The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-05-18
zEPPELINS
DESTROYED
Big Airships Which Made a
Raid on England Sunday
Met with Disaster
ONE FELL WITHIN
LINES OF ALLIES
Forty Men on Board Were Captured
Other Dropped Into Sea After Being
Hit and Disappeared with All of the
Force on Board.

LONDON, May 1S.-Both Zeppelins
which took part in the raid on the Brit
ish coast Sunday night, have been de-
stroyed, according to two dispatches
published in different London papers
this morning.
According to these advices one of
the German raiders was seriously dam
aged after attacking Calais and fell
within the allied lines near Dunkirk,
40 men on board of her being captured
The other Zeppelin is reported to
have been hit by shells of a French
destroyer near Cape Griz Nez and fell
into the sea, all on board losing their
lives.
A despatch to the Daily Chronicle,
under date of North of France, gives
this account of the fate of one Zeppe-
lin:
For the first time in the war Yep
pelin has been brought down on
French soil.
At midnight two Zeppelins and two
Taubes were seen coming from the sea
toward Calais. They had scarcely time
to drop a few bombs when they were
discovered by the searchlight and
were subjected to a violent cannonade
The city undoubtedly owes much to
the forethought of its governor, whose
admirable preparations for an aerial
raid saved the town from serious dam
age. The aerial invaders made a des-
perate attack, and when driven off
came back again.
The Zeppelins were continually FREQ
at with shrapnel and were obliged TO
fly at a great height to avoid being hit.
though one could see the shrapnel ex-
ploding around them.
The Zeppelins finally flew in the di-
rection of Boulogne, followed by the
two Taubes. When passing near Mar
guaisc, however, the battery at Cape
Griz Nez succeeded in hitting one Yep
pein with a shell. The invaders turned
back at once and passed once more
near Calais.
The winged Zeppelin was unable to
reach the German line and fell on the
beach at Fort Mandick, about two
miles from Dunkirk Forty men on
board of the craft were taken prison
ers, among them being seven officers.
The machine was completely wrecked.
The Calais officials think that some of
the gas compartments of the airship
were pitlCtu WlSH Az pdSSCu ONSA AH0
town, though not sufficient gas was lost
to compel it to descend there.
A woman and three children are re
ported killed in the quarter of the
town known as Fort Naculay, but little
material damage was done, considering
the scale of the attack. The railway
communications, which seem to have
been the object of attack, were not
harmed.
How the other Zeppelin came to grief
is told in this despatch to the Daily
News. also dated North of France:
Just after dawn this morning a Yep
pelin, flying from the direction of the
English coast, was sighted in the Chan
mel by the crew Of French torpedo
patrol boat The airship was flying
slowly at no great height, thus offer
| ing a good mark for the gunners on
board the destroyer. They fred sew
eral shots at her and one, at least, took
| effect, for Immediately afterward the
| huge craft was observed to have a
very decided list to her.
| This increased momentarily until
presently the whole ship appeared to
! crumple up, made one or two frantic
| dives, and fell into the sea a few
miles from Gravelines and within
sight of the Girls Nez light
The Zeppelin and her crew disap
peared totally in the sea, and bodies
were afterward seen floating about il
the vicinity.