A SHEET OF FLAME.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 437, 5 July 1915, Page 6

A SHEET OF FLAME.

ZEPPELIN FALLS TO RUIN. LIEUTENANT WARNEFORD'S THRILLING FEAT. FLAMING CRAFT FALLS ON ORPHANAGE. . [ln the following article will tie found additional details of the battle in the air last month, when Lieutenant Warneford (since killed in an exhibition flight in Paris} outsoared a Zeppelin one early morning, and utterly wrecked it.] • LONDON, June 7. As a sequel to the Zeppelin raid on the English coast last night, the third invasion within a week, a Zeppelin was attacked and destroyed in the air to-day after one of the most daring and thrilling aerial duels since war began. The Zeppelin w r as struck by bombs dropped from an aeroplane at an altitude of GOOO feet. This is the first time on record that a Zeppelin has been destroyed in the air by an aeroplane. The victor in this unique duel, Reynold'J. Warneford, a young Canadian navy, lieutenant, who made his first flight only a few months ago, brought his machine safely to earth after it had been capsized in the air by the explosion of his bombs. Five Dead; Forty Hurt.

' The Zeppelin raid on the English coast last night was the most destructive of all recent attacks. It resulted in the death of five persons and the wounding of 40..

It is believed that it was one of the Zeppelins engaged in this raid, that was destroyed by Lieutenant Warne-: ford. The Zeppelin was sailing westward over Belgium where it was sighted at ,2 st.m., in the first light .of, dawn. Warrieford rose in pursuit in a Morane monoplane^ The Zeppelin, which was flying comparatively low, began to mount at once, but the British wasp was speedier and climbed into the air in long spirals, reaching a position at length over the German's vast bulk. From this point of vantage Warner ford burst the Zeppelin's shell rev peatedly with his incendiary bombs. Without parallel in this war or any other is the story the young aviator will have to relate. Whiledetails of the fight have not yet beeii learned, it is known that first came the long, pursuit. - - According to Admiralty report, the aeroplane was 6000 feet up, and to reach this altitude would require 20 minutes. The Zeppelin meantime could drive forward approximately 15 miles.

Then followed the manoeuvring for position, and finally the dropping' of thfc> bombs, from which the dirig-. ible tried, viainly to escape. *MinOr' explosions occasionally, and at last' one of terrific force, occurred, and .., the Zeppeliij burst into , flames," s Warneford must /have been close . over the dirigible, for almost simultaneously with' the outburstX his maqhine turned completely over, and for a inoment he tiirhed head down, and'his monoplane,Vall control of which had been lost, pitched and tossed in the swift currents of air which rushed lip to'fill the vacuum : created; Lands Behind German Line. Then by a desperate effort Warneford righted his machine and planed to a landing behind the German lines. He* alighted unhurt, set his propeller going again, and flew off, to the west. Whether the Zeppelin's machine guns or rifles were turned on the aviator is not disclosed, but, in order to .attain such an advantageous po- r sition, the British lieutenant must have handled his machine skilfully. Although the target - the Zeppelin presents is extensive, it can be lifted by its own buoyancy to a great height, while the pursuing aeroplane has to rise in spirals by the power' of its engine alone.

Crew of 28 Killed.

The correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph Company at Amsterdam supplies some details of the destruction of the Zeppelin. '.He. declares that when the Zeppelin came down it landed on an orphan-r

age. . Two nuns and two orphans were killed, while niany others in the establishment were injured. The crew of the Zeppelin, 28 men, lost their lives. A Reuter's dispatch received to-night says two nurses arid two children were killed and many others injured. All versions agree that the Zeppelin crew perished, and this seenis certain, as the great craft was struck while more than a mile in the air and must have been a roaring torch before it struck the earth. May Force Base. Change.

As the flight in midair occurred over that part of Belgium held by the Germans, hopes are raised in London that the Germans will be, forced to move their Zeppelin base eastward, thus making raids on England more hazardous. Flight Sub-Lieutenant Warneford, who brought down the Zeppelin, is a Canadian. He made his first flight at Hendon less than four months ago and joined the flying squadron at the front only a month ago.