IN THE AIR.

Taihape Daily Times, 22 May 1918, Page 5

IN THE AIR.

THE LAST AIR RAID. AMERICAN AIRMEN PARTICIPATE. Received 8.55 ani. LONDON, May 21. Sunday’s raid was one of the biggest yet attempted and a large number of enemy machines participated and attacked the capital in relays, Everywhere the barrag# was magnificent. British airmen also fiercely attacked the invaders, American airmen assisted for the first time. riVB MACHINES DESTROYED. Received 9.20 a.m. LONDON, May 21. All the raiders were hotly engaged by the anti-aircraft defences. Some attempted to descend in the Thames estuary, others proceeded eastwards overland. Some probably were severely damaged in attempting to penetrate to Loudon, At least three more failed to escape. Two were brought down before they crossed the coast, one of them being destroyed by British airmen. The ■fifth fell in flames in the sea, sixth and seventh were reported to be observed falling into the sea. but this has not been confirmed. The casualties are thirty-seven killed, and 161 injured. Except two outbreaks of fire in larger premises, which were soon controlled the damage was confined to the wrecking -of smaller dwellings bouses by concussion. RAIDERS FIERCELY ATTACKED. TWO GOTHAS BROUGHT DOWN. Received 9,20 ia.m. LONDON, May 21. The Press Bureau states that probably twenty or thirty Gothas participated in Sunday’s radi The group entered the Thames estuary at 11 p.m. and skirted the north Kentish coast. They were heavily shelled, British airmen engaged the Gothas at 11.30 p.m., at close range. One Gotha disappeared in the clouds, and shortly afterwards burst into flames at a height, of seven thousand feet, and fell a blazing wreck. The remainder , traversed Kent. Bombing, but did not damage The other group entered Essex and reached London, where a Gotha was brought down by gunfire. A few !dojsen bombs were dropped in the Lonidon district,- damaging small dwelling Jhquses. The casualties were in no wise heaVy or proportionate to the material damage.

NEW AERIAL DEFENCE SYSTEM . A GREAT SUCCESS CENTRE. Received 10.55 a.m. LONDON, May 21. The Daily Express has high authority for stating the number of invaders brought down was mainly due to the latest system of concentrated high explosive gunfire and the efforts of British aviators, who forced the enemy within range of the anti-aircraft batteries. High explosives can now be directed to far greater height, while the rapidity wherewith the range c*m be adjusted is a feature of the newest guns. RAIDERS BADLY HARASSED. LONDON, May 21. Gunfire everywhere badly harassed the air raiders, two Gothas falling in masses of flames presented a weird spectacle. All the occupants of one jumped out and were killed LONDON, May 21. The Press Bureau announces that the casualties as a result of the raid on London and district were; killed, seventeen men, fourteen women, and six children; injured: 83 men, 4S women and 23 children. In the province none were killed. Two men, three women and one child were injured Considerable damage was done to house property. LONDON, May 20. The air raiders arrived !ttye Kentish coast in two groups, apparently converging on London. The barrage broke the formations. Two Gothas were downed and wrecked in an open space in Kent. ATTACKING GIANT HUN PLANE. Received 9.30 a.m. NEW YORK, May 21. The New York Times’ correspondent with the American Army states that an American airman named Lufberry volunteered to attack a giant German aeroplane, the engines of which are armour-plated, the gunners wear steel suits and the pilot sits in a steel house. Several American airmen kept up a stream of fire against the German plane without result. The scene resembled swallows pecking at a giant bird of prey. Lufberry attacked, but his tank got ablaze, and he leaped from his machine at a height of two thousand feet.