The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-18
THE ZEPPELIN AERIAL RAID ON LONDON IS DESCRIBED BY HOME OFFICE OF ENGLAND
,Continued from Page one)

plainly be heard, there was com- mendable absence of panic.
 Altogether the imperturbability of the people of London would appear to offer a striking contract to the be- havior of the population on the occa- sion of rehearsals of aircraft recently said to have been held in certain Ger man towns
 When the results of the raid were examined next morning five distinct areas could be distinguished in which damage was done. The first of these is an area in which there is little or no residential property some large buildings devoted to various kinds of business and comparatively wide
 streets. In this area bombs were dropped containing high explosives, which in four cases fell upon the streets and in the fifth on the back premises of one large building thronged with people.
 ''One of the bombs, which apparent ly was of large size, penetrated the street into the subways containing gas and water mains. and, in exploding, melted the gas pipes, setting alight a
 fire which. though slight in extent, lasted for several hours. The explo- sion of this bomb damaged the build ings around about considerably and de- stroyed almost all the glass in the neighborhood. It also was responsible for a number of casualties, which will all be the subject of an inquest. Those killed were either sitting in the front rooms of the buildings or were work ing or walking in the streets In Residential District The second area contains a large block of residences. some of which are occupied by officers. Like many other blocks of flats In London, this one has a stretch Qa rde babipd ba of the enemys high explosive bombs fell in this garden close to the flats them selves. One or two rooms on the ground floor were totally wrecked and on the first floor considerable damage was done. Another bomb fell on the top of one Of the buildings, demolishing the top story. In this area there were no casualties though several narrow escapes. The third area contains two damaged business premises. On the first large buildings constructed of concrete two bcmbs were dropped, one of them actually on the roof. and one on the pavement inn mediately beneath the doorway. The bomb on the pavement appears to have exploded sideways. At any. rate the dam age done. which consisted chiefly of br oken glass and plaster, occurred mainly in the houses on the other side of the street. The bomb which dropped on the roof of the building itself did little dam age.
 Tn the same area bomb was dropped l on the roof of small hotel. the ground flooEof which was occupied an office In &is case the strength of the build ing which was an old one, was not suf- l ficient to withstand the force of the ex- | plosion, and the whole of the hotel. which consisted of three floors of the building. was entirely blown up. For turfately in this area those indoors had been warned by tEs sound of previous explosions. and by taking refuge in the lower floor they escaped injury alto gether. In this area, by curious coincidence in one other. the effect of the bombs was severely felt in a small restaurant opened in the interests oa Bel gium refugees.
 The fourth district in which dam age was done is one consisting entirely of what may be called working class prop erty. with small, low buildinss some of Il em used to house small shops of various businesses. but in most cases occupied. add in many cases overcrowded by pri- vate residents of the poorer (iasses. "In this area more bombs lwere dropped
 than in those previously Described and