IN THE AIR.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1916, Page 5

IN THE AIR.

ANTI-AIRCRAFT 6UNS. ::VE OFF THE ZEPPELINS. ! BOM US OX FIELDS AND GARDENS. London, April 26. Tn Essex and Kent the air raiders encountered numerous anti-aircraft gum and bursting shells in every direction. Many shells exploded near one Zeppelin, whose crew were baffled and were unable to shake off the searchlights, rendering flight at a lower altitude too dangerous. Another Zeppelin from the south-east approached Kent in the darkness. A terrific explosion was caused by a bomb dropping in the sea. Anti-aircraft guns and searchlights were busy, and the raider rapidly disappeared inland and northward. Xo bombs were dropped from this or the third Zeppelin inland, which was seen flying low with the searchlights picking it up and anti-aircraft - guns | heavily firing The raider rose rapidly, turned and disappeared. In Norfolk and Suffolk the raiders destroyed some haystacks, and one man was injured. ' A bomb fell in the garden of a'Kentish vicarage and dur» a hole eight feet deep by twelve f eet wide and uprooted a sycamore. Another bomb in Essex made a hole twenty feet wide and ten feet deep. One Zeppelin was seen to quiver before hurriedly escaping. Another Zeppelin, travelling at a great height, finally escaped from the powerful searchlight of the' coastguard and vanished.

MiSSED THEIR MARK. 100 BOMBS DROPPED IX THE . THAMES. London, April 26. Official: The raiders dropped over a hundred bombs in the Thames estuary last night without casualty. A hundred bombs have been found since the Norfolk and Suffolk raid. There was one casualty, and the damage consisted of a horse killed, a haystack destroyed, and much glass broken. FRENCH AIR ACTIVITY, i Paris, April 26.' A communique says: A French aeroplane struck a Zeppelin at a height of 4000 metres with a shell, off Zeebrugge. .Another at Ostend hit a torpedo-boat. A French pilot brought down a Fokker in our lines, northward of Lueville, and the aviator was taken prisoner, ZEPPELIN TURNS BACK. . Received April 27, 11.30 p.m.. London, April 27The Zeppelin that was reported on tlie East Coast did not 'penetrate inland. The weather was misty, and it probably turned back. At midnight, it is reported, one bomb dropped into the pea.

THE COMING SESSION.

IX PREPARATION. A FORECAST OF BUSINESS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. "The Government's Bills will be ready when Parliament meets," said the Prime Minister to-day, referring to the work oi the coming session. "Certain Bills have, received consideration by the Cabinet already, and others are well in hand. There need be m delay in getting to work, as far as the Government is concerned."

The session's legislation, as Ml'. Massey has already indicated, is to in- '■ elude a Compulsory Service Bill, an amendment to the War Pensions Act, an extension of the law relating to provision of land for returned soldiers, and some important financial proposals. There will he various minor Bills, hut practically all of them will have connection with the war. It is not the intention of the Government to proceed with domestic legislation during the period of the war. Necessary amendments to the War Regulations Act may include provisions relating to the licensing law, Public departments have already taken steps to hasten the preparation of ■papers that are required ttf bo laid before Parliament, and it is expected that they will be ready at advanced dates. The Financial Statement, which, normally, is not ready for delivery before the latter part of July, is expected to reach the House at a date to accord with the early session. It is understood that Departmental reports and papers will be shorter than usual this year.