GENERAL.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 6970, 1 February 1918, Page 3

GENERAL.

ANOTHER AIR RAID ON LONDON.

Heavy Casualty List.

London, Jan 30 The Press Bureau announces that aeroplanes crossed the Essex and Kent coasts at 9 30 o'clock yesterday, evening None were reported within the Loudon defences, but bombs were reported to have beeen dropped on the outskirts. The" raid is -~ still in progress. An official report regarding last night's air raid states :—Two groups of raiders crossed the Essex coast, and one group the Kentish coast. They proceeded towards London. The latter group dropped bombs on the Isle of Ihanet and Sheppey, and crossed the estuary of the Thames, approaching the east of London through Essex. About fifteeu machines participated in the attacks. Four or live jeachedthe capital aud bombed various districts. Later, other aeronlanes crossed the Essex coast, Oue reached London and dropped bombs. Two Hying corps scouts, after a brief fight at close range, set fire to an enemy aeroplane over Essex. It fell in flames, the crew of three being burned to death. All our machines returned safely. Fourteen men, 17 women, and 16 children were killed, 96 men, 59 women, 17 children were injured. Ail the casualties occurred in London with the exception of one killed and seven injured. The material damage waa not serious. In the House of Commons, Mr J J Macphorson, representing the War Office, stated that 7U British aeroplanes ascended against the raiders. About j tea raiders reached London. Some of vhe casualties o ere dua to people crowding into raid shelters, Vessels Lost in Eastern , Mediterranean. Australiau and .N Z Cable Assoc. and He utcr l?ec Jan i>l, 10 p m LmiioD, Jau .'JU The Admiralty losses announced in the House of Commons on the 23rd irist were: The transport Aragoh, fcoVp3(loed ani suok on December 30 ; and the auxiliary vessel, Osroanich, mined and sunk on December 31. Both were, lost in the same locality in the Eastern Mediterranean. A destroyer was also torpedoed and sunk while picking up the Aragon'a survivors, jhe Aragon's casualties wore 610, including Captain Bateuian. The OsmaDich's casualties were 199, including Captain Mason aud eight nurses. Awßtraliiiu and N % Culle Assoo Hoc Jiii ul, 7 30 p m London, J">*n .'io Two transports were lost between Otrail to and Alexandria The drowned included four nurses. A destroyer wa? also lost while engaged in rescue work. Both transports were iscluded in the sinking c-tbled on the 9?h inst. I Tho larg r transport was the Pacitic Mail Company's Aragon, wi h 2,000 m<3D aboard, including troop 3, nurses, and medical moo. The second vessel ws- tin old Khedival steamer Ohmauiri, with 800 aboard. It is believed that bodi vessels ran int.") a mine field, the disasters occurring within a few hours of each other, It is interesting to note that during the war nine transports have been j lost, the casualties aggregating 2,000. I Something like eleven million effectives have been carried without casualty. Close on a quarter of a million troops are often afloat on a single day.