IN THE AIR.

Taihape Daily Times, 31 January 1918, Page 5

IN THE AIR.

GREAT AERIAL ACTIVITY.

TONS OF BOMBS DROPPED

Received 8.40

LONDON, Jan 30

Sir Douglas Haig reports that hostile artillery is active at Arras*! and Ypres. Our aeroplanes yesterday dropped four hundred bombs on Roulers, Menin, and an aerodrome near L'ournai. They also fired several thousand rounds at enemy troops. Air fighting was continuous all day. Last night we dropped six and a-half tons of bombs on billets, railway stations and trains, and on two night-flying aerodromes near Ghent and Tournai. All our machines returned safely.

FRENCH COMMUNIQUE

LONDON, Jan 29

A French communique states: Our air squadrons dropped six thousand kilogrammes of explosives on ihe railway station at Conflans, a factory in the St. Privat region, and various aerodromes.

THE RAID ON LONDON

LONDON, Jan 29

There were many enemy aeroplanes concerned in the rai,d, which was the most prolonged yet experienced. The first attacks lasted two hours and ahalf, and attacks were renewed for three to four hours past midnight. Several machines penetrated the defences. British aviators sought to drive the enemy into the anti-aircraft gunfire. Finally the enemy attempted to break off the fight, hut were subjected to a severe anti-aircraft bombardment. The British machines, closely following the fleeing Germans, downed one . .

GERMAN REPORT.

LONDON, Jan 29

A wireless German official report states: We brought down thirteen aeroplanes yesterday on the West front We dropped bombs on London and Sheerness with good effect. An Italian attack was broken at Monte Sisemol. A counter-attack regained Mount Dis Ralbella, on which the enemy had secured a foothold. We threw back the enemy at Coldelrosso, anG between Frenzella and Brenta. We dropped twenty-one tons of bombs upon Castlefranco, Treviso and Mestro, on Saturday night. Big fires were observed.

BOMB STRIKES A SHELTER

SCENES OF INDESCRIBABLE HORROR.

BUILDING CUT IN TWO

FIRE RAGES FROM TOP TO BASE

MENT

Received 11.40

LONDON, Jan SO.

Tlie raid is the worst yet/ experienced A bomb dropped on a large establishment which was being used as a shelter in a district thickly populated. There is no exact estimate of the number of persons who were sheltering there, -the estimates varying from three hundred to one thousand. The staff state the establishment was capable of holding one thousand, and was crowded. Firemen who asisted in removing the bodies, declare the' brigade removed about twenty-five during the night, and it is believed thirteen others have since been recovered. The big building looks, as if it had been cut in half by a huge guillotine. The interior walls and floors then collapsed. The police and fire brigade assert it is impossible even yet to give reliable estimates of deaths, but it is certain the majority are women* and children. None of the survivors seem able to give a coherent accoijnt of the terrible ensuing scene. It was a scene of indescribable horror, to which the fire gave the last touch of tragedy. The basement was a raging inferno in a few minutes. The brigades, police, soldiers, and civilians did all that men could do to rescue the survivors, but many were injured, and must have perished in the flames. The building was soon aflame from top to basement and daybreak found it a mass of smoking ruins. About one hundred employees were working where the alarm was sounded, and they assisted shelterers to the basement, and tended those needing attention during the raid Many of these employees are among ""the casualties. Many had left the shelter during a lull in the barrage, and flocked back when (the guns resumed, announcing the renewal of the air attack, and a bomb dropped, almost immediately.

FIFTEEN GERMAN MACHINES PARTICIPATE.

LONDON. January 29,

In regard to the air raid, it is officially reported that two groups of raiders crossed the Esses coast, and one group crossed the Kent coast. . They proceeded towards London. The latter group dropped bombs on the Isle of Thanet and Sheplcy, and crossed the estuary of the Thames. approaching the cast of London through Essex. About fifteen machines participated in the attacks, four or five reached the capital and bombed various districts. Later, other aeroplanes crossed the Essex' coast, and one, reaching London, dropped bombs. Two British flying corps scouts, after a brief fight at close range, set fire to an enemy aeroplane over Essex, which fell in flames. The crew of three were burned to death. All our machines returned safely.

BRITISH MACHINES.

ATTACKED BY SEVENTY LONDON, January 29

In the House of Commons, Mr. J # I. Maepherson stated that seventy British aeroplanes ascended against the raiders. About ten raiders reached London, Some of the casualties were due to crowding in the raid shelters.

4-7 KILLED. IG9 INJURED

LONDON, January 29

Official-—During the air raid yesterday night, 14 men, 17 women and 16 children were killed, and 93 men, 59 women and 17 children injured, AH the casualties occurred in London, with the exception of one killed and seven injured. The material damage done was not serious.

LONDON, January 29

German aeroplanes have again raided London.

RAID STILL IN PROGRESS

LONDON, January 30.

'The Press Bureau states that aeroplanes crossed the Essex and Kent coasts at 9.30 yesterday evening. None were reported by the London defences,j but bombs are reported to have been dropped in. the outskirts of Lon>n.; The raid is still in progress,