The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1919-02-05
Explosive Bullets Fired by British
Airmen Conquer Hun
Airships.
lad OWN way FOR WHILE
Until Invention Of New Weapon GER
man Gas Bags Roamed About
Over England at VIII,
Weather Permitting.

Zeppelins with explosive bullets. Un-
til the invention of this weapon Yep
pelins roamed about over England at
will, weather permitting. The first
air raid upon London was by Zep-
pelins. This was May 81, 1915, and
until the explosive bullet came into
defense work the Germans came over
in their rigid gas bags as their pleas
ure dictated. The British had no
Zeppelins then for counter-attack and
the airplanes they possessed were
helpless, because they could not fly
high enough quickly enough.
On one occasion when Zeppelins
were above the city British aviators.
as usual, went up to engage them.
But the British flyers could only at
tain $4,000 feet altitude. There they
sat, looking up at the monsters far
above them, the machine guns of the
nirplanes being as useless as toy pis-
tolls. That is the real reason why
Britain built fast high-climbing air
planes. She had to outdo the Zepps.
She won, soon having airplanes that
could reach 10000 feet or more, above
which distance Zeppelins could not
work effectively. These high-climbing
fighting planes, together with the ex-
plosive and incendiary bullets, made
England too hot for the airing of a
Zepp.
Lead Zeppelin Raids.
The leader of the Zeppelin raids on
London was Commander Peter
Strasser, who had unbounded hatred
for England. He had an iron nerve
and In Germany was regarded as an
authority on air raids against Eng
land. He met his death on August 4.
asst year, In the Huns largest Yep
pelin. off the English coast. An ex-
ploslve bullet ended his journey.
To keep out of range of ordinary
anti-aircraft fire the Germans en-
larged their Zeppelins from 10000 to
about 100000 cubic feet, thus In
creasing ascent abilities. But this
was quickly countered by improved de-
tense methods In Britain. The Zepps
carried about 4,500 pounds Of bombs
each.
The first time the Zeppelins visited
London the people took it as q great
joke, flocking to the housetops to see
the incendiary bombs that were
dropped. Only six persons were killed
In the initial raid, although 90 incen-
diary bombs were heaved overheard.
The men in the later type of Zep-
pelins were provided with parachutes.
The captain and navigating personnel
we're supposed to jump from the for
ward gondola and the crew, generally
about twenty men, from the engine
and midship cabins. In the face of
disaster, however, there Is no record
of any member of Zeppelin crew
having saved himself by this means,
either because the machine became too
quickly enveloped in flames or fell too
rapidly for the parachute to open out.
The Zeppelins usually set out from
Germany in the morning and timed
their arrival off the English coast
about dusk. The fate of Strasser's
ship was sealed because he arrived
too early, being spotted above the
horizon by a British lookout.
Penetrate Heart Of England.
There evidently was no concerted
action among the Zeppelin raiders,
each acting more or less independr
emily. They selected targets upon
which they could unload their bombs
uninterruptedly. If possible. and then
flee. They often penetrated into the
heart of England.
Six Zeppelins were brought down In
England, the first by Lieut.. Leefe
Robson at Cufiey. He was awarded
the Victoria Cross. The incendiary
machine gun bullets which he used
had been issued for the first time only
the day before the raid, September
2, 1916. The second Zeppelin was
brought down in flames at Great Bur
sted. Out Of 13 Zeppelins which raid
ed England October 10, 1917, the Ger
mans lost four. One descended al
most intact near Mersea island, at
the northeast corner Of Essex. An
other was brought down In flames
near Pottcr's Bar, and two other Yep
pelins were forced to land, but the
crews destroyed their ships.
After Germany saw the futility Of
sending Zeppelins against explosive
bullets (and Zeppelins could not be
protected against that device) she in
stituted Gotha raids.
But Britain beat her at her own