AIR RAIDS IN THE WAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19158, 26 October 1925, Page 9

AIR RAIDS IN THE WAR.

HOW ENGLAND SUFFERED.

OVER 1400 PEOPLE KILLED

BEATING OFF THE ZEPPELINS

DEFENDERS' FINAL SUCCESS

By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright,

(Received 7.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z. LONDON. Oct. 24

A graphic story of the deaths caused and the damage done in England by the German air raids in the Great War is revealed by Captain Joseph Morris, in his book, "German Air Raids Over England, 1914-18," which has just been published. The hook contains much hitherto unpublished information.

The writer says there were altogether 52 raids and that 1413 people were killed and 3408 others were wounded. More than half the casualties were in London where 670 persons were killed and 1962 were wounded

The book exonerates the ex-Kaiser from blame for the early raids. It quotes official German records which reveal the fact that Wilhelm directed that the raids should be expressly restricted to military shipyards, arsenals and docks, but that London itself should not be bombed.

This embargo only remained while Loudon was apparently not reachable. When the early raids had proved the accessibility of the city Wilhelm sanctioned raids on London on July 20. 1915. The only restriction was that historic buildings were not to be bombed.

Success ol Anti-Aircraft Defences

The year 1917 was the worst period. As a result of the 27 raids which were carried out in that year, 51 tons of bombs were dropped, 655 people were killed and 1553 were injured.

Remarkable tributes are paid by the author to Britain's anti-aircraft defences. In this connection he refers to an official German account, which stated: " The enemy's anti-aircraft defence is extensive Zeppelin commanders have reported that they would be able to remain over England for only a very short time and that it would be impossible to seek out special objectives." The author relates incidents of Zeppelins being forced to return and to jettison their heavy cargo in order to climb to safety. He refers to a German account of a raid in October, 1915. This said: - "Even more sinister than the guns were the aeroplane attacks. The Lls dropped her ballast and bombs into the sea in order to escape." Deadly Gothas Defeated. By September, 1916, the Zeppelins were virtually doomed. It was then that Captain Robinson brought down the SLll. The book finally reveals how an aeroplane overcame the proudest of Germany's airships in August, 1918. It describes the Gothas as a more sinister and more deadly weapon. These were eventually beaten off owing to England s amazing defences which compelled the attacking aeroplanes to fly at an enormous height.

Night raids were the most deadly of all. The Gothas were rendered virtually negligible, however, owing to the use of instruments bv which the defenders were able to locate their position and altitude and to distinguish enemy machines from friendly ones by the respective noises.