EARLIER MESSAGESS

Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16283, 10 July 1917, Page 8

EARLIER MESSAGESS

THE AEROPLANE RAID, DUELS OVER" LONDON". ' MANX BOMBS-DROPPED. ! (Australian, and ST.Z. Cable Assn.) J .. / „ LONDON, July 8. Last niglit one party of raiders cros- - scd a. torn on the south-east coast unusually low, but did not drop any bombs. One raider returned seawards, . mid the others proceedel inland. The raid on London occurred at about atabout half-past ton -o'clock. The enemy squadron was one of the largest yet -sighted in England. British patrols became active as soon -- es the approach of the enemy was signailed. There were several duels oyer London, and these are supposed to have been 'the cause of the raiders'- sudden change of "course homewards. Large numbers of bombs were dropped. Three enemy groups appeared to, receive the first check as they. : -reached the.inner ■northern district-. the gunners found the range the machines began squadron scattered somewhat. • ■ - ("Vnwds in the streets took the raid calmly. The people watched the machines until the bombs began to drop, 'and they they took cover. 'As soon as ihb British, machines arrived the enemy squadron 'quickened its pace. The main "body raced away, leaving two machines in the rear. The latter apparently were engaged by the British. The Tiaze prevented the ppoole seeincr. what happened, o.nd soon all the machines were lost to sight.

AERIAL BATTLES. The bomb-dropping lasted for two or ' three minutes. The-inhabitants of a town in Kent, ten miles from London, had a fine view of an aerial battle. Fifty .aeroplanes were counted. They were divide'd into two squadrons. The larger enemy squadron held the eastward position, shells bursts ing among them, while: the smaller English-squadron closed rapidly from the westward. Notwithstanding heavy shrapnel bursts the enemy appeared to be stationary for a few minutes. As the English drew nearer the enemy moved out of sight rapkllv to the south-eastward,,. the English "following' in hot pursuit-. • ' RAIDERS IN TWO GROUPS. A GREAT SICiHT. ' Tho enemy /apparently approached the coast m two groups, north and south of the river, and joined forces before reaching the Metropolis eD route thev ill i .As. a demonstration i of •svelWiroctGd aircraft the sight was splendid. The machines flew flide-fhir.g orescent and were led auparenuly by a single machine at "a higher level than the main body, flyinowell to the north of the river. ' At a sign from ; the leader the machines all swerved southwards over the densest pare of London. Flying low the fanlike formation made a. long sweep-ing-curve and headed homewards, leaving a broad swath of damage in its 1 wake. I Every vantage point, despite tlie' danger, was thronged bv watchers of the combat. - There was a- total ab- , sence of panic. By a quarter past, eleven the greatest 'oatt-lc yet seen | ; over British soil ended. I * NUMBER- OF MACHINES. Opinions vary greatly as to the number which crossed to tbe coast. One 1 estimate gives it as high as sixty. An Essex town reports that twenty-two i

were counted going to London, and; thirty-two returning. | Dueis were witnessed over Kent, uhere Brinish pursuers reinforced the Lritisa mounted above the enemy and , were firing downward on I them. „ . 1 ; As the mouth -of the river- wasj reached a strong fo ( roe oi British, engaged' the fight disappeared seawards. Londoners *, unamniouslv pay tribute to the amazing dining of-the raiders, wiio earned oin> their audacious plans with the' utmost coolness; It is believed that- the entire squadron was comprised of machines of the latest albatross type,- carrying three •men and capable of a,'wonderful turn of speed and* ability in fighting .ma-! noeuvres, with a machine", gun able to shoot in any direction. j . 2 s , that. the citizens do hot take former, risks. The streets immediately threatened were almost ! deserted. Those , over which the mathron^ed PaSSOd • . . ANTI-GERMAN RIOTS. Anti-Gsrjnau riots occurred in tho evening m the vicinity of the damaged :' ~ A I:u ;S e . body of men and woa " majol ; lt y being men. formed ' P datta l- d - d dismantiI rn+tc 1 Gcrman butchers and deJ catessen shops. Thev smashed the »l»n, violence. St™» S«e, o? police quickly patrolled the localities The excitemen„ continues. fi D f VM -t GE T0 ''GILDING'S lie _boir;bs tore off a comer" of i great block of public building i a » mam street. The- f gttuiite franS . stones and window Ti-ani-o. Ihe mam street was almost impassable owing to the hem* of dea j netting, brick and wood TTp 'h 311 ® J S' m fce,e Phone wires. The telephone .staff, aggregating several thousands, including many girls were unhurt. The street was "barricaded to civil)u-s the brigades to drv.l wifl* ! lire m the upper storey of the build-' mgs.