The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-03-22

Paris, March 2i.-The long expect
ed but scarcely dreaded Zeppelin at
tack on Paris took place this morn
ing. Two of The German aircraft APP
peared over the city shortly after |
o'clock dropped a number of bombs
and finally left at 4:2o just ahead of
a squadron Of French aeroplanes
which were sent up to drive them
away.
The net results OF the raid were
small Certainly there was no panic,
for the preparations made by the mill
itary authorities for such an event
were put into effect and worked like
clock As to loss of life there was
none. A very few persons. half a
dozen at the outside. were slightly in
jured although number OF escapes
which bordeged on the miraculous ara
reported. The material damage done
was likewise negligible. Half dozen
houses in the outskirts of the city
proper, and in the nearby suburbs,
and several factories, especially at
Courhevere and Asnieres, were partial
ly wrecked.
Precautions Taken.
The abortive nature of the aerial
attack is explained BY the nature of
the precautions taken to meet ii. The
raiders were seen passing over Com
piegne, north OF which the German
lines come nearest Paris, and word
Of their approach was telephoned to
the military authorities. who with
the aid of tho police and firemen soon
had every man. woman and child In
the city prepared
Last night was clear and the SKY
was studded with stars whose light
seemed to cover Paris with 81 mantle
Of snow and made her an easy mark
from above. Of course, at 1880 in
the morning about all of the lights In
houses and buildings were out, but
the street lamps were burning bril-
liantly, ami the avenues were traced
out for the raiders in rows of illum-
nations. Realizing that the offering
of such a target might have dire re-
suits the first a.. OF the authorities,
after warning = people, was to ex-
tingi.sh the beacons.
The celebrity with which the city was
darnened was remar kable. Policemen
went about with long poles turning
down the lamps and within ten min
utes from the time the firemeu of
Paris went through the streets in
automobiles. signalling the alarm with
bugles. Paris was simply a black spot
under the sky. Ii was as IL a city
ON screen had been blotted from
view by the sudden lowering of .
shade.
lukut Nytl Ilkcu
The Zeppelins came from the north
west. the larger one flying ahead. and
a smaller one close behind. The
whirring of the motors could be heard
plainly by the curious crowds that dis
regarded police instructions to retire
to the cellars and the excitement was
intense. although 1t was by no means
the excitement OF fear. The raiders
were just over Fort Du Mont valerian
when a gigantic searchlight on the
Eiffel Tower picked them up. Then
the guns OF the fort doomed out, and
the airships. not liking the reception.
hurried south to st. Cloud, where they
turned of to the northeast. crossing
the Seine BoIs de Bohiogne
From there they apparently follow
ed the Seine 10 Neuilly and lie Walters
Perret. thence turning and coming
over the city itself. There they sailed
as far to the southwest rs the Batig-
anoIles Bridge. veering about at that
point and covering a considerable
part of the extreme northern section
of the city They departed to north
west, attacking Clichy. Asnieres and
the suburban region Whereabouts on
their way back TO their base. In
cidentally. they passed over Conn
piegne and flung a dozen bombs there,
but did not hit anything
In all. the Germans dropped about
twenty five bombs on Paris and the
suburbs.
They neglected Mont yalerian ana
st. Cloud apparently, and flung their
first explosive at Neuilly. There. in the
Rue Chaveau, a short distance from
the permanent American Hospital. n
bomb fell on the fifth story OF q
house, causing blaze which the Wig
liant firemen speedily extinguished.