IN THE AIR.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 April 1916, Page 5

IN THE AIR.

THE SCOTTISH RAID. FURTHER PARTICULARS. London, April '4. Details of the Zeppelin raid on Scotland state that while flying over a coastal town it used a searchlight and dropped three bombs in a field. It was next seen at a great height over an important borough. It was clearly visible, and was soon a target for anti-aircraft guns. It rapidlydropped bombs. A rnan partially dressed was killed in the street and a child sleeping in a cot was killed. The Zeppelin proceeded to another centre, where the occupants of houses congregated in the basements. A bomb penetrated the pavement and exploded in a cellar in which many had taken refuge, and a fragment of the same bombS killed a man on the opposite side of the street. Among the buildings which narrowly escaped was a hospital with SOO patients, including many wounded soldiers, and an establishment containing German prisoners. 4 card was picked up in an eastern county of England pencilled "Vengeance for LI 9." A message from the Zeppelin was picked up in Scotland, "Returning on Thursday." BOMBASTIC GERMAN REPORT. London, April 4. A German communique claims that a naval air squadron bombed Edinburgh and the Leith docks on the Firth of Forth, Newcastleand important wharves, buildings, and blast furnaces on the Tyne, with very good results. Despite the heavy bombardment all the airships returned safely. The above statement is officially described in London as of the usual inaccurate and bombastic type. ANOTHER FLY. NO DAMAGE REPORTEi/. Received April 5, 5.5 p.m. London, April 4. Official: It is reported that a Zeppelin crossed the East Anglian coast between 2 and 3 o'clock this morning. It does not seem to have been long over the land. Although several explosions are reported, no fragments of bombs have been discovered yet, and no damage nor casualties can be traced.

BRANDON'S EXPLOIT. RESULTS YET UNCERTAIN London, April 4. Though universal tributes are paid to Lieut. Brandon it is not yet clfar that he was responsible for the downfall of the Zeppelin. Prisoners are reticent about declaring how the Zeppelin was brought down. An aeronautic expert has offered to refloat and rebuild the Zeppelin within three months.

Three petrol tanks riddled with bullets have been found in a field. They were probably from a crippled Zeppelin.

NEW ZEPPELIN BOMBS. INCREASED SIZE OF RAIDERS. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Reecired April 5, S.S p.m. London, April 4. It is officially stated that the Zeppelin bombs costain a new explosive which causes blue flames, smoke, and ultrasweet non-injurious fumes. It is concluded that the Germans are using wood fibre instead of cotton, and have been compelled to invent a substitute for mtro-glycerine. Other reports state that one of the most significant features is the increased size of the Zeppelins, the terrific strength of the explosive shells, and the use of gas bombs. All accounts agree that the marksmanship of the antiaircraft gunners is splendid. In one district seventy incendiary bombs and some explosive shells have been collected. Many of the latter .had failed to explode. A piece of rough cardboard was found in a field in an eastern county, on which was written in pencil, "Vengeance for the airship wrecked in the North Sea recently." KEW DEFENCES London, April 4. In the House of Commons Mr. Tennant said it was impossible to say to whom the credit was due of Bringing down the Zeppelin. The new defences against aircraft had proved very successful, and more than one attempt had been driven off unknown to the inhabitants.