New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-02
One Airship Hit in the
Monday Night Air Raid
on England.
MACHINES FLY HIGH
TO ESCAPE GUNFIRE
British People Fail To Be Stirred
Over the Latest Series
of Raids.
tBy Cable 70 The Tribune ]

London, Aug. Though at least
half dozen Zeppelins. possibly ten
cruised over wide area of British
country last night they accomplished n
surprisingly small amount of damage
in spite of the fact that the famous
aerial torpedoes were used for the first
time here.
Over sixty bombs were dropped, but
no loss of life is reported. The fact
that many bombs fell in the sea indi-
Gates an intention to destroy shipping
One of the raiders was heavily en-
gagged with anti-aircraft guns. and was
seen to be hit, but disappeared in the
mist.
The moonless. MINDLESS nights have
recently given the Zeppelns an excel
lent opportunity for raiding. this being
the third raid within n week, but the
damage has been practically nil. Per
haps this is because. through n grow
ing respect for the British air defences
the raiders are now travelling at a
much higher level than in their
earlier attacks.
Raided Seven Counties.
The raid last night covered seven
eastern counties, and, as there is lull
in the west front battle it occupied
the chief attention of the public to-
day. After two years experience. now
ever. the British are more blase and
contemptuous than ever in their atti-
tudc toward the big airships, and II
cannot be said that the present series
Of raids has caused excitement.
An official statement issued to-day By
the German Admiralty staff claims that
successful attacks were made on Lon
don and on coast works, anti-aircraft
batteries and important industrial
establishments. The British statement
indicates that the Zeppelins did not
reach London, although bombs were
dropped at the estuary Of the Thames.
Damage Slight.
The British Press Bureau made the
following comment to-day on the Ger
man statement:
From this official dispatch il is clear
that those on the airship had no idea OF
their course, or else that on their re-
turn TO Germany their report was falsi-
fed deliberately. In either case there
need be no surprise"
A correspondent who explored the dis
tricts visited By the Zeppelins last
night writes:
"The damage done was wanton and
indiscriminate. The whole of it was OF
little value and certainly of no mill
tary Importance.
Directly the airships struck the coas,
they separated for various points OF
penetration. When anti-aircraft guns
were drawn out the Zeppeins imme-
diately turned tail seward. Their
pilots seemed to be mystifed.'
British Account.
The British official account of the
raid says:
Last night, between 10 o'clock and
midnight. our eastern and southeastern
counties were attacked by several hos
tile airships. The raiders flew at a
great height, and owing TO this and &c
patches of mist the airships' move
ments gave rise to much uncertainty
and their number was difficult TO de
termine.
"At least six ships could be reckoned
by Independent observers, and 1t Is
probable that one more few over the
country without dropping bombs.
"The number of bombs was at first
greatly exaggerated owing 70 ma
jority of them falling in thinly in
habited districts and having been heard
at great distances. The actual number
found to date is about sixty.
zone raider was engaged by our air
craft and anti-aircraft guns. She was
seen TO drop TO a low altitude and she
then disappeared in the mist"