Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-09-25
GREAT ZEPPELIN
RAID ON ENGLAND
ENDS IN DISASTER
Fourteen Or Fifteen In Fleet,
Three Of Which Drop
Bombs on London
TWO ARE BROUGHT DOWN
BY ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNS
Claims Made by Both Sides
Indicate 81 Airships
Wrecked Recently

London, Sept 25.-with three of Ger
many's biggest and latest types of Yep
pelins brought down on English soil
within as many weeks, Britons today
believed London is now more secure
against air raids than ever before de-
spite the fact that the last two raids
were made with greater number of air
craft than ever before employed.
Military officials declare that the air
defenses of London have stood the su-
preme test in repulsing the fleet of
raiders which attacked the city on the
night of September 2 and again Satur-
day night In the first instance an aero
plane brought down one of the super
Zeppelins. Latest reports indicate that
aircraft guns scored the hits on the
two big airships which were destroyed
Saturday night. The latest estimate of
casualties put the number of men, wo-
men and children killed in the raid at
30. One hundred and ten were injured.
OF this number 2s were killed and 90
injured in the metropolitan district Of
London.
Fourteen or Is airships took part in
the big raid Saturday night, the last
official statement to be issued by Gem
eral French declared. Only three of the
Zeppelins approached London FOR an at
tack, however and they were driven off
by the anti-aircraft guns. The two air
ships brought down fell near the little
village of Mangold. Bodies of the crew
of one of the aircruisers were found
scattered about their burned craft bad
ly charred. Twenty-Five men, eompris-
ing the crew of the second were made
prisoners by lone constable who was
the first to reach the scene of the wreck
and in turn gave them over to the mill
tary authorities.
:. :. Thousands Watch Fight.
Thousands saw the first Zeppelin
which was entirely destroyed, fall like
flaming comet through the sky. Sight
seers flocked to Essex county through
out Sunday and today to view the
wreckage of the big air cruisers The
motors and other parts OF the zeppelin,
less seriously damaged, were gathered
together by members of the Royal Fly
ing corps, however, for inspection and
souvenir seekers were kept at dis
tance.
lNtSiutuNo VI lht sSctA NiliuStot WhNi0
the raiding monsters were sent to their
doom were absolutely unmoved by the
visit of the Zeppelins. There was re-
joicing VIXEN the airships, comet-like.
made their first descent to destruction.
But after the night of the raid was over
and the Zeppelins lay, a tattered mass
of twisted steel there was little com
ment.
One of the machines fell within half
q mile of village with a population
of barely more than 1000. And every
one of these persons holds an indif-
ference which amounts to lethargy re-
garding the dangers to which they are
exposed by the raiding German flyers.
Three airships brought to the ground
within three weeks by English gunners
seems to have instilled in them certain
confidence that they will be protected,
no matter what comes.
81 Airships Lost Recently.
Expressions Of commendation FOR the
advance in the methods of defense for
London and other sections of England
came from the press and officials alike
today. In most of the areas where the
airships were noted, witnesses declare
there is absence of military damage and
injury to residents that is remarkable.
Searching for souvenirs rather than a
discussion of the effect of the raid in
terests the inhabitants of the districts
where bombs fell. Narrow escapes are
recounted by dozens, but they are pass
ed over lightly.
Unprecedented aerial activity is re-
ported on all fronts along with the Zep-