Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-13
AEROPLANES RAID
TOWNS IN BELGIUM
Thirty-Four British Machines
Drop Bombs in Cities Held
by Germans.
OsTEND STATION SET ON FIRE
Claude Grahame White Falls
Into Sea OFF Nieuport, but
Is Rescued.

LONDON, February 12-Aerial war
faro was waged to-day on the largest
scale in It's history, and under adverse
circumstances. from the standpoint of
the weather. British airmen. buffeting
snow In the air. swept over cities
of Northern Belgium held by the Ger
mans and dropped bombs on Ostend,
Bruges and other places.
Thirty-four aeroplanes and scaplanes
OF the British navy took part in the
operations. and all returned to their
base without casualties to their drivers.
although two machines were damaged
Tho raid was made to prevent the de-
reiopment of submarine bases and
adjustments which might further en-
danger British wnrships ard merchant
men.
Although submarines were seen.
tho British admiralty statement indi-
cates that the raid had satisfactory re-
suits. for considerable damage is said
10 have heen done to German gun posi-
tions. railway lines and railway sta
tions.
STATION AT OsrEND
REPORTED SET on FIRE
The Ostend station Is reported to
Blankenbershe to have been badly dam
aged. German mine-sweeping vessels
AZ Zeebruggc also came In for hail
of bombs. but damage done TO them has
not bean stated.
At various points the airmen were
received by German fire from anti
aerial guns and rifles. None OF the
airmen Is reported by the admiralty
to have been wounded.
y machine. driven by Flight Com
mander Claude White. among
the most intrepid OF the British flyers
fell into the sea while returning TO It's
base after the raid. and the aviator had
narrow escape from drowning. a
cruiser picked him UP and towcd his
aeroplnne into port.
Wing Commander Samson. who pre-
viously had made several notable visits
TO enemy territory in an aeroplane was
in chief command OF tho rniding avin-
tors. He was assisted by Wing Com
mander LonBmore and Squadron Com
mandeTa Courtney. Forte and Rnthorne.
During the raid warships bombarded
the German positions along the coast.
DRITIsH ADMIRALTY,s
STATEMENT ON RAID
The British admiralty's statement on
the raid snid
During the last twenty-four hours
combined aeroplane and seaplane opera :
;ions have been carried out by the naval
wing In the Bruges. Zeebrugge. Blank
cnberghe and Ostend districts. with a
view to preventing the development of
submarine bases and establishments.
Thirty-four naval aeroplancs and sea-
planes took part
Great damage Is reported to have
been done to the Ostcnd Railway sta
lion. which. according to present in
formation. has probably been burned
10 the ground. The railway station at
Blankenberghe was damaged. and rail-
way lines were torn up in many places.
HoaIBs DROPPED. BUT
DAMAGE DONE UNKNOWN
Bombs were dropped on gun posi-
tions at Middelkerlte. and also on the
power station and the German mine
sweeping vessels at Zeebrugge. but the
damage done Is unknown.
During the attack the machines
encountered heavy banks OF snow No
submarines were seen.
Flight Commander Grahame- White
fell into the sen on Nieuport, and was
rescued by n French vessel. Although
exposed TO heavy guntire from rifles.
antiaircraft guns. machine guns. etc,
all OF the pilots are safe. Two ma
chimes were damaged.
The seaplanes and aeroplanes were
under the command OF Wing Comman-
der Samson, assisted by Wing Com
mander Longmore and Squadron Com
manders Porte Courtney and Rat
horne"
Claude Grahame- White Is one of the
best known aviators, on account of his
daring exploits ami ais success as a
racer lie has ma15 several trips to
tho United States on one of which, in
the fall of 1910. he earned $4,000 in
prizes. He has been in several ac-
cidents. but never was injured Sc
riously. Last September he was an
pointed temporary flight commander I'm
tho British navy. He married Miss
Dorothy Taylor. OF New York.