IN THE AIR.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 May 1916, Page 5

IN THE AIR.

ZEPPELIN VISITS SALONIKA. DESTROYED BY SHELLS. Salonika, May 5. A Zeppelin raided Salonika, but was heavily shelled and it is reported it was destroyed. The destruction of the Zeppelin is confirmed. Of the crew of 30 only one escaped.

A DRAMATIC SCENE. FATE OF THE RAIDER. Received May J, 5 5 p.m. London, May 6. The Daily Chronicle's correspondent at Salonika gives a vivid narrative of the destruction of the Zeppelin. The night was cloudless, and when the raider's coming was announced the city was plunged in darkness. Suddenly the watchers saw a searchlight catch the raider, seven thousand feet over the gulf, and other searchlights quickly followed. The silvery form of the Zeppelin was visible for a quarter of an hour, and then the British naval and anti-aircraft guns opened. A hurricane of shells burst around the invader, the shooting being wonderfully accurate. One shot was seen to pass practically through the air vessel, and another burst in the centre. The new French incendiary shells lit up the town in the course of their upward flights, and the naval shells could be followed by these traces. The Zeppelin seemed to lose its bearings and headed seawards, presenting its broadside to the warships. Then two blazing shells 9truck the tail, which afterwards proved to be incendiary shells from a French aeroplane, which had ascended, despite the darkness, directly the raid was announced, and got above the raider.

The Zeppelin's tail dipped, and seemed almost to writhe. She then dived at an angle of 45 degrees, and the onlookers lost sight of her for half-an-hour, until a great flame lit up the sky and there was a dull roar. The Zeppelin, had fallen in the Vardar delta, fifteen miles away. Either the hombs bad exploded or the crew had fired the airship. Five unexploded bombs were afterwards found in the wreckage.