IN THE AlR.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 February 1916, Page 5

IN THE AIR.

THE MIDLANDS' RAID, - BRITISH AND GERMAN VERSIONS. London, Feb. 2. The Press Bureau reports that the raid was attempted on an extensive 6cope, but was hampered by a thick mist The Zeppelins, after crossing the coast, steered various couTßes, and dropped bombs on several town districts. These did some damage to town property. A Berlin official message claims that the Zeppelins dropped large quantities of explosives a»d incendiary bombs on docks, harbors, and factories of Liverpool and Birkenhead, and also on the foundries and smelting works at Nottingham, Sheffield and great industrial works on the Humber and at Great Yarmouth. They observed gigantic explosions and serious conflagrations. The airships also silenced a battery at the Humber. The airships, although heavily shelled, returned safely.

THE RAID ON ENGLAND HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. The High Commisisoner reports:—! London, Feb. 3, 1.15 a.m. The War Office says that the official report from Berlin in reference to the air raid on England last Monday is utterly inaccurate, and is further proof that the raiders are quite unable to ascertain the position necessary to shape their course with any degree of certainty. The total casualties is now reported to be 59 killed and 101 injured. A church and chapel were damaged, and the railway in two places was slightly damaged. Two factories, which are militarily unimportant, were badly damaged. The total number of bombs discovered exceeds 300.

THE RAID ON PARIS FRENCH NEWSPAPER DISCUSSION. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Paris, Feb. 2. The Journal des Debats, the Petit Journal, the Gaulois and Figaro demand hundreds of more aeroplanes to carry on the campaign against the Apaches. Sea experts point out that anti-Zeppelin aerial weapons are restricted to ; machineguns and bombs, because the new gunplanes, owing to their weight, cannot rise to the altitude of Zeppelins. Guns on land are useless when the Zeppelin is hidden behind mists. Rooting out the Zeppelins from their hangars in Germany is the only effective means of defence. The Petit Parisien graphically describes the chase of the raiders, which used new incendiary bullets. These fell round the pursuers like a stream of light. An aviator chased one df Saturday's raiders for fifty minutes and peppered it with bullets, but a defect in the motor compelled him to land. The Zeppelin flew at 100 kilometres (60 miles) an hour. The press scorns (he raids and points out the lesson that thirty aeroplanes are needed to bring down a monstrous Zeppelin. The Paris Journal says that the defenders had to work hard because the night was dark and the sky misty.

GERMAN PRESS. GLOATING. ENGLAND AND FRANCE PUNISHED. Reeeived Fob. 3, 9.50 p.m. Amsterdam, Feb. 3. The Germans exult over the raids, declaring they are a punishment for France and England, and a reprisal for the Baralong case. The Cologne Gazette gloats over the fact that Zeppelins arc Germany's monopoly, England being forced to admit that she has no defence against them, adding: "We experience a certain grim satisfaction, notwithstanding that our troops are not before Paris or London, in that our. arm reaches far enough to bring home to the so-called civilised nations the tricks they have played on us." A Zeppelin, which had evidently been lost in the fog, was discovered at Ameland, flying low. The coastguards fired CO shots, some of which hit the Zeppelin, which then disappeared.