THE ZEPPELIN RAID.

Otago Witness, Issue 3214, 20 October 1915, Page 19

THE ZEPPELIN RAID.

BIG CASUALTY LIST. LONDON, October 14. The War Office states that a fleet of airships visited the eastern counties and the London area, dropping bombs. The anti-aircraft guns of the Royal Field Artillery were speedily in action, and the airships were seen to heel over on their side and drop to a lower altitude. Five aeroplanes went up,, but only one succeeded in locating an airship, but it was unable to overhaul the airship before it was lost in the fog. Some houses were damaged, and there were several fires, but no serious damage was done to any military material. The fire brigades soon got the fires under. The total military casualties were 15 killed and 13 wounded. Civilians: 27 men, 9 women, and 5 children killed ; 64 men, 30 women, and 7 children injured. Of these casualties, 32 were killed and 95 injured within the London area, including those previously announced. The Zeppelin raid is the outstanding topic of newspaper and public discussion. Lord Willoughby de Broke presided at a packed meeting in a Cannon street hotel which resolved in favour of a bold policy of air reprisals upon enemy towns. A number of members of Parliament •who were present supported the resolution. Managers of theatres have not discussed the advisability of abandoning evening performances and submitting daily matinees. Except at the Royalty Theatre, all have decided to continue evening performances. The present discontinuance of evening services at St. Paul’s, owing to the light from the 24 windows in the dome, is caus-

ing the clergy to discuss the possibility of discontinuing evening services in other churches. The police patrol every street in the metropolis to see if the lighting regulations are obeyed. One householder to-day was fined £25 for failing to reduce his lights, and another was fined £lO for not screening the lights in a servant’s room.