THE AIR WAR.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16219, 23 May 1918, Page 7

THE AIR WAR.

RAID ON LONDON

ONE OF THE BIGGEST SO FAR.

(B 7 Cab'e.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Australian and IC.Z. Cable Association.) iKcuter's Telegrams.) LONDON. May 21. The Press Bureau states tliut probably 20 or 30 Got'nas participated in Sunday's raid on London. One group entered the Thames Estuary at 11 p.m. and skirted north of _ the Kent coast, where they were heavily shelled. British airmen engaged a Gotha at 11.HI) p.n;. at close range. This Gotha disappeared in the clouds and shortly afterwards burst into flames, at a height c.f 7000 feet, and fell a blazing wreck. Tho remainder of the group traversed Kent, bombing, but did no damage. Tho other group enterod Essex and reached London, where a Gotlia was brought down by gunfire. A few dozen bombs were dropped in the London district, damaging small dwelling-houses," but tho " casualties wetv not heavy nor proportionate to the material damage.

Sunday's raid was one of the biggest yet attempted. A large number of enemy machines participated, and attacked tho capital in relays. Everywhere the barrage was magnificent. Tho British airmen also fiercely attacked tile invaders. American airmen assisted for the first time.

All tho raiders were hotly engaged by the anti-aircraft defences. Some of tho raiders attempted to desccnd in the Thames Estuary, while others proceeded eastwards overland. Somo were probably severely damaged in attempting to penetrate the London defences. At least three more failed to escape, two being brought down before they crossed tho coast, and one of them being destroyed by British airmen. A fifth fell in flames into tho sea. A sixth and a seventh were reported as having been observed falling ;nto the sea, but this is not confirmed.

Ihe casualties were 37 killed and 161 injured. Except for two outbreaks of fire in larger premises, which were soon controlled, the damago was confined to the wrecking of smaller dwelli n£ houses by concussion. The "Daily Expross" has high authority for stating that tlio number of nvaders brought down was mainly due to the latest system of concentrated high explosives gunfire, and the efforts of the British aviators, who forcod tho enemy within rango of anti-aircraft, batteries. High explosives can now be directed to a far greater height, wliile tho vapidity with which the range can be adjusted is a feature <>f the newest guns. LOSSES OX WAY HOME. (Reu tor's Tolo^rama.) (Received Mav 22nd, 8 o m.) LONDON, Slay 21. The Copenhagen "Tclegrafen" states that a steamer and a fishing-boat which have arrived at Gothenburg each saved two German airmen from two aeroplanes of a large new type, which were forced to descend in tho vicinity of tlio Doggerbank owing to shortage of petrol. Tho Germans destroyed tho aeroplanes. From this it would appear that tho London air raiders suffered further losses on their route home.

NEW YORK. May 21. i r i lo T " iork Times" correspon•i° • 8 Tner i can Army states that Major Lufberry volunteered to attack a giant German aeroplane, the engines of which are armour plated life gunners wear steel suits, and tho pilot sits in a steel house. Several American airmen kept up a stream of fire against this German plane, but without result. The seen© resembled swallows pecking at a giant bird of prey. Major Lufberry attacked, but his tank got ablaze, and he leaped from, the machino at a height of 2000 feet.