The Daily News. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1916. THE ZEPPELIN RAIDS.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 September 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1916. THE ZEPPELIN RAIDS.

On September 1!) an Amsterdam cable reported that Count Zeppelin was dissatisfied with the results of the last raid on England, and that a fresh raid was being prepared for the end of September, in which super-Zeppelins would be largely used, and make a devastating attack. Unlike most German pronouncements, this threat has been carried out, and what is described as a raid on the biggest scale was made on Saturday night on the south-eastern, eastern and East 'Midland counties, Lincolnshire being the principal county affected. Apparently fifteen airships were engajged on this occasion, and it would seem that the main objective was 'London, and that the operations in the eastern counties were probably devised nvith the double object of doing as much damage a 9 possible, but chiefly to cover the attack on the metropolis. Much as the loss of life and damage to property is to be deplored, it seems marvellous that so large a number of tnese aerial monster?., containing plentiful supplies of explosives of high power, should have done such comparatively slight execution. This is due in large measure to the precautions taken by the authorities, and in other part to the warm reception that was given the raiders by anti-aircraft guns and the prompt pursuit undertaken by British airmen. The large number of fatalities are stated to have occurred in the district by artisans, wliere the houses are congested and mostly densely peopled. This murdering and maiming of innocent workers and the ruthless destruction of their habitations appears to afford the Huns infinite satisfaction, and although the German official report sets out with bare-faced perversion of the truth, that bombs were dropped on strategic placet on the Humber, there was actually no military damage done. As a matter of fact, these air raids are of no military significance whatever They are simply and solely the outcome of German terrorism, nor is there any attempt to conceal this. On September 9 a London cable contained the following extract from the Neustc Na.chriehten:—"Zeppelins have sown our worst foe's territory with bombs, spreading horror bordering on insanity. Everywhere immense flanges rose to the sky, and in London blocks of houses were torn asunder with a mighty crash. England's defences were again a. glorious failure. The inhabitants of Dover and Folkestone trembled, whilst holiday-makers at Brighton and Hastings broke into a cold sweat. Proud England is filled with overwhelming horror. Wherever hunted eyes turn, they behold fresh pictures o? ghastly destruction. If necessary, London must be beaten into a gigantic heap of ruins." Although we cannot refrain from smiling at such bombast, it contains the real reason why these raids are carried out. A few days ago Zurich reported that the Germans were feverishly constructing airships, and that four new super-Zeppelins had left Friedrichshaven on trial trips. It is fairly certain that some, if not all, of these aerial monsters took part in Saturday night's raid, and that one of them has been captured. it is distinctly gratifying to know that Germany lost in that raid at least two of these ZeppCline, one, with its crew, being destroyed by fire, and the other brought to the ground and its crew of twenty-two captured. This result, coming so speedily on the sneers of the German press at the utter uselessness of British anti-air-craft measures, is all the more iwelconie to us, though it is pleasing to note that the loss is deeply felt in Germany, and this feeling will be greatly intensified if the captured machine is put in order and used against the enemy. To boirib Berlin from a German-made airship would certainly have a paralysing effect, and it would open the eyes of the people to the nearness of their approaching doom. Germany is desperate. The blockade is sapping the nation's vitality; the huge losses in killed, wounded and prisoners have undermined its strength, and the war loan, to assist which' a victory is of such prime importance, is falling Hat, the farmers being reluctant to subscribe, fearing national bankruptcy. Desperate people adopt desperate tactics, and evidence of this is to .be found in the fact that a committee has been formed in Municli "for the speedy annihilation of England" by unlimited under-water and aerial ['rightfulness,. According to the latest

cables another air raid is taking place over England, and one almost wonders whether this is tho ''striking victory' which Hinden'burg promised the Kaiser. Literally it is a "'-striking" victory, but it is one that will bring in its train a Nemesis tlmt will fall with terrible force on the nation which hires men to assassinate, in the dark hours of the night, peaceful and hard-working artisans, their wives and children.