DETAILS OF THE CAPTURES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVII, Issue 9125, 22 October 1917, Page 5

DETAILS OF THE CAPTURES.

ONE ZEPPELIN UNDAMAGED

A- FDFTH RAIDER BROUGHT DOWN

(Received Ocfc. 22, 10.40 a.m.)

PAIUS, Oct: 21. -

.The first Zeppelin was shot down at St.. ..Elements, in the department 'of Meurthe-et : Moselle. At 7 o'clock on Saturday morning throe airships were seen in company, travelling at the rate of sti miles an hour, against a head wind. Aircraft guns opened at a range of -1.000 metres, and the^ Zeppelins leapt to 5500 metres. "The fourth shell penetrated the envelope of one, which ignited, and one of its gondolas became detached and Ml Then the Zeppelin, nee upwards, crashed to the eaith. Five bodies, tearfully mutilated, were tound nearby, but the mmamdor weio buned in the ruins.

A second /oppohn (I 49) was loiced to laud, undamaged, at 9 2d, by chahmg aeioplane^ ai Boui bonne, 30 miles v»est-by-souLh ol Nancj Tin. commander, second officer, and 17. of the crew'were taken prisoners.

A third (LSO) alighted at d'Ammartin, near Montigny. Two officets and 14 men landed, of whom two were slightly wounded; they released one of the gondolas smd ignited it, and the Zeppelin, with lour aboard, swiftly re-aacended. ,

vA-prisoner stated that LSO left its base at Oldenburg on October 19, and lost its way in a log while trying to return to Germany. . ' . \ .'^

The fourth Zeppelin fell at Laragne,' ■near; Gap, in Provence, at 10.50; two officers and 15 men were taken prisoners, after burning the. machine. A fifth Zeppelin was brought down at 4 in 1 thp; afternoon," between Sist'eron and;-;Gap I;; ■■■the I'./crew- i set;;fire. to;/ the : ma^KihV!b yet'orWtheyrwere- captured.; -}j