PRELIMINARY SKIRMISHES

Taranaki Daily News, 11 March 1918, Page 5

PRELIMINARY SKIRMISHES

CREAT AERIAL AND ARTILLERY ACTIVITY AIR RAIDS ON PARIS AND LCiTOH GEftiMf'S HEAL MMS EXPOSED By Cable—Press Association—Copyright.

IN THE AIR. I

RAID ON BRITAIN. Q3i MOONLESS -NIGHT. London, March 8. fh« tress Bureau reports that aeroplanes crossed the East Coast at 1! o'clock on Thursday evening and proceeded towards London. Th<j raid is progressing. Last night'.; raid' surprised London, making a new enemy departure in util'.sing aeroplanes 0,-i a moonless night. THE RAIDERS' TACTICS. HELPED BY NORTHERN LIGHTS. Received March 10, S.j p.m. London, March 1 The Press Bureau rtates that seven or eight aeroplanes carried out yesternight',, raid, two of which bombed London. The first two raiders, following the Thames, were turned back before they reached the capital. The third crossed the Essex coast, and bombed the south-west and north-west districts of London. The fourth crossed to Essex and dropped bombs in the north of London, and then proceeded to the south across the capital. After dropping the remaining bombs in the northern district the remaining machines turned back. There was some damage to property, several houses being demolished. The raid is designated the "Aurora Borealis' 1 raid. The alow in the northem sky gave a lig|)t resembling summer, it being ample to enable aviators to steer over the North Sea, and lasted until three o'clock in the' morning. Bands of red and white light illuminated the water, though onlv the Northern glow #as' visible in London. Though the raid waß a great surprise la the public, the remarkable barrage and speed of the .British airmen who went aloft showed that the authorities ■were not taken unawares. Renter Service. Received March 10, 5.5 p.m. Eleven were killed and forty-six injured in last night's raid. It is feared six others are still buried in wreckage. AIR RAID ON PARIS. FRENCH REPULSE ENEMY RAID. Received March 10, 5.5 p.m. * London, March 0. Trench official: Several enemy air squadrons visited Paris. Details are lacking,, but it is believed the casualties were fewer than in the last raid. London, March 9. French official: Between ten and twelve squadrons participated in the air raid on Paris. They were hotly received by our anti-aircrafters and sivty aeroplanes. Nine inhabitants were killed and thirty-nine wounded. A Gotha was brought down at Compiegne, the four men aboard being incinerated. Australian and N.Z Cable Assn. and Rcuter. Received March 11, 1.30 a.m. , London, March 10. French official.—lt is now known that eleven were killed and forty-one injured in the Paris suburbs by the air raid.