Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-01-13
BROTHERS FROM
TWO WAR ZONES
VISITORS HERE
One Comes From Belgium and
Other From Mexico; Former
Witnessed Night Attack by
Zeppelin on Antwerp,

Brothers who have seen war on
two continents, separated by the At
lantlc. are visiting their cousin Al
Coleman, 422 West TiicraS avenue
One is Victor De Smeth, an electrical
engineer at Anvors Belgium. before
Germany practically erased the little
Kingdom from the map, and the other
IL Henry DE Smeth, cattle raiser at
Casas Grandes, Mexico
Mr. Coleman had not seen Henry
who ls the elder, for twenty-five
years and the younger brother for a
longer time. MIR. Coleman brought
the elder TO this country with him
when he last visited Belgium.
Victor, who left Antwerp August ~
knows the exact spots where five
bombs were dropped by Zeppelin,
the first to fly over the war time capt
tai. 1t was the lime when the Ger
man airmen evidently attempted TO
destroy the palace OF Justice and the
roya palace but their aim was spoil
ed by the speed Of the dirigible. The
bombs dropped near these places.
Mr.. De Smeth described the raid.
The propelers of the Zeppelin make
80 much noise that II can be heard az
a great distance. TO avoid apprislng
the people of Antwerp of its approach
the balloon was sent past the city
and then allowed to drift over Il.
with engines dead, in air currents
Thus the citizens were not aware of
the planned attack from the air I'M
tn the first bomb fell That was at |
O'Clock in the morning. Mr.. De Smeth
ran out of his house and followed the
course of the ZEPPELIN over the city
which was marked by the spots where
five bombs fen at intervals in fairly
line.
only one bomb hit the object at
which il was apparently aimed. That
was a fortiflcation II was the last
bomb dropped. The fort was wrecked
but there were no soldiers there. ONLY
one bomb caused death 1t killed five
women, three children and police
man besides maiming another Mr..
DE Smeth stated
Lighted buildings Targets.
The rain of bombs took Antwerp
totally by surprise The city was gal
lighted, making an excellent target
TO the Germans who had carefully
every light on their ae-
rial greyhound Antwerp learned d
lesson then, Aftcrward the city was
dark at night and searchlights sent
long, inquiring beams thousands Of
feet into the air.
Mr. De Smeth left before the Ger
man attack on Antwerp, going first
to Liverpool and sailing from that
port for America. lie told Of the
careful progress OF the steamer
through the English channel II was
under way only i'm daytime and then
with fishing boats sailing ahead. feel
ing FOR mines, the passage taking ses
cral days. He has been visiting his
brother in Mexico
Henry De Smeth said that Cen
Jose Ynez Salazar had been in the
of Casas Grandes. Sala-
Ears following is very small, he said
General Villa has sent 500 troops at
ter him
They will remain here several DAYS.
The younger brother viii go from
here 20 san Francisco and thence to
England by way of the Panama canal |
Ills sister driven from her home in
Antwerp, is now IN England. Whether
his home has heen destroyed MI DE
Smeth does not know He has given
belgium relief organizations IN sew
eral cities OF this country valuable
assistance His services IN this line
were noteworthy In El Puso.
s------ sr~-Trs-f