THE ZEPPELIN RAID.

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

THE ZEPPELIN RAID.

DETAILS OF DAMAGE. LONDON, October 17. The Press Bureau has issued the following official report by an eye-witness of the Zeppelin raid. The Zeppelins flew high to prevent their destruction from anti-aircraft guns. The darkening of the metropolitan area, together with their height, certainly prevented the enemy from discovering the exact position of places of importance. Official Berlin reports prove that the raiders were grossly in error in their belief as to where they dropped the bombs. The raid occurred at an hour when practically none except children were in bed. Places of entertainment were full, and the population was about its ordinary pleasure and business. Though hundreds of thousands of persons heard the bombs and guns, they remained calm and free from panic. There was even less excitement than on previous occasions. Official warnings to take shelter were better observed by most people, and when the guns ceased they went quietly to bed. The second raid was about midnight at another- part of London. The sounds of the explosions were plainly heard in theatres, but there was a commendable absence of panic. Five distinct areas of bombing were distinguishable. In the first there was little or no residential property, being chiefly large busi ness buildings and wide streets. Here four high explosive bombs foil in the streets and a fifth at the back of some premises, and the large buildings were thronged with people. The bomb penetrated to the railways, melted gaspipes, and started fire which lasted for several hours. Almost all the glass in the neighbourhood was destroyed, and there were a number of casualties, all the sufferers being either sitting in their front rooms or walking the streets. The second area was a large block of residential flats. One bomb fell into a garden, and two rooms on the ground floor were wrecked. Another demolished a top storey. There were no casualties. The third area was a large modern building of reinforced concrete, with steel and concrete roof and flooring. The bomb dropped on the roof, and did little damage. An old building near by was, however, unable to withstand the concussion. Fortunately the inmates, warned by previous explosions, took refuge in the lower floors and escaped. The fourth area was entirely occupied by working class houses and small shops. One group of houses was entirely destroyed by a single bomb, but the householders displayed the utmost heroism and coolness. The last area was a suburban one, composed entirely of detached and semidetached houses. Here the largest number of bombs were dropped. A striking feature of the bombardment was the number of cases in which bombs missed buildings and struck gardens. Among the many astonishing escapes was that of a mother and daughter who were sleeping in an upper room. They were thrown into the street, but both escaped death. The bomb fell in the centre of the house and killed two children and severely injured a third; also the father and mother. Twenty houses in the same road had their doors and windows blown out. Another bomb fell in a street. A youth who was bidding good-night to - girl was killed and the girl was injured. An old man on the pavement had an arm blown off and died. FORMAL VERDICT RETURNED. LONDON, October 17. At the inquest on the air raid victims the coroner said it had been pointed out to him that the signal lights on the railways were not extinguished or screened. He had given that information to the Admiralty. The' coroner added that the inquests were not occasions for angry outburst against the Germans, and warned the jury against a ridiculous verdict. The jury returned a verdict of “ Death from injuries from bombs dropped by enemy aircraft.” DISTRESS IN AUSTRIA. AMSTERDAM, October 16. Great distress prevails in Austria. The burgomaster of Munich (Bavaria) has appealed to citizens to use meat at only four meals weekly, in consequence of the diminishing number of pigs and cattle due to the heavy demands of the army.’ Despite the Government assurance as to the harvest, bread-cards are more strictly enforced. The Austro-Hungarian potato crop ia

proving insufficient, and prohibitive prices rule at the restaurants. Viennese tailors and dressmakers have been ruined, owing to the diversion of cloth supplies for military use.