AIR RAID ON ENGLAND.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XL, Issue 12430, 22 January 1915, Page 5

AIR RAID ON ENGLAND.

VARYING REPORTS OF VISITORS. NO SERIOUS DAMAGE DISCLOSED. GERMANY "WILDLY DELIGHTED. Received January 21, at 8.5 p.m. Sydney, January 21. The Daily Telegraph "heads its leader on the Zeppelin raid: "More Baby Killing." London, January 21. The Zeppelin's time-table was as follows: — . Zeppelins were ,seen to depart from Tersc-helling (West Friesian Island) at 2.30 p.m. Arrived Yarmouth 8.30 p.m. Dropped seven bombs. Sheringham at 8.35 p.m. Dropped eight bombs. Cromer. —Dropped five bombs. Huntstanton at 10 p.m. Dropped two bombs. • Sandringham at 10.15 p.m.. Dropped three bombs. King's Lynn at 10.30 p.m. Dropped three bombs. t Returning, the Zeppelins w; re sighted at Ters'chelling at two in the morning. ' Received January 21, at 11.30 p.m.

- London, .1:1 unary 21. There are varying accounts of the air raid. ■ One says that an airship circled King's Lynn twice, sometimes appearing to hang mctionl;-.-..5. Terrific reports followed the dropping of the bombs. One bomb blew out the windows of tlie church at Snettisham. The Hector and his family were standing at the Rectory gate, class to the church. They watched the airship manoeuvre, believing it to be a British aeroplane, until by the shape they rcalised it was a Zeppelin. They escaped with a shock. At Yarmouth nobody actually saw the aircraft, but it is believed the raider was a dirigible. Two unexplodcd bombs were found which are so big as to Ix■scarcely portable in a Taube. Only 0:1 c aircraft raided the town. Another went straight ahead in the direction of Cromer. Several points were struck in Yarmouth in a straight line 100 yards apart. Two bombs fell close to St. Peter's Church. They Mere evidently aimed at the steeple, hut missed by yards. Two persons were killed, including a woman aged 72 years. The windows within a 200 yards radius, including those of the church, were The intercession service was_ just finished and the vicar, who was inside, was surprised to. see the double-locked vestry door blown open.

Several narrow escapes are reported from other places. ~ v A man escaped unhurt from a demolished house. A girl, playing the piano, at- Yarmouth, was blown off the piano stool and fell downstairs, but was uninjured. An engine-driver reports 'that ,tiie Zeppelin chased the train from Sun.stanton to King's Lynn, using it as ;> guide. He pulled out- the throttle and raced along, and eventually left the "Zeppelin behind.

Tile coastguards on the Norfolk coast assert that there were four Zeppelins. Some fishermen declare- that there were six. Three steered south-east in the direction of Yarmouth, and three towards Cromer. . Received January 22, at 1 a.m. London, January 21. " The raid has caused an increased demand and higher prices i'cr insurance •against air-damages. The Times' naval correspondent regards the raid as a trial trip, and as intended to restore German confidence in the Zeppelins after their ingloiious showing at Cuxhaven. Tile Times in a leader says: —"After six months' empty threats, German airships visited England and killed a hoy, an old lady, a middle-aged shoemaker, a- soldier's widow, and injured a baby. Whiti we strike "home against -Germany we shall not soil our hands with those shameful crimes, but will fight- honorably, with the assurance that victory will be ours and the earth will be purged of these relapses into barbarism." Dutch correspondents report that the Zeppelins, in returning, passed everSneek and Hommarts, both in Friesland. The Dutch Admiralty declares thatthe airships did not cross Dutch territory.

Received January 22, at 1.20 a.m. London, January 21. It. is generally believed that Ihe two airships engaged in the raid arrived off the coast together. One went- south to Yarmouth and the other north to Cromer. Cromer escaped damage, owing to the authorities promptly extinguishing the lights. ...Tile Zeynelins made special targets of church towers. Explosives of extraordinary potency were used. One of the bombs was double the size of a coeoanut. It demolished two cottages and shattered the windows of 50 houses and shops. The report that some soldiers were killed is incorrect. The deaths total four, including llrs Gazley, who was found crushed under a bed. Her husband was among the soldiers recently killed in Belgium. London, January 21. The German Admiralty announce that naval airships undertook to attack some' fortified places on the English coast-. The weather was foggy and rainy, but several bombs were successfully dropped. The airships were shot at, but they returned undamaged. Received January 21, at S.o p.m. Amsterdam, January 21. Berlin advices state that the news of th© raid excited the wildest delight throughout Germany. It is stated that s the raid was planned months ago, and the airmen were only awaiting the opportunity. The raid is only the beginning of the Zeppelin campaign. The newspapers comment eulogistioally on the fact that German genius has at last ended the legend that England is invulnerable owing to insularity. - The Ivniser telegraphed congratulations to Count Zeppelin, whom" ho addressed as '"Commodore of my fleet." A SIKH'S OPINION. GERMANS NOT EQUAL TO SIKHS. London. .January 20. A .Sikh wnite home: "The bombs first broke down our mud walls in front destroying many of the trench.es. The Germans came in great numbers, but we slew them. The dead lay so high that we could not see for corpses. At nishi- they came again, tilling the sky with lightnings—a kind of magic secret they possess. Again we -slew them all. They have too many machines., and these are too cunningly contrived; otherwise they are net equal to the Sikhs." <>