DEATH OVER CITY.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17242, 29 October 1927, Page 4

DEATH OVER CITY.

GERI¥IAN RA3DER OVER SYDNEY. llow near Sydney came to suffering at first hand the horrors of war in 1917 few in Sydney knew at the time, but the fact that an enemy ’plane, loaded with bombs, actually flew over the city in May of that year has now been disclosed. The man in charge of the ’plane (Mr Alexander Stein), chief officer of the North German Lloyd steamer Main, left Sydney for Brisbane in that vessel, in continuation of a voyage from Hamburg. In a lecture at the German Club he told of how he had peered down at Sydney, a deadly cargo of high explosives at his feet, and thought of liis many friends in the city upon whom his duty might compel him to discharge his death-dealing missiles.

“I was pleased at the time that I was not compelled to drop those bombs,” said Mr Stein; “and now when war differences are forgotten I am more pleased than ever.” Tlie ’plane, Mr Stein explained, was from the raider Wolf, which was at the time near Gabo Island, and concerning which much uneasiness was felt in Sydney and other cities on the Pacific Coast.

The object of the flight was primarily to ascertain the strength of the fleet in Sydney Harbour. Bombs were taken, hut it was left to Mr Stein’s discretion whether to use them or not.

Mr Stein had many friends in Sydney, where he had lived before the war, and tie said he always had a soft spot in his heart for the- city. But he was doing his duty Lo his country. Nevertheless, lie was pleased not to have to drop the bombs. The seaplane left the raider at G o’clock in the morning, and within a few hours was flying over Sydney at between 2000 and 3000 feet. By 11 o’clock it was hack again on the deck of the Wolf, which'had continued her voyage up the coast.

Sydney knew nothing of the visitation which might so easily have spread death and terror in the city. At that height the seaplane passed unnoticed.