New-York tribune., 1915-03-25
Another UnderSea Craft
and Factory Damaged in
Attack Near Antwerp.
ONE PILOT COMES
DOWN IN HOLLAND
Engine Trouble Results in One
Officer Being Interned-Fly-
erS Under Fire.

Rotterdam, March 24.-As the result
of daring raid by British aviators on
Antwerp this morning one German sub
marine in Cockerill's shipyard and
wharves at Hoboken WAS destroyed and
another seriously damaged. Some
weeks ago information reached here
t the Germans were busy building
submarines at this yard British avia-
tors of great daring conceived the plan
of destruction which this morning they
carried out with signal success.
Information just received from high
ly dependable sources regarding the
raid is that two or three ayiators en-
gagged in the operation succeeded in re-
turning to the Allies lines, but one,
Flight Lieutenant Crossley- -Meates, had
to descend in Holland while attempting
the return journey owing to engine
trouble. He came down at kr -lngen,
one of the iceland Islands, and since
has been interned at Gronngen.
Leaving their base early this morn
ing, the airmcn few at a great telght
all along the Belgian coast, enduring
the dangers incidental to passing over
the German batteries. They were
heavily fired at by anti-aircraft guns
and from one place a raube came up IN
pursuit. Her turn of speed, however,
was not equal TO that of the English
machines, which outd;stanced her and
safely reached Antwerp shortly after
o'clock.
Meet Terrific Fire.
As soon as the raiders were sighted
they were subjected to a tremendous
fire from all sides. From all parts of
the city anti-arcraft guns were trained
on them. Shells burst all about them,
while hundreds of rife shots also were
fired. The enthusiasm of the Ger
mans. however, exceeded their marks
manship, for the ayiators went through
the hail Of lead unscatned.
The whole population rushed into
the streets or climbed upon housetops
to witness the spectacle. Their inter
est after their relief at finding the
city was not being bOmbarded was all
the greater. The noise of the firing
was almost as great as when the city
was actually attacked by the Germans.
Undeterred By their reception, the
avators kept to their plans, swervlng
over the locality of the shipyards till
they could get into perfect position tor
dropping bombs. Shrapnel shells burst
near them. but to no purpose, and. with
magnificent pluck and skill, they ap-
preached their objective.
Swoop to Within 300 Feet.
Each swooped down a very steep in
cline. like a hawk at a sparrow. Then
each in turn passed Immediately over
the dock i'm which the submarines were
lying, flying at height of only 300
feet, and dropped their bombs. Nearly
every one took effect, completely de-
stroying one submarine and badly
damaging others.
An ingenious plan had been devised
by the Germans 10 disguise the pres
ence of the submarine which was de-
stroyed. The deck and superstructurc
of "A small steamboat had been con-
structed over the craft. This work had
been carried out behind high walls on
the wharves. but the secret leaked out
despite all attempts OF the Germans to
guard il.
After having achieved their purpose
the Englishmen returned iu a south
westerly direction. Only one German
machine got up IN time 10 give chase,
and its efforts was as futile as that OF
the Taube which followed the raiders
on the way out. The German gunners
had no more success IN their parting
shots.