IN THE AIR.

Taihape Daily Times, 29 October 1917, Page 5

IN THE AIR.

THE ESSEN RAID. .. 800 SOLDIERS KILLED. AMSTERDAM, October 26. During the recent air raid on Essen 800 soldiers who were attending a circus were killed. , ~j THE ZEPPELIN DISASTER. SIXTH VICTIM REPORTED. LONDON Oct 27. At Nottingham a presentation was made" to Clutha Mackenzie on behalf of Captain Brandon. It is a specially designed medal commemorating the latter's work as a New Zealand aeronautical officer. ( J PARIS, act 27. It is oefinitely stated that a sixth Zeppelin (one of those. reported drifting on the 22nd toward the r Mediterranean) sank in the Mediterranean. It was last seen forty-five miles south of Porqueroljes flying in a south-wes-terly direction, and descending seawards, ij French aviators unsuccessfully searched, for wreckage;.;^ CAUSE OF THE DISASTER. LONDON, Oct 27. The Daily Chronicle's Paris correspondent states that the log of L 49 shows that the disaster was due to the breakdown of the system of steering by wireless signals. The Zeppelins had no means of - correcting the drift caused by the wind, hence the compass was in constant touch- with several wireless..stations: in Germany, which send-a constant stream of indications, so enabling a Zeppelin to steer a correct course. • On Friday the wireless directions went astray, or, were so that the airships last their bearings.

IN CANADA CANADIAN PENSIONS INCREASED EXPLOSIVE WORKS DESTEOYED. Eeceived 8.35. OTTAWA, October 28. An Order-in-Council announces an inr crease in soldiers and sailors pensions of approximately 40 per cent. The Government is now paying about one million sterling. An explosion destroyed the Canada Explosive Company's' works. The loss is £400,000 sterling. .

GENERAL CABLES DISAPPOINTING BULGARIANS. WONT FIGHT WITHOUT PAY. Eeceived 8.35. ROME, October 28. German newspapers are contemplating the selfishness of Bulgarians, who have done done no fighting for over a year and refuse to assist their Allies without territorial and financial compensation. BRUTALITY TO BELGIANS. GEEMANY'S DESPERATE PLIGHT. , Received 8.35. AMSTERDAM, October 28. v Brutality towards defenceless Belgians is growing steadily worse. Men dare not appear in the streets lest they are impressed for work at the front. Prominent persons disappear daily; they depart and do not return. Thousands are forced to work under artillery and aeroplane fire, and mutilated bodies are sent home for burial. The Germans describe them as England's helpless victims, whereas they are com. pelled to work in the firing line.