HOW A ZEPPELIN CAME DOWN.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15728, 23 October 1916, Page 10

HOW A ZEPPELIN CAME DOWN.

MASS OF ROARING FLAME.

DESCRIBED BY AN EYE-WITNESS

Mr Harry Cohen, writing from London on September oth, to his father (Mr A. E. Cohen, of the Dunedin "Star''), thus describes the destruction of a raiding Zeppelin ; — 3.. Ast Saturday 1 had my first view of a Zeppelin raid, and I was fortunate enougu to witness what is described as the greatest raid that iias yet taken place. Certainly I saw the most exciting. When I went home at 11 .o'clock 1 heard that at least nine were on their way over. I went to bed and went to sleep, but was rudely awakened about 2 a.m. by the boom, of the guns near by. I looked out the window, and saw the sky lit up everywhere by-search-lights. I immediately got dressed and went out into the street. As soon as I got there I saw the Zep. revealed by the rays of what seemed to ho a million- searchlights focussed on her from all parts of London—north, south, east and west. My first, glimpse of her was in the midst of a parted cloud, her outline plainly visible. There was a cry of "There she is!" The boom of a gun, and a shell buret in what appeared to nae very close proximity to the raider. Then it seemed as if a thousand guns spoke—boom tQ the right and boom to -tho left, etc. Shells burst all round her, but she seemed to have a charmed life. She changed her course and rose to a higher altitude. The teirchlights followed her; almost every light in London (with the exception of' a few which were searching tho sky for other possible visitors) was on her. She was more clearly outlined than before and tho gUnsV looming increased. She turned to the west, and then stopped still, heading to every •point of the compass as if looking for a M'ay oU I of tho blinding' lights. . Now we • could see, in the strong glare of the searchlights, the gondolas. She turned again in several directions,* but never for a moment did the lights leave her. Then, to our surprise, a red. ball of . fire dropped from above her, and the guns ceased their fire. It was beyond our -understanding. Two later she burst into flame at one end of the hody. She swung round broadside on, as if her crew had lost control of her. Tho burning ond dipped, and then the flames spread ae the petrol tanks caught fire. , Now perpendicular, the Zeppelin started to fall headlong to earth from a height vory little short of two miles. She was simply a huge mass of roaring flame. She seemed, like a hugo incandescent mantlo white hot enveloped in flame, falling, falling, with a series of detonations, sftid causing a flare which lit up the oountrysido for miles around. St. Paul's domo and the Tower were plainly visiblo to mc. As she came down she seemed to gain momentum, and 6he hit the earth at a spot we. afterwards learnt was 13 miles away with a crash I that we-heard here in the West End. Wo stayed round and chatted about it for a-while, and then I went to bed the witness of a sight it, has been tho privilege of few on this earth to havo seen! ■ Sinco Sunday the talk .here hag been nothing but the Zep. It now appears ; that the red. ball we saw drop'was a | signal from an aviator to the guns to | cease firing. The aviator, a young fellow, named Robinson, who was responsible for bringing the to earth, has to-day been given the A C.