Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-06-08
AERoPLANE DESTROYS ZEPPELIN
Young Canadian Lieutenant Performs
Remarkable Feat.

London, June For the first time
on record Zeppelin in the air has
been destroyed by an aviator in an
aeroplane. Reginald A. J. Warneford, q
young Canadian sub-lieutenant in the
Royal navy, who mastered aeroplaning
only this spring, has performed the
feat and tonight Is somewhere within
the British lines, while the Zeppelin
sprawls a wreck on the roof and the
grounds Of an orphanage near Client.
Falling there blazing mass after
being struck by the young aviator s
bombs, its crew Of % men were killed,
as also were several occupants of the
orphanage buildings.
Some believe this Zeppelin was the
craft that raided the east coast of
England last night, for since it was
in the air over Belgium, between
Client and Brussels at o'clock in the
morning, it possibly was returning
from an expedition. not starting. Dawn
breaks early these days and the huge
Zeppelin could be sighted far off, and
it is presumed that the craft was head
ed for her home hangar when Warne-
ford came winging swiftly under the
gray skies.
The Zeppelin, which was flying COM
paratively low, began to mount imme-
diately, but the British wasp was
speedier and climbed into the air in
long spirals, reaching a position at
length, over the Germans vast bulk.
From this vantage point Warneford
pierced the Zeppelin's shell repeatedly
with his incendiary bombs.
Without a parallel in this war or
any other. is the story which the young
aviator will have to relate, for details
after the fight have not yet been told.
First came the long pursuit, for ac-
cording to the admiralty reports, the
aeroplane was 5000 feet up. To reach
this altitude would require nearly 20
minutes and the Zeppelin meantime,
could drive forward approximately is
miles.
Then followed the maneuvering for
position, and finally the dropping Of
the bombs, from which the dirigible
tried to escape. Minor explosions oc-
CURED, and, at last, one Of terrific
force. and the Zeppelin burst into
flames.
At the moment Warneford must
have been at close range over the di-
rigible, for almost simultaneously
with the outburst his machine turned
completely over, and for a moment he
hung head down. his monoplane pitch
ing. and tossing in the swift currents
Of air which rushed up to fill the
vacuum created.
Then by a desperate effort Warne-
ford righted his machine far above
the earth and planed to landing be-
hind the German lines. He alighted
unhurt, set his propeller going again
and flew off to the west.
Whether the Zeppelin's machine
guns or rifles were turned on the avia-
tor is not disclosed. ard to attain such
an advantageous position the British
lieutenant must have handled his ma
chine skillfully, for this is an ex-
tremely difficult feat.
Although the target the Zeppelin
presents is extensive, 1t can be lifted
by its own bouyancy to a great height,
while the pursuing aerOplane has to
rise in spirals by the power Of its en-
gine alone.
As the fight in mid-air occurred
over the part Of Belgium held by the
Germans, hopes are raised in London
that the Germans will be forcerd to
move their Zeppelin bases eastward,
thus making raids in England more
hazardous.
Some reports say that the non
combatant victims were two nuns and
two orphans. and that others were in
jured, but a Reuter- dispatch tonight
says two nurses and two children were
killed and many others injured. All
versions agree that the Zeppelin crew
perished and this seems certain as the
great draft was struck while more
than Il mile in the air and must have
been a roaring torch before it struck
the earth.
In the raid on the east coast of Eng
land last night, the Zeppelin dropped
incendiary and explosive bombs, kill
ing five persons. injuring 40 and caus-
ing two fires. according to an official
announcement by the admiralty today.
The admiralty also announced an
attack upon the airship shed at Evere,
issuing this statement:
This morning at 2.30 a. m, an
attack was made on the airship shed
ut Evere. north Of Brussels, by Flight
I.ieutenants ]. p. Wilson, s. r. n.
and j. S. Mills. r. y. Bombs were
dropped and the shed was observed to
be in flames.
1T is not known whether a Zeppe
lin was inside, but the flames reached
a great height, coming out from both
sides Of the shed. Both pilots return
ed safely"