DARING AVIATORS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 281, 6 May 1915, Page 3

DARING AVIATORS.

THE HOBOKEN RAID. SUCCESSFUL ATTACK. ,i MUCH DAMAGE DONE. , On March 22 the Secretary of the Adimiralty announced a successful air attack by five machines of the Dunkirk Squadron on the German submarines being constructed at Hoboken, near 'Antwerp, Two of the pilots had to return owing to thick weather, but Squadron Commander Ivor T. Courtney and Flight Lieutenant H. Kosher reached their objective, and, after planing down to 1000 feet, dropped four bombs each on the submarines. Flight Lieutenant B. Cross-ley-Meates was obliged by engine trouble to descend in Holland. Owing to the -mist the two pilots experienced considerable difficulty in finding their way, and were subjected to a heavy gun-fire whilst delivering their attack. The special correspondent of the Daily Telegraph describes the attack as fol-lows:—-This morning three British aviators made a very daring and successful raid on Antwerp. Their objective was the German submarine base, on which they dropped bombs. According to information which I have just received from an Antwerp correspondent, one submarine was completely destroyed and another seriously damaged. Two of the plucky aviators returned safely to their point of departure, but the third, whose name is given as Crossley-Meates, owing to an engine defect, had to descend in Dutch territory on the return journey. He came down at Kruningen, one of the Zecknd islands, and is now interned in Gronigen. After leaving their base in France, tlic three aviators flew at great speed along the Belgian coast. On the way they were chased by a German machine, which rose from one of the coastal stations. They were travelling too fast, however, for the Taube to overtake them. Ant- 1 werp was reached at half-past seven this morning. As soon as the raiders were sighted fire was opened upon them from all parts of the city. lAnti-aircraft guns sent shells into the air, and hundreds of shots were fired from rifles. The noise was terrific, and the whole population of" Antwerp came into the stre«ts or went on to the housetops tw watc.n the exciting spectacle. Although flying at a great height the airmen were by no means out of danger from the fire from all directions, which was so heavy and continuous that my informant describes the noise as reminding him of the original bombardment of tho city. But, braving all danger, the aviator kept an unswerving course for their objective, Cockerill's shipyard and wharves at Hoboken. Many shrapnel shells burst below them .but, so far as could be seen, not a singlo hit was scored by tho German gunners, As the raiders approached their aim they swooped downwards through the air at a very stoop decline. • Then each in turn came'to the level at a l 'height of only 100 yds immediately over the sm«ll dock in the submarines Were lying.' And each in turn drbpped "Xea-rly every one. of these reached its aim, inflicting the damage, recorded above. Tho submarino destroyed was disguis-' ed in a most ingenious manner. The deck and the superstructure of a small steamboat had been constructed over it. Although this work had been carried out behind a high, specially constructed ( wall on the wharf, the secret had leaked out, despite all the attempts of tho ClerI mans to guard it. This must be a bitter ! blow for them, as they had taken cxtra- | ordinary precautions owing to the discovery and publication of the fact some time ago that sections of submarines had to. jAntwerp -by rail• and' put together there. After having achieved their object the Englishmen returned in a south-westerly direction. Only one Oerman macnlnc was got into the air in time to give chase. And its effort was as futtfe as that of the Taube which followed the raiders on their way out. The German I gunners had no more success in their parting shots at their swift 'enemies.