AIR RAID ON LONDON

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 117, 22 May 1918, Page 5

AIR RAID ON LONDON

RAIDERS BADiLY -HARASSED.

GOTHAS BROUGHT DOWN IN

FLAMES.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

LONDON, May. 20. Tfie air raid lasted for two hours Many bombs were dropped. The raiders met a very heavy bar rage, and several were brought down. The air raiders arrived over the Kentish coast in two groups, apparent ly converging on London. The barrage broke the formations. Two Gothas were brought down and wrecked in an open space m Kent. Gunßre everywhere badly harassed the air raiders." Two Gothas falling iti | masses of flames presented a weird, spectacle. All the occupants of one jumped out and were 'killed. The Press Bureau announces that the casualties in the air raid in the London district were: Killed, 17, men, 14 women and 6 children. Injured : 83 men, 49 women, and 23 children. In the provinces none killed, but two men, three women and one child were injured. Considerable damage was done to house property.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST RAIDS.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

(Rec. May 22, 8.50 a.m.) LONDON, May 21. •Sunday's raid was one of the biggest yet attempted: A large number of enemy machines participated and attacked the capital in relays. Everywhere the barrage was magnificent, and British airmen also fiercely atacked the invaders. American airmen assisted for the first time. TWENTY OR THIRTY GOTHAS ' ENGAGED. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter.) (Rec. Mav 22. 9.20 a.m.) LONDON, May 21. The Press Bureau states that probably twenty or thirty Gothas participated in Sunday's raid. A group entered the. Thames estuary at eleven in the evening and were heavily shelled. British airmen engaged a Gotha at 11.30 in the evening at close range. The Gotha disappeared in the clouds and shortly afterwards '■ burst into names at a height o? 700 feet an/Ji iell a blazing wreck. The remainder traversed Kent, bombing, but did no damage. The other group entered Essex and reached London, where a Gotha was brought down by gunfire. A few dozen bombs were dropped in the London distinct, /damaging small dwelling-houses. The casualties were in nowise heavy or .proportionate to the material damage. < RAIDERS HOTLY ENGAGED.

f Australian . and N.Z. Cable Association and R-euter.)

(Rec. Mav 22; 10.20 a.m.) LONDON. May 21

Alt the raiders were hotly ens-a goby anti-aircraft defences. Some attempted to descend in the Thames -estuary : others proceeded eastwards overland. Some were probably- severely in attempting to penetsvvte tht London defences.

At least three more failed to escat>e.

Two were brought down before they crossed the coast. One of them was d stroved bv British airmen.

A" fifth fell in flames in the sea. and p. sixth and seventh were reported obpe-v. Ed falling into the sea. but this is not confirmed.

The casualties were 37 killed and 167. injured. . Except for two outbreaks of fire m larger premises, .which were, soon controlled-, the damage, was confined to wrecking smaller dwelling-ihouses by concussion. ' ■

SUCCESS OF LATEST BRITISH DEFENCE' METHODS.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

(Rec. May 22, 10.55 a.m.) LONDON, May 21. The London Express has high authority for ptating that the number-of _mv'aders brought down was mainly due to the latest system of concentrated high explosives gunfire and the efforts of British aviators, who forced the enemv within range of anti-aircraft batteries'. High explosives can now rected to a far greater height, while the rapidity wherewith the. range can be adjusted is a feature of the newest guns.