IN THE AIR.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 April 1916, Page 5

IN THE AIR.

THE RAID ON SCOTLAND. ZEPPELIN'S FIRST VISIT; London, April 3. The raid on Sunday night was the first visit of a Zeppelin to the east coast o.f Scotland. Over twenty bombs were dropped. The airship remained over the district 45 minutes and stopped over a north-eastern county for 30 minutes. Twenty bombs were dropped over a considerable agricultural area without doing damage. Searchlights were fixed on the raider.

The precautions taken in London include a further reduction of lighting. The threatened raid was taken with the utmost sang froid. MORE DETAILS. RAID ON RESIDENTIAL QUARTER. Received April 4, 8.5 p.m.London, April 3, '.The raid took place over the residential quarter of a Scottish town. No public building of importance was struck. Five persons were killed in a passage adjoining a tenement building, and two domestics were killed in a doctor's house. Two hotels were struck, and several people were killed or seriously injured. COMMANDER'S STATEMENT. MURDER NOT THE OBJECT. Amsterdam, April 3. The Telegraaf's London correspondent interviewed Breithaupt, commander of the Zeppelin sunk off the Thames, who said: "You must not suppose we set out to kill women. \Ne have higher military aims. No officer of the German army or navy lias killed women or children. Such things happen accidentally in war." The interviewer states that it seems the Germans expected to be shot when caught. Breithaupt told the British: "I take the responsibility; my men are not responsible." The captives state that the crew totalled eighteen only, and one was drowned. The Zeppelin, on nearing the British coast, was spotted immediately and was struck three times before it could throw out bombs. The Zeppelin broke in the middle and fell from a great height into the water. AH were submerged, but were rescued after an hour. They say that the British are very kind. Asked if they could distinguish anything on dark nights they replied: l '•'Nothing, only the land from the water."

SIX ZEPPELINS ABROAD. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. Wellington, April 3. The High Commissioner reports under date London, April 3, 6.40 p.m.:— Altogether, six Zeppelins took part in the raid last night, three raiding the south-east counties of Scotland and the north-east coast of England. The remaining three raided the eastern counties of England. The course of the vessels raiding Scotland gave no indication 'of any special locality of attack, hut 36 explosive and 17 incendiary bombs were dropped in various places, damaging some hotels and dwelling-houses. The following were the casualties in Scotland: Killed 10, injured 11. One vesel dropped 22 explosive and 15 incendiary bombs on the north-east coast of England. Two cruising over the eastern counties of England were attacked at various times by anti-aircraft artillery and prevented by this means from selecting any definite locality. On seven objectives 33 explosive and 65 incendiary bombs were dropped by these vessels. No casualties were caused in England.

OFFICIAL ACCOUNT. ■ EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. London, April 3. Official: Six Zeppelins participated in last night's air raid. Three raided the south-east counties of Scotland, one on the north-east coast of England, the remainder the eastern counties of England. The vessels crossed the Scottish coast between 9 and 10.15 p.m., and remained until 1 a.m. Their course did not indicate any special locality of attack. Thirty-six explosive and 17 incendiary bombs were dropped in various places, damaging some hotels and dwell-ing-houses. Seven 1 men and three children were killed, and five men, two women and four children injured. The raider dropped 22 explosive and 15 incendiary bombs on the north-east coast. Two Zeppelins cruised over the eastern counties from 10.15 p.m. to 1 a.m. Our anti-aircraft guns appear to have prevented their selection of a definite ( locality as an objective. They dropped 33 explosive and 65 incendiary bombs. No casualties were reported in England. Shortly before midnight a Zeppelin raided with bombs certain north-eastern rural districts. Although surrounded by bomb craters a liouse was not hit, and the only casualties occurred in the fowlyard. An unexploded bomb buried itself in the lawn a few feet from the house. The Telegraph's London correspondent states that one of the Germans rescued from the Zeppelin declared that larger Zeppelins armed with more powerful bombs will come to England. The correspondent adds that Briethaupt's capture was most important, as he is the only Zeppelin commander who has won the Order of Merit. He is an exceedingly clever man. A POPULAR HERO. ■ ■ London, April 3. All the newspapers are publishing photographs of Lieut. Brandon, the New Zealand aviator, who brought down the '""■"clia.