A GREAT BATTLE RAGING

Taranaki Daily News, 25 February 1916, Page 5

A GREAT BATTLE RAGING

lAßfllili'3 IHWISTf ENTHUSIASTIC SCENES IN THE DUMA THRILLING AIR FICHT • .«;■. By CaW«—Pres» Association— Copyright. ■ /

IN THE AIR.

AN EXCITING BATTLE. 'fflOTOftY FOR FRENCH AVIATORS. "~t. . ,*. EST)'(OP A ZEPPELIN, ',-;* Paris, Feb. 23. 'He- French celebrated the result «f the' first big air battle, which was a .{genuine 'yictory. It included combined aerial operations with aeroplanes skirmishing on the wings while Zeppelins held the centre. The results were everywierev favorable to France, the new ebaser-plaue proving fully equal t* the ftfokker. The latest (accounts state that tw* Sep&Wns- I 'Started fr*m the Crswn i» the Ardennes. It is believed that ifas Kaiser, who was visiting tb«. headquarters at Mezieres, witiessed their departure. They were detected by *h*. Jioise of their engines in the Argontft forest and the news was telephoned to headquarters. Batteries and searchlights were got ftyitiy and s«en located the Zeppelin. A ?y>tor-car, equipped with searchlights and qufckflrers, and manned »y special naval gunners, had an exciting chase tMntg over rough reads in the darkness. Tfa* Zeppelin tried to break threugh the JnereUesa'ifring of searchlights, but the jfllnners never lost sight of her. There were before a shsut of triumph announced that she was hit. It ia believed that the last Zeppelin makes tho twenty-siitk destroyed during the wan eye-witness states that the searchlight* suddenly caught the Zeppelin in pitchy darkness. When the shell pierced it.a*roimmense sheet *f flame sh*t up. th^Z^peliii'turned over two or three times, fell like a gigantic torch. The spectators were dumb with h*rr*r . for a few moments, and then a shout of exultation went up. A terrific explesien tdre a vast hole in the ground,