TWENTY-EIGHT PERSONS KILLED

Nelson Evening Mail, 25 September 1916, Page 5

TWENTY-EIGHT PERSONS KILLED

NINETY-NINE INJURED. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Rec. Sept, 25. 12.50 p.m.) (Official.) LONDON, Sept. 24. There were 14 or 15 airships. Three -attacked London. They were of a large and new pattern and principally visited the South-East, Eastern and East Midland Oounties and Lincolnshire. Two airships attacked London from the southeast (between 1 and 2 in the morning, and another from the east between midnight and 1 o'-cJbck. Aeroplanes were sent up and anti-air-craft guns opened fire and drove off the raiders. [Bombs were dropped on the southern and south-eastern districts. It is regretted that 28 were killed and "99 injured. A raider fell in flames and was destroyed with the crew. A second also fell in Essex, and the crew of 2 2officers and men was captur- ' ed. Detailed reports of the casualties and damage have not yet been received. A special correspondent telegraphs:— | An airship passed over here at midnight. About 10 minutes later we saw her going southward. The guns were busy and shells were bursting all round the airship. It then proceeded northwards and the guns suddenly ceased. The airship disappeared. The engines were clearly heard again within 20 minutes. Apparently the vessel was seeking to escape homewards. In another minute there was heavy gun firing, and tin the next shells were (bursting round the airship. A red spot glowed, seemingly the size of a small' football. Flames swent along the back and almost immediately there were flames from- end to end, like a fiery shooting serpent. The flames were stabbing the sides of tne airships. The tail was straight up and the nose down, and then the "bade seemed to break. Then it made a headlong dive, a burning wreck.