Air Attack on England.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 307, 28 December 1914, Page 5

Air Attack on England.

BOMB DROPPED AT DOVER.

United Pbess Association. London, December 24

Official: An" aeroplane dropped a bomb in a. private garden at Dover without doing any damage. The aeroplane was seen for a few seconds, and then escaped seawards in the fog. London, December 25. Two heavy reports at mid-day on Monday attributed to gunfire are now stated to be due to a German aeroplane dropping two bombs in the sea westward of the Admiralty pier at Dover. London, December 26. \ The Dover bomb dropped 5000 feet, and scattered its fragments over a radius of a hundred yards, excavating a hole 9ft by sft, and sft deep. ENGACED AND DRIVEN OFF. London, December 24. A German aeroplane flew over Sheerness at midday. A British aviator engaged and hit the enemy three times, and drove him off to the seaward. > FLYING TOWARDS LONDON PURSUED BY BRITISH CRAFT. ESCAPE IN A FOG. London, December 26. Aided by fog, a German aviator eluded the coasti-watchers, and passed up the Thames as far as Erith.. He was first' sighted at 12.35 over the Isle of Sheppy, at the mouth of the Thames, at a height of 9000 feet. As he descended an anti-air gun was fired, but without effect. The enemy was then lost in the fog. Three British aeroplanes started in pursuit. The German made .across the Kentish marshes. BWore being located at Erith he had been flying towards London. Six shells fired by the aircraft station burst above and around the machine, which wheeled upwards and retraced its flight. Within a few minutes a Britisher, flying from the westwards, pursued at a lower altitude. The German followed the centre of the river, at an altitude of 4000 feet. The Britishers to gain, but the German mounted higher above the forts, and swept towards Southend. The chase continued across Essex, the firing of the forts being restricted owing to the propinquity of their own aviators to the enemy. The latter and his passengers kept firing, and skilfully manipulated the machine, and, while minimising the chances of being hit, made it difficult for his pursuers to fire without injuring each other. The German rocked violently at , times as if struck. Then the fog thickened, tond baffled the pursuers, who returned- to their base. Erith is an urban district on the Lower Thames, Kent, about* five miles from "Woolwich. There is a gun factory here. Population about 25,298. Sheerneßs is a fortified urban dis-t'-'ct on the of Shepney, about 25 miles from London, with a Government dockyard and naval arsenal. Population 18,179.