Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-17
Thrilling Narrative BY One of the
Daring Aerial Cre,u, Telling How He
Helped to Drop 7luo Tons of
High Explosives on the Centre
of the British Empire

The cold was intense and could
be felt through the fleece-lined
clothes and heavy felt shoes with
which we were provided. Our
Zeppelin carried four tons of the
most destructive explosives ever
created by science-sufficient to
annihilate the heart OF London, the
greatest city in the world. The
amount was divided into forty
bombs Of 100 pounds each, and
eighty of fifty pounds each The
larger bombs are designed to de-
stroy Notifications and heavy build
lngs. The smaller ones are for the
purpose of setting fire TO houses,
and contain an explosive that de-
velops a temperature Of 5000 de-
grees Fahrenheit
We made out the mouth OF the
Thames from certain lightships and
shore lights that have been main.
tanned At about 10 o'clock we
found a powerful searchlight play
ing on us. This we knew from our
information to be Woolwich, the
important English arsenal AS we
: no longer desired 10 conceal our
presence we discharged ten of the
larger bombs in the vicinity OF the
searchlight.
The bombs are discharged from
tubes pointing downward from 4
steel plate in the floor of the air
ship. The bomb is furnished with
a steel handle, and by means of
this it is lowered into the tube. 4
bolt fitting into n hole in the bomb
holds it in the tube. The marks
man presses his foot on an electric
button in the plate in the floor Of
the car and this withdraws the bolt
releasing the bombs. He can drop
two bombs at once if he wishes, and
the third TWO second later.
The height at which the airship
flies, its speed and the effects Of
wind AT present render impossible
scientific aim in the sense that IN
artillerist would use the term.
Nevertheless considerable degree
OF effectiveness is attained by Yep
nelin marksmcn, while poor
marksmnn may entirely waste his
ammunition. To hit mark half an
acre In extent Is good workmanship
from a Zeppelin. In practice a
regiment Of wooden dummies was
set UP In field and one OF our
aerial marksmen succeeded in
wiping out the whole regiment.
If Zeppelin craftsmanship is still
rudimentary, the destructive power
OF our bombs. on the other hand.
Is terrible beyond anything dreamed
OF before this war. One of our
lo0-pound bombs striking fairly
VIII destroy any existing building
not constructed purely as a forti-
fication. Even if it strikes in Il
street. it will dig hole a hundred
feet deep, destroying gas pipes,
electric wire conduits. subways and
any subterranean constructions that
may he beneath the surface. Thus
the destruction and paralyzing Of
all life in city can he practically
assured if we use sufficient bombs.
Our homhardmcnt of Woolwich
was followed by the extinction of
the searchlight, and we had reason
to believe that we had inflicted
serious damage at this important
centre
We knew that in few minutes
we should be over the heart of
London. Our daring commander
decided 10 sail very low. following.
the course of the Thames which he
know would take him near all the
objects he wished 10 reach
Suddenly the huge outline Of n
building doomed under our noses.
Seen against the dull, cloudy sky.
1t appeared colossal. We almost
struck it. 1t was a church! IT was
st. Paul's Cathedral
An instantaneous turn Of the clc-
waiting rudder saved us from a col
lision with the monstrous dome.
y few seconds moro straight To
the westward and we knew that
we were over the centre OF official
and fashionable London.
Our commander ordered the
bombs discharged as fast as we
could throw them. The shin circlcd