South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-09-04
Only Three Manage to Reach
Outskirts of London,
One Being Shot
Down.
DEFENSES OF CITY PROVE
TOO STRONG FOR INVADERS
Enemy Forced to Steer Un-
steady Course Due to In
tense Darkness, Lights
Being ExtinguiShed.
Associated Press Service .

Associated Press Service.
LONDON, Sept. 3.-Thirteen Yep
pelin airships took part in the raid
over the eastern counties Saturday
night and an official statement is
sued this afternoon says it was the
most formidable attack by air ever
made on England. Only three of the
Zeppelins were able to approach the
outskirts of London One of these
was shot down and the other two
were driven off by aircraft 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 after
noon, but it was stated that the
damages and loss OF life were not
heavy. considering the number of
ships engaged" An official state
ment in part said:
Invaders Lost in Darkness.
The measure taken for the re-
duction or observation of lights un-
doubtedly proved most efficacioUs,
for the raiding squadrons instead OF
steering a steady course as in the
raids OF the spring and Of last au-
tumn, CROPPED about in darkness
| looking for a safe avenue to ap-
proach their detectives.
Three airships only were able TO
approach the outskirts of London.
one of them appeared over the
northern district about 2:15 in the
morning where she was picked up
by searchlights and heavily engaged
by anti aircraft guns and aeroplanes.
After a few minutes the airship was
seen TO burst into flames and fall
rapidly towards the earth.
Wreckage Found.
The ship was destroyed the
wreckage, engines and half burned
bodies Of the crew being found at
Cufiey, near Enfield.
The other two ships which ap-
preached London were driven of by
the defenses without being able 20
approach the center Of the city.
"A great number Of bombs were
dropped promiscuously over the
eastern Anglican and southeastern
counties, but complete reports as TO
casualties and damage have not yet
been received"
A later official statement saws one
man and one woman were killed and
eleven men and two children were
injured. 1t adds:
No Deaths in City.
''NO casualties occurred on the
metropolitan police district Latest
reports show that in the metropo-
Titan police district % houses and
some out buildings were slightly
damaged. Two water mains were
cut and three horses were killed.
Elsewhere the damage was very
slight, q certain number OF cottages
being damaged as we'll as a church,
while a fire occurred at some gas
works
There was no military damage Of
any sort"
The Zeppelin raid which lasted
from late last night until the early
hours o. this morning. did not afford
Londoners the spectacle that did
those of this time last year, although
from many parts of the city people
who were awakened by the firing,
saw one Of the raiders falling in
flames.
People Await Arrival.
News of the raid circulated dur
ing the evening and people waited
the arrival. They had almost given
up hope when the firing Of guns told
them that Zeppelins were making
an effort 10 reach the city. Only
few rounds were fired, however. as
the defenses Of London proved too
strong for the raiders the most dar-
ing OF which had been struck and
/ brought down in flames. a fact which
soon was known 10 the whole city
through the cheering Of crowds.