AIR RAID ON LONDON AND EAST COAST

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 34, 3 November 1917, Page 7

AIR RAID ON LONDON AND EAST COAST

DETERMINED ATTACKS BY SEVEN GROUPS OF MACHINES RAIDERS HARASSED BY GUNFIRE • OfficiaL-"flostile aircraft determined) y an d repeatedly attacked London last Bight. Ill© first group of machines crossedHhe Kentish coast at 10.45, but did not penetrate far inland. The machine B turned eastward, and dropped bombs on various places in the vicinity of the coast. Meanwhile two mora groups were steering for London, along the south ba n ]c 0 f the Thames. Lo wand thin clouds rendered observation difhcult. Neverth o ] m> the altitude of the raiders was calculated, and they wero broken up by ou v barrage, on the south-eastern outskirts of the city, whore bombs were dropped. A fourth croup, coming along the Thames Lstuary, was turned back when half-wa y f 0 < London. Meanwhile a fifth group crossed the Essex const, at 12.15 in Iho morning, and steered for London along the north bank of the Thames. Our ou) OI . defences turned them back. Pome one or more penetrated the south-east of London and dropped bombs. A sixth group followed the same course, a quarter of an hour later, some penetrating the south-east of London, and dropped bombs. One.or more machines, meanwhile, were bombing the south-western outskirts of the citr. Our gun firo dispersed a seventh group before it reached the outer defences: Individual raiders attacked the Kent coast, between midnight arid 1.30 in the morning. Kach group consisted of three or four machine s . The total raiders were about thirty, and only three penetrated the heart of L ondon. Our gun fire harassed the raider's, and they were also attacked by our aircraft. It is believed that the casualties and damage are light, considering the n ature of the attack."-Ans.-N.Z. Cable Assn. C ' A LIGHT CASUALTY ROLL NO MUNITIONS' ESTABLISHMENT DAMAGED. London, November 1. Official.—"The total casualties in all districts''caused by last night's air raid were 8 killed and 21 wounded. The ma terial damage was of tho slightest character, and no Naval or military munition establishment was damaged. All our machines are safe."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable A ssn.-Eeuter.