IN THE AIR.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 April 1916, Page 5

IN THE AIR.

ANOTHER RAID. ON EASTERN COUNTIES. h Received April 2, 5.5 p.m. London, March 31. Five Zeppelins raided the Eastern counties ,but the result is unknown. It is reported that they also visited the north-east coast. ZEPPELIN IN THE IMAMES. PARTICULABS OP RAID.

HSAVY CASUALTY LIST. Eeceived April 2, 5.5 p.m. London, April I. Official: A damaged Zeppelin descended in the Thames estuary and surrendered to our patrol vessels. The Zeppelin troke and sunk. The War Office reports that the raiders organised two squadrons, with a detached ship. The former made the Eastern counties their objective, while the detached ship raided the north-east coast. ■ , Fifty-four explosives and incendiary bombs were dropped in thw Eastern counties, and twenty-two on the northeast coast. The wrecked Zeppelin was LIS. She was hit by gun fire, while over the Eastern counties. A shell struck the upper part of the rear tail, and she quickly dropped to a lower altitude. Well down by the tail Hhe descended into the sea off Kent. A machine-gun and some ammunition, a petrol tank riddled by shrapnel, and some machinery was dropped by this vessel or another raider. The casualties hitherto reported are: 28 killed and 44 injured. BROKEN IN TWO.

FURTHER DETAILS OF THE AIRSHIP. - Received April 2, 6.15 p.m. London, April I. Two of the Lls officers and sixteen, of the crew have been conveyed to Chatham, Nine wounded members of the crew have also been placed in hospital there. The commander wore a sealskin coat, and the others were in ordinary naval uniforms. Pells, captain of the steamer Svantholm, saw the Lls floating near the Kertfjsh Knock early in the morning. Earlier >ie had heard heavy firing in the air, and the steamer rocked violently. He described the Zeppelin as about seven hundred feet in length, and it was broken s n two, evidently being often hit. A German crawled along the envelope as it lay in the water, and held up his hands as a sign of surrender. When boats from the patrol ships rowed up the heads of others were visiblo through the manhole. The forepart of the airship was thirty feet, and the stern twenty feet, above the water then, and she was floating buoyantly. ACCOUNT OF AN OBSERVER. London, April 1. There is intense joy in the metropolis at the prompt announcement of the Zeppelin's downfall. An eye-witness states that the scene was mo3t enthralling. The ship was of a larger type than usual. The night being starry, the huge glimmering shape attracted the attention of hundreds who left their houses, despite instructions. Searchlights illuminated the Zeppelin from stem to stern, and shells from the anti-air craft guns were seen bursting round her. The Zeppelin then turned and made for the coast, evidently damaged. <-iV RISKS. :\ ■',!' Received April 2, 5.5 p.m. London, April J. Aviators who are testing new machines receive increased pay in consideration of the risks they run. (