The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-23
ZEPPELIN, IN
FLAMES, SHOT
DOWN; S6DEAD
autos in Night Pursuit.
Shell Fired Gasbag-
Whole Crew Lost.
KAISER SAW AIRSH1P
START ON Its FLIGHT
s,..,,i r,b,. p,.pasrA to Tvs srs.

NTSfI1l NIVNf ~
iosrps, Feb. :3-The Zepplin de-
.-oyed 10y an explosive shell from a
,-ench anti-aircraft u near Revigny.
,o,,hxest of Bar-,e-Duc, On sunday
,,sh, was tho Lz-77. The entire crew
y, from thirty 10 thirty-f,ve officers and
mon were killed, according TO Bar-le-Duc
desNitches.
Tie loss Of the Zeppelin was admitted
q, the German official statement issued
to-day. 1, was travelling south from
SIC. M~enehouid when Il WAS overtaken
by automobiles carrying anti-aircraft
guns and was struck by ono of h shells.
There were at least two Zeppelins over
me eripn the one finally brought down
h.,ng in the lead. Stationary aircraft
Guns failed to hit the mark but the
..archlights kept the airship under their
slare and the guns mounted on o
cars were successful. After the shell
struck the dirigible "A line Of red light
shot out and the flames quickly spread
over the whole envelope.
This is the twenty-ffth Zeppelin de-
s,royed by enemy fire since the Begin
Ming Of the war. according to official
British and French statements.
Two ZeppeIins Heard.
The Daily MdiI's Paris correspondent
describes the destruction Of the LIT
n follows:
The approach Of at least two Zeppelins
vas signalled AT S:25 r. NJ. by an ar
,illery officer who was listening at his
post IN the first line trenches In the
Argonne forest. The night was clear,
with a moderate wind. The officer was
unable 10 see the airsh!ps but distinctly
heard the drumming Of the engines.
Ne te.ephou.d a warning to the bat
icry bas, from which the news was
passed to the headquarters Of an army
corps near Sic. Monehould.
al the batteries in that district
acre on the alert and iive minutes latei
searchllghts were exploring the heaven.
N al directions. The Zeppelin was tirs'
sghted by an officer commanding .
battery OF Ijs. He opened fire on tn
mi Zeppelin. which was then about tw,
N IS distant and at an attitude Of 300
feet and rising raridly. The second
~as following three miles behind.
tn" officer failed 10 obtain the ole
vator necessary TO hit the foremos
.r.iip. but WAS able To- signal the cX
80 ',o.l;ion to the operators Of TN
saarch ipnis. From that moment unit
'he airship was brought down at abou
$40 T.. VI. the first Zeppelin was neve
o. sight of. The searchlights made
i'm. nous network round IL and IL wa
impossible for II 10 escape The merci
les white circle.
Five Motor Cars In Pursult.
The Zeppelin was not travelling yer!
'aS; ~ soon as a warning reache'
Rsy'gry i've motor cars on which WEI.
ncui.trd. together with searchligh,s
90 x firing guns worked by naval me
started toward II.
There were five men in each cal
These anti-a!rcraft gum are special,
de.i rrei for their work and ar
mounted on swiye.s SO that the barrel u
'qe gun can be moved to PRACTICAL
my angie. The gunners crouch on tn
Hou- of the car and when the gun
pointed - the perpendicular lie HAT o
ter backs.
The weapon throws a small she
xh.ch explodes on contact with the alum
mum coz, ring Of the Zeppelin burst
mi, flames.
"As .he motor ears rushed along tn
rough roads an officer behind each gu
regulating the range shouted new direc
tons for practically every shot. AS tn
Zeppelin and the motor car were con
t,a.;ly changing position.
several shells had been fired befor
ore got home. striking the Zeppeli
square in the body about se~v.nty-fiv
fee, from the stern. There was Il shou
o! triumph from the Frenchmen, and
moment later two other shells Wen
crashing through IN, rear car. damagin
ite Steering and elevating apparatus.
For an instant nothing seemed t
ha;p"n. Then a hin red line stole alon
N. She'll IL the airsh!p. which shon
with a bright. ruddy glow. The name
quickly licked the top of the Zeppeli
a'i spread along the gas bag. The win
Nhrg WAS Il head one, forced the Name
ti,n tpHtId tn. stern and streamers {
t'' aid violet light shot out behind III
9,n'r,I lfr'gihle. The crew did not dro
asrge uonb
Crew Burned to Death.
"fye minutes after the first she
struck the huge airship IA an incar
descent furnace swaying to and FRO. tn
Toto"s had been stopped and the dirig
lie beaded for the ground. The onlookel
Hrs surprised At the time it tool
conc down. Long before the fiamin
he ~ 'A' Zeppelin reached the grour
isc t' must have been burned to deaf
" ea.Y ~Irces-iye balloon caught I'll
'rt -" Zeppelin gradually broke u
pores tF fF. .INalaIA aud rI1h0f hear