In the Air.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 286, 12 May 1915, Page 5

In the Air.

BOMBS DROPPED IN ENGLAND. NO PANIC CACHED. London, May 10. A raider flew over the marine parade at Southend. A bomb missed the gasworks, but wrecked a house in \'ork Road, injuring a soldier who was asleep. Several explosions shattered the windows within half a mile. A bomb missed ii't. Erkenrald's Church on a conspicuous hiii-top, and another set fire to buildings in a builder's yard near p 'St. Erkenwald's. A bomb wrecked a house at l'r.'ttlewell. Mrs. |Whit«w«ll was killed while leaping from a window and her husband severely injured. There were a dozen outbreaks'of fire at Westelifie. An attempt to bomb the gasworks a,t Leigh failed. Koin'bs were dropped all round the Queen Mary Hospital, also on Carney island. The Zeppelin dropped upwards of 80 bombs, but fled seaward when sighted by au aeroplane at Sheerncss.

\\ hen the airship, which ivas usin l * a searchlight, was sighted in the towns a hooter was sounded warning the people to remain in their houses, but Jiuiidieds at .Southend, Westcliil'e, and Leigh rushed into the. streets. There was no panic when the bombs dropped. The fires in several different places spread rapidly. One family escaped from a burning house by jumping from the windows. A boarding-house was gutted, but the occupants escaped. A* biiiub crashed into a house at AYhitwells. A bed was ignited and the wife of the tenant. kill'd in bed, and her husband was severely injured in trying to extinguish the fire. Ten people were injured at Southend.

.Spectators state that the Zeppelin wa« fired at when pass.ng l'itsea, and it is believed that it was hit. It appeared to bo in difficulties when passing Romford. An aeroplane went up from Shecrness and drove off the airship. It is feared • that considerable damage has been done at Canvey Island. (The towns mentioned are all close together in Essex, on the north bank of the Thames estuary.

STIMULANT TO RECRUITING. A STRIKING A PPL'A I*. Received May 11, (i p.m. London, May 10. The. raid at Southend has stimulated recruiting in London. There lias been a brisk response to the navy poster: •".William the murderer; lend a band to bring him to justice." BOMB MISSES GERMANS. DAMAGE OF £IO,OOO. Received May 11, 4.30 p.m. London, 'May 10. , The incendiary) bombs consisted of a core of tarred rope saturated with chemicals and bound by wire. They were sufficiently heavy to penetrate roofs. The fuse was apparently lighted before the bombs were dropped, and wa s hard to extinguish. The damage at Southend and I'rittlevvell is estimated at £IO,OOO. A; bomb was dropped near a prison ship in which there were 1200 German civilians interned.

There were many narrow escapes. A bomb crashed into a bedroom where there were two sisters. It fell a few inches from the bed and. ignited the bedroom.