Bombs Dropped in Yarmouth.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 191, 21 January 1915, Page 5

Bombs Dropped in Yarmouth.

FROM GERMAN ZEPPELIN. { A DARING AVIATION EXPLOIT BY NIGHT. Received 20, 3.40 p.m. London, January 20, ( A German aeroplane, at 8.30 p.m., dropped bombs in Yarmouth, causing considerable damage, a man's head being blown off. The aeroplane could be plainly heard. One bomb fell on the sea-front, another on the South Quay, a third near the Drill Hall, and a fourtli at the Trinity Depot. After ten minutes the aeroplane escaped in the darkness. Later. It is now believed that the Zeppelin at Yarmouth dropped five bombs. Three people were killed, and several houses shattered. Thence the Zeppelin went to Sheringham, and dropped two bombs without damage. It reached King's Lynn at 10.30 p.m., and dropped four bombs. Thence it travelled towards Sandringham, and dropped bombs in that locality.

EXCITEMENT IN LONDON. SEARCHLIGHTS SWEEP THE CITY. ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY MANNED. A DARK, STILL NIGHT. HIS MAJESTY NOT AT SAXDRINGHAM. Received 20, 11.25 pjn. London, January 20. News of the Zeppelin raid was published in London at midnight. Special constablea had been called out, and the firemen gathered at their stations. The anti-aircraft guns had been manned, and searchlights were playing throughout the evening, the general expectation being that the long-threatened Zeppelin raid was coming. A sensation was caused when the news from Sandringham was received, but fortunately the King had returned to London prior to the outrage. The night was dark and still at Yarmouth. Places of amusement were in full swing, and many people were in the streets, where the propellers lirst attracted attention. Then aircraft was seen coming from the north-east. Flashes of a searchlight were occasionally seen. The craft crossed the centre of the town, dropping bombs from a low elevation. Hearing the explosions, many streamed out of their houses, bit others followed the advice of the authorities and concealed their families. Received 20, 11.30 p.m. London, January 20. Th c King is in London, having left Sandringham on Tuesday afternoon. MUCH DAMAGE TO HOUSES.

SHOEMAKER DECAPITATED. SEVEN BOMBS AT YARMOUTH.

Received 21, 12.5 ajn. London, January 20. The bulk of the damage was done to private houses. A bomb alighted on an empty house. Another struck a shop, and blew olf the head of Smithy a shoemaker. The authorities immediately cut off the electric light and telephones. Police and special constables were despatched in every direction to succour the injured. Fortunately no Area broke out. The Zeppelin proceeded to Sheringham, where a bomb crashed through the roof of a working man's house, and entered a room where the man was sitting with his wife and child, but it did not explode, the fuse having become detached during descent. After harmlessly dropping another bomb at Beston, the Zeppelin reached King's Lynn at 11.15 p.m. from Sandriugham.

Special constables scoured the streets, ordering lights out. The lire brigades followed. The lights of the Zeppelin frequently darted skyward. Altogether, seven bombs were dropped. One killed a boy, aged 17, and buried his father in the debris of the house, but he. was taken out alive. Elsewhere a baby and its mother were injured. The aircraft left eastward.

HEAVY CASUALTIES FEARED. THE DRILL HALL DAMAGED. PEOPLE RUSH INTO THE STREETS. MUCH LOSS IN CONGESTED AREAS.

Received 21, 12.50 a.m. London, January 20. The whole period of the bomb-drop-ping did not exceed ten minutes. The first bomb at Yarmouth fell on the recruiting ground. Immediately after the airship's searchlight flashed on the town, and the neighborhood was shaken with a reverberating explosion. Windows were broken everywhere. When the bomb fell on the Drill Hall, which was struck, but not greatly damaged, regardless of the cautions given, the majority of the townsfolk rushed into the streets. Terrifying explosions

The full damage will not be known till daylight. It is impossible at present to estimate the number of killed and injured, but the ruinous condition of many buildings suggests that the casualty list may be heavy, particularly as most people were at home at the time. The chief damage was done in the congested area on St. Peter's road, where it is reported that four were killed. The road is a main thoroughfare, leading to the parade. Broken plate-glass from the shops cut several people. GERMAN SHIP IN THE OFFING. READY TO IAShIST THE AVIATOR. A STORY OF TWO ZEPPELINS.

A CHILD'S WONDERFUL ESCAPE. Received 21, 1.15 a.m. London, January 20. A bomb broke the windows o! forty houses at Yarmouth, the scene resembling a gas explosion. Another fell near the quay, but caused no damage. A sentry fired at the Zeppelin. Smith's head was blown off twenty yards from the centre of the explosion. An elderly woman was killed at a distance of fifty yards. A green light was seen at sea, It is conjectured that this was a signal for the r«iS'craft, showing the position of a German vessel, ready to assist the aviator in case of disaster. A resident of Sheringham states that there were two Zeppelins, at least 3000 ft. high. It was an awe-inspiring spectacle, the crash from four bombs following. One dropped on a piece of waste ground, making s> hole 2ft. deep. The ground was made so hot that it was impossible to put one's hand near for three-quarters of an hour later.

Another bomb was picked up unexploded. A child had a wonderful escape, It had been put to bed, but cried, and its parents brought it downstairs. A few minutes later a bomb fell through the bed where the little one had been sleeping. One house at Sheringham caught fire, but no serious damage resulted. Approaching Kings Lynn, the Zeppelin dropped a bomb at Snettishall, where Queen Alexandra has a bungalow. It dropped others at Dersinghall. Many houses at Kings Lynn were damaged, the doors wrecked, hinges and windows •hattered, furniture scattered in fragments, and masonry hurled several hundred yards.