The sun., 1917-06-06
16PLANES RAID
BRITAIN;
Aircraft Guns and FlierS Beat
Back Foe in Kent and
Essex. ...

LONDON, June 5.-SiNteen German air
planes came. over the North Sea this
evening and dropped many bombs on the
small towns and villages in Essex and
Kent Only fourteen OF them returned
to their home base. for two Of them
were brought down by British guns.
SO far as late reports show only two
persons were killed and twenty-nine in
jured in the bombarded districts. The
raiders met with a liSely, reception,
extra precautions having been taken by
the British authorities after the recent
very serious raid on the southeast coast,
in which $50 persons were killed or
wounded. The Germans were attacked
by British aviators before they had an
opportunity to carry out their raiding
intentions to any great extent. and the
British anti-aircraft guns were very ef-
fective.
Persons arriving in London from the
raided area state that ample warning
/, OF the approach OF the raiders was given
and that British airmen were patrolling
before the enemy reached the coast
The weather favored the invaders. who
flying at a great height. tried to pene-
trate inland under the cover of small
cloud banks. They were quickly located
and engaged by airplanes and land bat
teries. whose defence was so effective
that they penetrated only a few miles
| inland. and after dropping bombs
speeded away
An eye witness says that at one of the
raided places the people were entertain
Ing wounded soldiers on trips in sailing
boats. Suddenly the enemy planes came
into full view. and apparently within
range of the guns. A few minutes later
one or them was seen somersaulting
from the clouds. and amid a storm of
cheering it dropped into the sea. A
number of motor boats and other craft
manned by sailors Immediately began
racing toward the plane. The pilot, who
was in his seat. apparently unhurt. was
seen struggling to free himself from the
derelct. When the first boat reached
the scene, however the pilot had disap-
peared. and is supposed to have been
drowned.
| The official statement says: "An air
plane raid this evening was carried out
| by a squadron Of sixteen arplanes.
| They crossed the Essex coast at about
6:l5 and dropped some bombs in the
country and on small towns In Essex
and then proceeded to attack the naval
establishments on the Medway. A con-
siderable number OF bombs were dropped
and certain amount of damage was
done to house property. but the damage
done naval and military esta ablishments
was practically negligible.
'The raiding aiplanes were engaged
| by gunfre and pursued by aircraft.
After having lost two machines they
made of seaward
The casualties so far reported are
| two killed. two dangerously wounded
and twenty-seven wounded"
The head OF the Thames estuary. where
the airplanes made their main attack. is
about twenty-five miles east of London.
| There are very important naval works
I In that locality and on the Medway.
This Is the third raid on England in
the last fortnight by German airpIanes
which apparently have been sub
stituted for Zeppelins by the Germans
In making their attacks ON the British
isles. For six months before the last
three raids. no attacks OF this nature
were made, the last efforts Of the Zeppe.
Inns having proved disastrous to them
On May 23 four or five German air
craft flew over eastern English counties
and dropped bombs which killed one
man. On May 25 squadron of about
sixteen airplanes passed over southeas,
England. dropping bombs which killed
seventy-six persons and injured l74
The principal damage was done In
| Folkestone.