ZEPPELIN RAIDS THE MOUTH OF THE THAMES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15915, 12 May 1915, Page 7

ZEPPELIN RAIDS THE MOUTH OF THE THAMES.

OVER 80 BOMBS DROPPED ALONG ESSEX COAST.

EXTENSIVE DAMAGE IN THE SOUTHEND DISTRICT. '

AIRSHIP REPORTED TO BE IN DIFFICULTIES.

London, May; 10.

A Zeppelin dropped upwards of 80 bombs over Soutbend-on-Sea and the neighbourhood, and also on Canvey Island, at the mouth of the Thames, seven miles west of Southend.

The raider flew over the Marine Parado at Southend and .dropped a bomb, which Hissed the gasworks and wrecked a house in York Road, injuring a soldier who was asleep. Several explosions shattered the' windows within half-a-mile. Another bomb missed Saint Erkenwald's Church, conspicuous on a hilltop. Another fired the buildings in, a builder's yard near Saipt Erkenwaid. ...... : ,

One bomb wrecked a house in PrittleweH, a village two miles inland from Southend, Mrs. Whitewell being killed while in bed, while her husband was severely injured in endeavouring to extinguish the fire caused by the bomb.

BOMB DROPPED NEAR GERMAN PRISON SHIP.

A dozen outbreaks of fire occurred at West-cliff, a suburb of South-end-on-Sca, while an attempt to drop bombs on the gasworks" at Loigh-on-Sea, another suburb, failed. Bombs were dropped all* round Queen Mary's Hospital, and also on Canvey Island.

When the airship, which was using a searchlight, was sighted, the town hooter was sounded, warning people to remain in their houses, but hundreds at Southend, .Westcliff, and Leigh rushed into the streets. There was no panic when the bombs were dropped.

Fires broke out at several different places and spread rapidly. One family escaped from a burning house by jumping from the windows. A boardinghouse was burnt down, but tho occupants escaped.

A bomb was dropped near a prison ship on which 1200 German civilians are interned. Many narrow escapes arc reported. One bomb crashed through a bedroom where two sisters slept, and fell a few inches from the bed and ignited the bedroom.

BRITISH AEROPLANE PUTS ZEPPELIN TO FLIGHT.

Spectators state that the airship was fired at when passing Pitsea, 9i miles west of Southend, and it is believed that it was hit. It appeared to be in difficulties when passing Romford, which is considerably west of Southend and 12i miles east of London. An aeroplane ascended at Sheerness, on the other side of the Thames, and drove off the airship.

Ton people were injured at Southend-on-Sea. The damage at Southend and Prittlowell is estimated at £10,000. It is feared that considerable damage was dono at Canvey Island.

The incendiary bombs dropped by the Zeppelin consisted of a core of tarred rope saturated with chemicals and bound with wire. They were sufficiently heavy to penetrate roofs. The fuse was apparently lighted before they were dropped. They were hard to extinguish.

A message from the High Commissioner states: " A Zeppelin raided South Essex this morning. Seventy bombs were dropped.^ A woman was killed and buildings destroyed in the Southend district.