five minutes; it disappeared for another five minutes in a cloud; and then we all became suddenly aware that the bright glow in the cloudy mist had developed into a long sausage-liko flame. The sky was lit up with the flaming mass, which took two minutes to descend, and seemed before reaching the ground to have been completely "consumed. The crowd sang a song in honour of the occasion, the people's delight being boundless.

ONE WOMAN KILLED. FOURTEEN PEOPLE INJllrffeW. 0 NO MILITARY DAMAGE. (Received 1.55 p.m.) London, September 3. Official: A woman was killed and eleven men, one woman, and two children injured. There were no casualties in the metropolitan police district, where 25 houses were slightly damaged. Three horses were killed There was no military damage.