Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-02-22
BIG ZEPPELIN SMASHED
BY FIRE OF FRENCH
| Continued from Page One
at their task and soon the balloon was set
SWEPT BY FLAMES.

SWEPT BY FLAMES
Flames from the incendiary shells raced
along the gas bag and soon the entire
structure was n fiery mass. The balloon
began to descend very slowly, with pieces
of burning wood and silk dropping
from it.
When the flames reached the car there
was n terrific explosion and the balloon
was torn asunder. As the air craft was
split apart the wreckage began dropping
at frightful speed and the men could he
seen amidst the flames, trying to throw the
remaining bombs from the car.
There were a series of other explosions
before the remnant of the balloon touched
the ground Thirty bodies, including an
officer were found in the ruins Each was
DlaCkened with fire and the clothing had
been burned from all the cOrpses. The
Zeppelin was one of the newest and big
gest type.
A series of spectacular air battles, in
which Allied aviators met Teuton airmen
at various points from northern France
to a Turkish position east of Suez, was
fought yesterday. More than II aircraft
of various types and sizes were engaged
and the battles ragged in size from dues
to combats between great air squadrons.
A Zeppelin in flight over the French
lines in the Argonrte was brought down
by a squadron of anti-arCraft guns
mounted on motoTcars The dirigible was
pierced by an incendiary shell and fell in
flames.
More aerial engagements. with greater
losses of aircraft, were reported yesterday
than during any previous "a hours of the
war.
Besides the Zeppelin, five German flying
machines were shot down and two others
were forced to land Six engagements
ranging from duels between aeroplanes to
engagements between upward of a score
on either side, We're fought during the
day according to the French official re-
port,
12 TOWNS RAIDED.
Four Allied raids, one by the British
using &c aeroplanes, were carried out. In
cluding bombardments by German airmen,
12 towns in all were attacked. The opera
tions extended from end to end of the
western front and are supplemented by
the report of an exploit by British air
man in Egypt. This aviator, according to
a dispatch from the British commander
In the Mediterranean, in the course Of a
reconnaissance of an advanced Turkish
post east of SueZ. descended to height
of 600 feet and destroyed the enemy's
power station at Ely Hassana with 100
pound bomb.
The French War ONCE issued the fol-
lowing report today.
ION Monday evening a Zeppelin flew
over Luneville and dropped some bombs,
but none OF them caused any material
damage.
when our aviators ascended to give
battle the Zeppelin fled in the direction of
Metz"
The French War Office statement is
sued last night says:
Zeppelin, proceeding from st. Meme
hould ION the Aisne) toward the south,
was shelled by a section of auto cannon
at Revigny. Struck by an incendiary shell
the Zeppelin fell in flames In the neigh
borhood of Brabant-le-Roi.
"The day was marked by a number OF
air fights over Tagsdorff. east of Alt
kirch, one Of our aeroplanes, attacking
FolSker at close quarters, fired is shots
at him. The enemy machine slipped over
on it's right wing, then fell.
"In the region Of Epinal an Albatross
machine was brought down by our artil
lery fire. In the region OF Bures. north
Of the Forest of Parroy, a German ma
chine attacked by two Of our machines
was brought to earth in our lines. The
pilot and passenger were killed,
"A squadron Of seven aeroplanes gave
combat 70 four enemy aeroplanes in the
region OF Vigueulles-Les -Hattonchatel.
Two of the latter were forced TO make a
landing. The other two took TO flight.
l5 IN AIR SQUADRON.
Enemy aeroplanes have bombed
tlSness bar-le-lJuc ana tteNlBny. Near
the last named place an enemy squadron
composed of is machines was attacked
by one of our pursuit sQuadrons and was
forced TO give fight in the course OF
which a German machine was beaten
down near Givry-en-ArgOpne, The two
ayiators were made prisoners. A second
enemy aeroplane was pursued into its own
lines.
"One OF our bombing groups, composed
OF II machines, dropped 66 shells OF heavy
calibre on the aviation field at Habsheim
and on the freight station at Muelhausen
Another group OF 2s machines dropped a
number Of proieetiles on an enemy muni-
ton factory at Pagny-sur- -AIoselle. Fol-
lowing these different operations an our
aeroplanes returned to their landing
ground"
news agency dispatch from Zurich
reports that a Zeppelin was wrecked al
Friedriehshafen In Tuesdays storm and
that another Was damaged.
ROME. Feb. 22.-Austrlan ayiators
made an attempt to raid Milan yester-
day. Driven on from the city they
dropped bombs on towns In the Lake
Garda region, killing four civilians ana
iniuring several The military damage
done e described ~ lnsigniheaut The
towns affected were Desenzane, "a the
southwestern shore ~ Lake Garda: sac.
70 ne aorth of peseneauo. ard 40.