Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1915-01-01
GERMAN THREAT TO "REAcH
LONDON BY CHRISTMAS" IS
FRUSTRATED BY BRITISH
FLYING CORPS.
AIR CRAFT IS OBSERVED
20 MILES FROM LONDON
No Bombs Dropped at Any Of the
Places Where It Appeared-When
Last Seen German Was Making
Speed Toward North Sea and
Disappeared In Dense Fog.

Disappeared In Dense Fog.
London, Dec. 28-Under the cover
OF heavy fog, German aeroplane at
tempted to reach London, making the
second German aerial raid on England
in two days. The German threat to
Reach london by Christmas was
frustrated by the vigilance Of the
British flying corps, who engaged the
raider in the air and drove him to
sea.
The hostile air craft reached within
20 miles of London. When last seen
the German, after running a gauntlet
Of fire from the British airmen, was
making speed toward the North Sea
and disappeared in the cover of the
dense fog. The visitor is believed to
have been hit three or four times.
Within 20 Miles Of London.
The aerial raider was seen in three
places. Its nearest approach to Lon
don was at Gravesend on the Thames,
20 miles from London. The German
also appeared flying over the strongly
fortified sea port of Sheerness at the
mouth Of the Thames, about IS miles
from London. Later is was sighted
over Southend-on-Sea, summer re.
sort popular with Londoners, opposite
Sheerness and about As miles from
London.
The German was first sighted flying
from the direction of London-so it
appeared in the heavy fog-at Graves.
end soon after IL o'clock in the morn
ing. British aviators went up in pur.
suit and fired several shots at the
visitor, but failed to hit him.
Here the fog enveloped the hostile
craft and it was lost to the British.
The German disappeared down the
Thames In an easterly direction.
Several Rounds Fired.
At Sheerness the aerial raider was
sighted flying very high from the
west at 1885 o'clock. When first seen
he was at height estimated at 5000
feet. AS the German attempted to
approach the water he was fired upon
by a British aviator who had been
sent up to intercept him. The shots
were without effect as far as could be
seen, the German machine apparently
being out of range. Seven rounds were
fired when the fog again came to the
Germans rescue and he was lost.
AS soon as 1t was reported that the
invader had escaped three more Brit.
ish aeroplanes were sent up in pursuit
and the enemy was sighted speeding
In the direction of Southend. on-Sea.
the opposite side of the Thames. The
British succeeded in turning the Ger.
man to the sea after engaging him in
the air. Two of the British craft got
lost in the fog, but the third continued
the pursuit and fired several shots.
The German disappeared out to sea
and is said to have been hit.
Describes Fight in Air.
An eyewitness Of the fight in the
air describes the engagement as fol-
lows:
"Just before quarter past one
o'clock / heard from the west the
din of heavy droning biplane. Look
ing up I saw the plane flying almost
against the clouds, while some dis.
lance behind was another biplane.
which Immediately made out to be
. British air craft.
Il thought the two machines were
making their way from one base to
another, when I was startled to hear
the boom Of a gun, followed in quick
succession by another report. Going
to the top Of my house l was able to
see the first fight and pursuit between
British and German air craft in Great
Britain.
''The air craft moved at great speed.
The British craft had a decidedly more
southern station when l first saw it,
while the other machine, which we
afterward heard was the Albatross,
kept line near the center of the
river. AS they few the drone of the
two machines continued, broken only
by the guns which were fired with
great rapidity from the forts.
0srman's Miraculous Escape.
From my window ! saw distinctly
the shells bursting high in the air in
the vicinity Of the Albatross. Far be.
low the seagulls were flying inland
apparently startled by the fire. Al
though pursued and pursuer were fly.
ing at g great height, the British craft
seemed to be gaining.
Congress Takes Recess.