The Star. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26. 1917. THE ZEPPELIN DEFEAT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 26 October 1917, Page 4

The Star.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26. 1917. THE ZEPPELIN DEFEAT.

Deli v ered every cvealng by 6 o f, (<** iv Hawera, Manaia, Ncrmanby, ' Okaiawa, Eltham, Mangatoki, Kajonga, Awatuna, Opunake, Otakeho, ManutaUi Alton, Hutleyville, Patea, Waverley.

I The Zeppelin raid on England turned out to be the most disastrous for the enemy experienced in the war, for it is reported that out of eleven airships which took part in the raid nine were destroyed. The use of Zeppelins for raiding purposes lost favor with the enemy after the successes of Warneford, Robinson, and Brandon, and the death of Count Zeppelin some months ago was stated to be due to his having committed suicide, being despondent at the failure of his machines to achieve the purpose which he had for years kept in mind. He had succeeded in placing his dreams before the Kaiser and the Prussian War Lords in such an attractive manner that he received their full support. The Zeppelin, however, failed badly as a war machine, i

Its great length and the dangers of explosions made it an attractive target for the Allied aviator, while the searchlight found little difficulty in keeping it under observation, allowing the anti-aircraft gunners to make good practice. In the summer of this year the enemy inaugurated a series of raids by fleets of aeroplanes and, though they visited England in daylight for a time, they more recently availed themselves of night's darkness to aid them in their terrible work. The defence of the English coast steadily became stronger, and tha curtain of gunfire, operating in conjunction with British chaser 'planes, rendered very difficult the enemy's task of reaching London, the goal of the German airman's ambition. Raids on Essex and Kent by aeroplane were frequent until the middle of this month, and it is somewhat surprising to find the enemy reverting to the use of Zeppelins. The reason for so doing is, of course, known only to the enemy himself, but it is suggested to the British mind that so heavy lias the air fighting on the West front been, and so successful have been the bombing raids made by our naval aircraft on aerodromes and hangars in Belgium, that the enemy is suffering from a shortage of aeroplanes, and decided to recommission his bulky airships. The Germans would no doubt give a far different reason. From one report it is learned that the raiders failed to escape the searchlights, and found it necessary to rise to an altitude of three miles, where they became the sport of a strong gale which swept them across to France, and where they met with disaster. The Germans seem to have made up their minds that the air raids

are worth the trouble, though they J must know that no military advantage can possibly accrue from the ruthless bombing of towns, and Germany by her continuance of such methods is removing herself further and further from the associations of civilised nations. Perhaps the heavy defeat, of the Zeppelins will act as a deterrent, though one is inclined to think that the hatred for Britain is so great that the enemy will continue as long as the war lasts to make raids. Many demands have been made for Britain to take reprisals, and equally many protests have been made against that course. Some authorities hold that the only way to appeal to the Germans is by reprisals, while others in as good position to speak hold that our nation should refuse to lower its moral standard by retaliating. The question is one which will be answered by the individual according to conscience, but nobody desires that our nation should ever be guilty of bombing points other than those of military value. "Whether or not the taking of reprisals would , make Germany desist from further j raids on England cannot be definitely stated, but it is doubtful if the Prussian, who has shown such disregard for life both of the soldiers of his own army and of the peoples of the occupied territories, would be moved to act differently were one of his large cities to suffer as London has at the hand of the ruthless raider. To stow signs of sympathy with sufferers is, to the Prussian, almost a weakness, and j his system of "kultur" holds no place for those who are moved by such matI ters to alter the course of military affairs. The loss of many machines with i their crews is more likely to make the ' enemy consider the position than reprisals are, because the loss of machines means a reduction of power, and power alone counts with the Prussian militarist. Whatever may be said for or against the defences of London during the recent raid, it is very satisfactory to know that the enemy suffered the severest loss yet inflicted in one i raid.