In the Air

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 49, 25 September 1916, Page 5

In the Air

ZEPPELIN RAID ON ENCLAND.

ONE DESTROYED AND ANOTHER

REPORTED FALLEN.

Press —Copyright, Australian atadN.Z. Cable'Association. London, September 24. Official: A number of airships on Saturday night dropped ■ bombs at > various places on tho east and southeast of England. One was brought down in flames in Southern Essex. An unconfirmed report states that another fell on the Essex coast. Official.; —The air raiders attacked Lincolnshire, the Eastern Counties, arid the,outskirts of London at midnight, but were beaten off- by our .aircraft defences. The report as to casualties and damage has not yet been received. FIFTEEN ZEPS', IN THE RAID. MIDLANDS SUFFERS MOST. 28 KILLED :: 99 INJURED. CAPTURE OF AIRSHIP AND CREW OF 22. The High Commissioner reports:-—' London, September 24 (12.55 p.m.) :,.; • • ■ ■ Fifteen Zeppelins made a raid last night .on the south-eastern, eastern, and east Midland counties, Lincolri- | shire being principally affected. Three raided London, two on the south-east and the other on the east. The damage caused was 28 killed and 99 injured. Two raiders were brought down in Essex, one in flames, the crew and everything being destroyed, and the other with a crew of 22 was captured. ZEPPELIN CAPTURED INTACT. - —•■■ •• Press Association—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 9.15 a.m.) London, September 24. Of the two Zeppelins downed in Essex one was intact and the crew was captured. The other airship was burned.' A VI&IT AT MIDNIGHT, ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNS SPEAK. A THRILLING SPECTACLE. Press Aiff*^tion~-Copyrigb.t I Außtra. lian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received noon.) Loudon, September 24* Official.—There were fourteen or fifteen airships. Threie which at-

tacked London wore of a large and new pattern. Two of the. airships .made-a raid .between one and two o'clock in the morning, and another from the east between midnight and one o'clock.

Aeroplanes were sent up. Antiaircraft guns opened fire and drove off the raiders.

Bombs, were dropped in the southern and soptfi-ejistern districts.

It ,is regretted that twenty-eight persons were killed and ninety-nine, injured.

n Qne j.raidor fell in flames and was destroyed with the crew. A second also, fell in Essex, the crew of twenty-two officers and men being captured.. Detailed reports of the casualties and damage have not yet been received.

A special correspondent of the Telegraph states: 'An airship passed over here at midnight and about ten minutes later we saw it going southward. The guns were busy, and shells were bursting all round the airship. It then ; proceeded northward. The guns suddenly ceased, and the ; airship disappeared;; 1 1 'Hie engines were clearly-hewd again within twenty minutes, ; and apparently the enemy was seeking to escape homewards. For another ten- minutes there was heavy gun firing '/and next, shells were bursting round the airship and a red spot glowed, seemingly about the* 7 'size of a "small football. Then the flames swept along tho back, and almost immediately the ship was in flames from end to end. Like a fiery shooting serpent, the flames .were 'stabbing her,; sides the airships' 'tail was straight up and the nose down. Her back seemed to break, and then she took a headlong dive as a burning wreck.

LATEST OFFICIAL REPORT.

DAMAGE PRINCIPALLY «N METROPOLITAN AREA.

SMALL PROPERTIES SUFFER.

Press Association —Copyright, Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 1.5 p.m.) London, September 24. The latest official message states that probably more than twelve airships participated in the raid. The damage in the provinces was slight. One east Midlands town received a number of bombs. Two persons were killed and eleven injured. Dozens of houses and shops were wrecked. There were no other casualties outside the metropolitan area. Although numerous bombs were dropped the damage was insignificant in the metropolitan area. Seventeen men, eight women, and three children killed and eighty-nine were injured, including fifty-four children and women. Much small property was damaged. Fires were caused in two factories. .The railway was damaged in two places. •No military damage is reported.