THE ZEPPELIN RAIDS.

DISASTROUS FLIGHT OVER FRANCE.

NUMBER BROUGHT DOWN UN-

CERTAIN

ONE CREW CAPTURED BY

FARMERS WIFE

(Australian and N.Z. CabloAssociation)

Paris, Oct. 23

It is still doubtful whether five or six Zeppelins were destroyed in France. Four or five escaped to Germany, ttough it is believed that the Zeppelin which landed sixteen men at Montigny-le-Roi now lies in the MidAlps. ■ ' ._• .German prisoners state that thirteen Zeppelins participated in the raid, of which number eleven returned across France. All tto crews belong to the nav^, there being no any land Zeppelins. . > The officers were arrogant, and claimed a special regime, and rooms at an hotel. They were much distressed when they were treated as prisoners. The officers and crew of L 45, wl:ieh descended at Laragne, were captured i by Madame Dupont, a farmer's Avife, but she was unable to prevent, Captain Koeller setting fire to the machine by, shooting at the Zeppelin with a re-i volver'. ■

It is believed that tie Zeppelin engines froze when they were out^ two hours, the machines drifting over London, and that this was.the real cause of the disaster, as it would bo impossible to restart at a high altitude. The Zeppelins then drifted to France, and were forced to descend at dawn, when the French aeroplanes discovered them.

CABLE NEWS.

[Pkess Association;— Copyright.]