Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-02-13
Thirty-four Aero and Sea
Planes Do Great Damage
to Enemy at 0Stend and
Other Points,
SUBMARINE BASES
OBJECT OF OPERATION
Flight Commander Graham
White Falls Into Sea but Is
Rescued All Machines Re-
turn Safely,

London, Feb. l2.-Aerial warfare
was waged today on the largest scale /
in It's history and under adverse con-
ditions from the standpoint of the
weather British airmen buffeting
banks of snow N the air. swept over
cities Of northern Belgium held by
the Germans and dropped bombs on
Ostend, Bruges aud other places.
Thirty-four aeroplanes and sea
planes of the British navy partici-
pated and all returned 10 their base
without casualties to their drivers, al
though two of the machines were
damaged.
The raid was made in order to pre-
vent the development Of submarine
bases and establishments which might
further endanger British warships and
merchantmen.
/ Although no submarines were seen,
the British admiralty statement indi-
Gates that the raid had sufficient re-
suits, for considerable damage is said
| to have been done to German gun po-
| sitlons railway lines and railway sta
tons The Ostend station is reported
to have been set on fire and that at
lBlankenburghe to have been badly
damaged German mine-sweeping
vessels at Zeebrugge also came In for
a hail of bombs, but the damage done
TO them has not been stated.
/ AT various points the airmen We're
received by the Germans with firing
from antl-aerial guns and rifles
a., .l.tx hkr Eliqht (fnnt.
) mander Claude Grahame White.
{ among the most intrepid of the Brit
lsh filters. fell into the sea while re-
, turning to It's base after the raid wal
, over and the aviator had narrow
escape from drowning. Fortunately
for him a cruiser was nearby ano
, picked him up and then towed hls
aeroplane into port.
Wing Commander Samson, whf
previously had made several notable
visits to enemy territory In an aero
plane, was in chief command Of the
p raiding aviators. He was assisted BY
Wing Commander Longmore and
: Squadron Commanders Courtney
Porte and Rathborne,
During the raid warships lombard
ed the German positions along th'
coast
The British admiralty's statement
on the raid follows.
"Thirty-four naval aeroplanes raid
, ed Brugges, Hebrugee. Ostend anf
I}lankenberghe tall in Belgiuml
> Claude Graham-W White fell. He wa
, rescued"
! a description of the raid was givel
4 out by the official information burea,
as follows
"'rhe secretary of the admirat!
i makes the following announcement:
During the last twenty-four hour
combined aeroplane and seaplane op
a crations nave been carried out by tn
naval wing in the Bruges, Zeebruggt
a Blankenbei CHE and Ostend districts
with a view to preventing develop
. ment Of submarine bases and cstab
i llshments. Thirty-four naval aero
q planes and seaplanes took part
d Great damage is reported to hav
e been done to the Ostend railway sta
5. tion, which, according to present IN
J. ltuH BiVHeiViN h''i "f''fN
e to the ground. The railway station a
Blankenbefghe was damaged and tn
It railway lines were torn up in man.
s. places.
l. Bombs were dropped on the posi-
tions at Middlekerke and also on TN
n power station and the German line
/ sweeping vessels at Ieebrugge, bu
l. the damage done is unknow
During the attack the machine
encountered heavy banks Of snow
Ie "Flight Commander Graham
ID White fell into the sea off Nieupof
of and was rescued BY q French yess'
g. although exposed to heavy gun fir
h from rifles, anti-aircraft guns, ma
I'd chine guns, etc.
1t "All of the pilots are safe. Tw
10 machines were damaged
Is 'The seaplanes and aeroplanes wer
il, under the command Of Wing Com
Or mander Samson, assisted by Win
r. Commander Longmoro aud squadro
T. Commanders Porte, Courtney and Ia
be thorne"