MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 September 1916, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

A BRAVE AND RESOLUTE AVIATOR. A NARROW ESCAPE. GAINS V.C., AND £3500 IX PRIZES. Router Service. Received Sept. G, 7,15 p.m. London. September 5. Official.—The King has awarded William Robinson, formerly in the Worcesters and now in the Flying Corps, the Victoria Cross for most conspicuous bravery. He attacked an airship during the last raid under circumstances of great difficulty and danger and sent it to the ground a flaming wreck. Robinson had been in the air two hours, during which time he had previously attacked another airship. | The War Office adds that the airship passed through heavy and accurate gunfire, but it has been established beyond doubt that the aeroplane was the main factor in its destruction. It attacked the raider with the utmost gallantry and judgment and brought it down. London, Sept, C. Robinson was scouting when tli? searchlights revealed the Zeppelin. He followed the invader foi twenty minutes and then signalled the anti-air-craft guns to stop firing. The intrepid airman narrowly escaped the flaming debris after dropping the fatal bomb. Robinson, who is twenty-one yqars of age, was born in India. He obtained his certificate last year. He visited the wreckage after the feat, and was presented with an Iron Cross found therein. Robinson alßo earned £3500 in prizw for bringing down the first Zeppelin in Britain. The inquest disclosed that members of the crew were very young. « INQUEST ON THE CREW. ; A MILITARY FUNERAL Received Sept, 6, 5.5 p.m. London, Sept. 5. At the inquest on the Zeppelin victims, evidence was given that shrapnel from anti-aircraft guns was seen bursting around, and a few minutes later the Zeppelin burst into flames but it was stated that if the aeroplanes had been absent the Zeppelin would have escaped. There was nothing whereby it was possible to identify the corpses. A verdict was returned that the Zeppelin was brought down by an aeroplane, piloted by Robinson. The coroner announced that the victims would receive a military funeral at the nearest cemetery. PROTEST AGAINST HONORING THK DEAD. Received Sept. C, 7.5 p.m. London, Sept. 0. Some newspapers protest against the [War Office ordering a military funeral of the Zeppelin crew. j ZEPPELIN DAMAGED BY GUNS London, September 5. An important part of another airship has been picked up in the Eastern counties, proving that the gunfire caused severe damage. EXPLOSION AT AMMUNITION WORKS. Rt-'ter Service. Receive iept, 7, 12.30 a.m. London, Sept. 0. OiTicral: An explosion that occurred at the ammunition factory, South London, resulted in the smallest damage. Seventeen workers were slightly injured. SOLDIERS' EMPLOYMENT. '(Renter). London, Sept. 5. At the Trade Union Congress Mr. Bowcrman stated that the authorities had given satisfactory assurances regarding the civil employment of soldiers Mr.j Smillie" insisted that soldiers so employed should have full civilian rights. He moved a resolution in favor of the appointment of a Labor Minister. CAPTURED GUN'S. London, September 5. The War Office has abandoned the proposed exhibition of guns which we captured on the Somnie because they may hand them to our Ailies for use against their original owners. TRADES UNION DEMANDS London, Sept. .">. At the Trades Union Congress at Birmingham, Mr. Go.-liiH,', who pi ("sided, welcomed American, Canadian, French and Belgian delegates, •mi l contrasted the patriotism of the workers with that or the food exploiters, and demanded the creation of a Ministry of Labor, and that the old age pensions limit be reduced to sixtv years and the pension increased to 10s.' A DRASTIC MEASURE. Received Sept. (i, 0.55 p.m. London, Sept. 0. The authorities have issued a drastic measure to stamp out the outbreak of bubonic plague at Bristol. They bunu'd the rat infested buildings.