The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-09-07
IS ZEPPEL|NS IN
RAID ON LONDON
One Air Raider Brought Down
Near London Crew Lost
Greatest Aerial At
tack Ever Made.

London. Sept. 5-Thirteen Zeppelin
alrships took part in the raid over the
eastern counties Saturday night and an
official statement issued this afternoon
says it was the most formidable attack
by air ever made on England. Only
three of the Zeppelins were able to ap-
proach the outskirts Of London. One Of
were driven off by air craft guns and
aeroplanes.
Reports regarding the number Of
casualties and the damage caused by
the great number Of bombs dropped
had not been completed this afternoon
but 1T was stated that the damage and
loss Of life were not heavy considering
the number of ships engaged"
The Zeppelin raid lasted from late
Saturday night until the early hours OF
Sunday morning. News Of the raid Cir
culated during the evening and people
waited up in expectation Of seeing
sights which became familiar last fall
They had almost given up hope when
the firing of guns told them that the
Zeppelins were making an effort tc
reach the city.
Yep Fell Rapidly.
Only few rounds were fired, how
ever, as the defenses of London proved
too strong for the raiders, the most
daring Of which had been struck and
-.
the death agony Of the Zeppelin lasted
a minute and half. The night was q
perfect one for Ieppelins. 1t was very
dark with few stars visible and with
no wind or rain to interfere with then
maneuVerS.
A correspondent of the Associated
Press watched the bombardment of th<
Zeppelin, which was destroyed. Wher
first seen, it was sailing, with shrapne
bursting all around and searchliS hts
conferred on it. Suddenly, the Zeppelin
! disappeared in a cloud of smoke, emit
| ted by itself.
The sky was clear at the time, but the
! searchlights lost trace Of their quarry
| A minute afterward, a brilliant ligh
| appeared in the sky, which increased II
| intensity as it descended Then tht
| light spread out into flames, falling
| gradually until an altitude Of about H.
| 600 feet was reached, when it burst int
an enormous sheet of flames, lighting
up the surrounding country for miles
! Apparently, the gasoline had caush
! fire, and the airship dashed rapidly Il
| the earth.
Cheers Greet Disaster.
! From villages and towns went VI
| loud cheers. For some time search
| lights We're thrown skyward, searchin!
| for the companions of the i'll fated air
! ship, but apparently without success.
Immense crowds went from Londoi
to visit the wreck Of tho Zeppelin
| which was lying in a heap Of ruins i,
field. Soldiers guarded the wreck ant
! removed charred portions of the bodle
| which We're found.
An eye witness who reached the seen
early said the charred remains of a b!
| German engineer were found TIL
| hands still were grasping a lever q
the engine the engineer apparent
| having chung on. trying to steer tn
ship to the ground.
Some accounts say that a number 0
the crew jumped overheard to aaV
themselves from burning but those IA
| miliar with Zeppelins think it would >
impossible. Escape could have bee
made through only the exits and N
ra pidity of the descent would not haH
| given them time.