Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-09-25

lieved. will have a depressing effect %
the morals Of the Zeppelin crews in tho
future.
Londoners were jubilant today. but
there was not the same exultant enthu.
siasm as three weeks ago. indicating
that the destruction of giant sky raid.
ers is already taken as an ordinary In.
cident in this unusual world war.
| The fact that the airships were
! brought down we'll outside of London
both last night and on Sept. 8. shows
the care with which the defenses have
been developed. The efficiency in deal.
ing with the raiders was further evi.
denced by the speed with which the
searchlights picked up the first raider
that appeared above the suburbs about
midnight. Suddenly a searchlight beam
shot into the star-lit sky. Three more
dazzling shafts followed and within
Is seconds the whirring airships were
| caught in the tolls and the guns began
sending up shrieking shrapnel shells.
For minute or two the raider kept
course; then wavered. turned partly
away and suddenly dissolved apparent.
ly into thin air. Evidently the Zeppe.
lin was beclouded in the smoke and the
lights lost her completely In the mean
time, however bombs were dropping
and red flames were visible as they hit
the earth. Then the city was quiet
for an hour. the searchlights flashing
only occasionally in the hunt for raid
| ers.
All London within sound of the guns
and bombs was out to see the spec
tacle and had almost despaired of fur
| Their excitement when we'll to the east
ward tiny glow appeared low in the
sky. 1t looked first like the moon ris-
ing red in its last quarter from behind
cloud bank. From the city 1t appear
ed to hang stationary for a minute or
more, then, glowing redder and redder
slowly turned to the perpendicular and
streaked into the gloom of the smoky
night ground mist.
To the watchers in Essex, however,
the spectacle OF the flaming falling
Zeppelins had all the thrills of e1-
element which marked the end OF the
L-21. and they cheered the gunners
and their fortunate shots that brought
the raiders to earth.
Expected Attack
| All London expected the attack OF
last night. the Germans evidently hav-
| ing selected Saturdays for their great.
est efforts. But bright moon deferred
| any attempt since three weeks ago.
when 13 raiders came over the sea. The
| change from the unlucky Is to II last
night. however. brought worse. rather
| than better luck to the flying squad
| ron. From the moment the first Zeppe'
| lin appeared 1t was evident they were
Of the new and largest types. This has
been borne out by the two brought
| down.
One Of the burning Zeppel!ns In falling
crashed through . row Of trees in EsesA.
two Of which pierced the lattice work Of
the envelope supports. AS usual the VII
lage fire engine was quickly on the sceh'
and began pouring water on the Dlazhs
| wreck. Police constables and voluntee"
removed the bodies as rapidly as posslo'e
Some of these were charred beyond aN
| recognition, while others were still wni''
and recognizable. All appeared to 10
young men. well clad and wearing the r.
mains Of stout leather coats and shoes Oh
rather poor quality, which Is taken he'e
to indicate that good footwear ID no'
plentiful in Germany.
From the number of bombs droppea
both explosive and incendiary, the au-
thorities wonder why the damage ~a'
not greater. The Zeppelins seemed aou"
dainty supplied with ammunition. HOUSE,
holders along the thoroughfares near.
the bomb explosions growing louder anu
louder as the raiders came with the spseu
Of an express train and took their pap
tism of fire calmly as they passed an1
heayed sigh of relief as the fepo''
diminished In the distance. -. = a.