AIR RAIDERS IN FRANCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10113, 22 October 1917, Page 5

AIR RAIDERS IN FRANCE.

SEVEN ZEPPELINS BROUGHT DOWN, four others in trouble. Received October 22, 8.45 a.rn. PARIS, Oct. 21. An official message says: Eleven Zeppelins raided France last night. They were chased in all directions by aeroplanes, and liarrassed by gun-lire. Official warning of their presence was given in Paris, but no bombs were dropped. Our guns downed one Zeppelin near Lunovillo and another in the Upper Marne district:. Aeroplanes downed a third in Burgundy, and a fourth in tin' Maritime Alps after an all-night chase. A report that a fifth was downed is unconfirmed. The crew of one was prisouered, and the Zeppelin itself was captured intael ; two others were disabled when attacked by aeroplanes and anti-aircraft guns, and compelled to descend. The crews fired the airships and took to flight, but were prisouered. Besides those downed, four disabled Zeppelins are wandering about France, two in the south-west, one over the Mediterranean, and one on I tie Swiss frontier. All are closely hemmed in by French aviators.

THE RAID ON FRANCE. THREE ZEPPR DESTROYED; ONE CAPTURED INTACT. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. Received October 22, 10.40 a.m. PARIS, Oct,. 21. The first Zeppelin was shot down at St. Clements, on the Mcurtho and Moscllo rivers. At 7 o’clock on Saturday morning- three airships were seen in company travelling- at the rate of 56 miles an hour against a head wind. Anti-aircraft guns opened at a range of 4000 metres. The Zeppelins leapt to 5500 metres. A fourth shell penetrated the envelope of one, which ignited, and one of the gondolas became, detached and fell, then the Zeppelin, nose upward, crashed to earth. 'Five bodies fearfully mutilated wore found nearby, hut the remainder were buried in the ruins. Th a- second Zeppelin. 1.49, was forced io land undamaged at 9.20, by chasing aeroplanes at Bourbonne, 30 miles west by south of Nancy. The commander, the second officer and 17 men were prisonered. The third. 1,50, alighted near Montignv I.eroi. Two officers and 14 men landed, of whom two were slightly wounded. They released one of the gondolas and ignited it and the Zeppelin, with four aboard, swiftly re-ascended. The prisoner staled that 1.50 left the base at Oldenburg on the 19th and lost, its way in the fog while trying to return to Germany. The fourth Zeppelin fell at Laragno, near Gap in Provence, at 10.50. Two officers and 15 men were prisonered after burning the machine. A fifth Zeppelin was brought down tit 4 in the afternoon between Sisteron and Gap. The crew set fire to the machine before they were prisonered.