Omaha daily bee., 1915-10-19
CROWDS AT PLAY
AS FLIERS COME
london Theater Audiences Not Dis
turbed by Zeppelin Raid, Says
Appointed" Writer.
sUBwAYs ARE PENETRATED


LONDON, oct. 1s.-The following
account Of the Zeppelin air raid on
wednesday night was prepared by a
writer appointed by the home office:
ION the evening OF October 1S an
other aerial attack was directed
against London which differed in no
material respect from those made on
previous occasions. The enemy's yes
sci or vessels flew high, at an alti-
tude chosen, no doubt, TO avoid fire
from anti-air craft guns.
The darkening Of the metropol-
itan area, with the height at which
the aircraft travelled prevented the
enemy from discovering the exact
position or positions OF Importance.
Raiders I'm Error.
eAs on the last occasion, the official
report issued In Berlin proves the raid
ers 70 have been grossly in error in
most cases as 70 where they were drop
ping their bombs and n we can suppose
that they had really some definite objee-
tive other than mere haphaxard destruc.
eornbatants then owing to the height at
which they flew. they entirely failed TO
attain their objective.
Except for one chance shot the dam
ago was exclusively on property not con.
nected with the conduct OF the war. OF
the twenty-seven persons killed or
wounded. none. save one or two soldiers,
who were IN the street at the time. was
q combatant
Moral Effect Little.
"As for the moral effect for which pre-
sumably the enemy was seeking. that was
all 10 his disadvantage. The raid occurred
at an hour when practically no one ex-
cept children was in bed. and though the
shops IN the principal shopping districts
were closed, places OF entertainment were
fun and the masses OF population were
about their ordinary evenings pleasure or
at business.
"A very much larger number OF people
therefore were aware OF the enemys
presence than on previous occasions but
the population OF London. though hum
dreds Of thousands heard the sound Of
bursting bombs. and the gums remained
free from panic. There. were. Is possible,
even less signs OF excitement wan on
the previous occasions. Tho official warn
ings 20 take shelter were better ob.rrved
and when the aircraft passed and the
guns ceased firing. most OF the pebile
who had been watching the bombardment
went quietly TO bed and were undIs-
tnrbed BY tho second raid which took
place about midnight In another part OF
the London area.
No Panic I'm Theateru.
In the theaters from which the sounds
OF the firing and explosions could plainly
be heard. there was a commendable alb
sence OF panic.
When the results Of the raids were
examined next morning five distinct areas
could be distinguished In which damage
was done The first OF these 10 an area In
which there is little or no residential
property. some large buildings devoted 10
various kinds Of business and compara-
lively wide streets. In this area bombs
were dropped containing high explosives,
which In four cases fell upon the streets,
and In the fifth upon the back premises
Of one large building thrOnsed with
people.
zone Of the bombs. which apparently
was OF large size. penetrated the street
into the subwaya containing gas and
water mains. and. IN exploding. melted
the gas pipes. setting alight fire which.
though slight in extent, lasted for several
hours. The explosion Of this bomb dam
aged buildings around about considerably
and destroyed almost all the glass In the
neighborhood II also was responsible
for number OF casualties. which will all
be the subject OF an inquiry. Those
killed were either sitting In the front
rooms Of the buildings. or were working
or walking in the streets.
FaII tn Garden.
The second area contains a large
block OF residential flats some OF which
arc occupied as officea. Like many Other
blocks Of flats In London, they have q
stretch OF gardens behind the buildings
and ona OF the enemy's high explosive
bombs fell IA this garden close 20 ths
fats themselves. One or two rooms on
the ground floor were wrecked and OF
the first floor considerable damage wal
done. Another bomb fell on the top oI
one OF the buildings and demolishing tn,
top story. In this area there were nj
casualties
The third area contains two damaged
business buildings On the first. larg,
modern building constructed OF rein
forced concrete and with steel and con
crete roof and flooring. two bombs wer,
dropped. one OF them actually on In,
roof and one on the pavement immedi
ately beneath the doorway. The bomb OF
the pavement appears 20 have explode.
sideways. At any rate the damage done
which consisted chiefly OF broken Elaa
and plaster. occurred mainly tn tn
houses on the other side of the street
The bomb which dropped on the roof o
the building itself did little damage.
Hotel BIown uD.
In the same area. a bomb wa
dropped on the roof OF a small hotel. tn
ground floor OF which was occupied as a
office. In this case the strength OF tn
building. WAS entirely blown up. Fortu
sufficient 20 Withstand the force OF IN
explosion. and the whole OF the hote
which consisted OF three floors Of tn
building. were entirely blown up. Fortu
natoly In thia AREA. those indoors Ia
been warned By the sound Of preyiou
explosions and they expected injury.
The fourth district IN which the dam
age was done IL one consisting entlrel
Of working class property with small. lo'
buildings. some Of them used to houa
small shops Of various business, but
most cases occupied and In many case