The Glenwood post., 1919-02-08
Lifting Of Censorship Permits
Telling Of Story. Record
Of Death and Damage
GoTHAs AND TAuBEs

Fifty-one raids by airships caused
the death of 49S civilians and the in
jury of 1926 and the killing of 5s SOL
disrs and sailors and the injury of 121.
Fifty-nine airplane raids killed 619
civilians and 23s soldiers and injured
1860 civilians and 400 soldiers.
Relaxation of the censorship now
permits for the first time publication
of some of the effects of enemy air raids
on London, from the first Zeppelin
attack in May 1915, to the "Aurora
Borealis' demonstration last March,
which ended the effective series.
In the beginning the attacks were
made by Zeppelins, usually on dark
nights. These machines proved un-
wieldy as offensive weapons, and they
We're soon succeeded by Taubes and
Gothas, which crossed the channel from
enemy airdromes in Belgium. Then
followed a seies of daylight raids,
which We're succeeded by moonlight Wis
its, that condition of atmosphere reduc-
ing the detective power of searchhghts
Anti-aircraft defense in the begin
ming was feeble and ineffective. 1t was
speedily improved and finally long
range barrage encircled London, MAX
ing hostile approach highly cautious
and really possible only when atmos-
pheric conditions were favorable. Co.
incident with the Improvement the
Royal air force was greatly augmented
for home defense, and gave excellent
account of itself.
The first Zeppelin flew over London
May 81, 1915, and dropped 80 bombs,
most of them incendiary. Considering
the cost in munitions, rsults were small,
for only three fires required the atten-
tion of the fire brigade. Six civilians
were killed and three injured. In Balls
Pond Road, Dalston, an aged couple
were killed while kneeling at their bed
side. Some damage was done in Shore.
ditch.
September Z, 1915, the Bermondssy
district was the target, with light cas-
ualties. The next night bomb de-
stroyed motor bus near the Liverpool
street station, and train was hit The
chief damage was in Wood and Fore
streets, where city warehouses were set
afire and several firemen were injured
Twenty persons were killed and SO in
jured, and the money loss to buildings
and contents was about $2,500,000, one
form suffering to the extent of $500, 900.
Crowds assembled in many parts of the
city to watch the raiding Zeppelin,
which was visible for several minutes.
Up to September, 1916, raiders visit
ed Leytonstone, Walthamstow, East
London, Central London and Southeast
London, infliciting some damage mt
each visit In one of the raids bomb
hit girder in the Lyceum theater,
bending it and exploding in the street.
The audience escaped injury, but there
were casualties among persons standing
at the exits. Blackheath was raided
August "a and 25, 1915.
The greatest of the Zeppelin raids
up to that time occurred the night of
September 10. A fleet of 13 Zeppelins
crossed the North sea and dropped
bombs on English territory. Only three
of the craft got as far as the outskirts
of London. Two of the three were
driven back by gunfire and one was
brought down at Cuffley by Lieutenant
Ieefe Robinson with new type of in
cendiary machine gun bullet. The air
ship caught fire and the people of Lon
don and wide outside area enjoyed
the spectacle of an aerial conflagration
Some of the fleet that crossed the sea
lost their bearings in the dark and sped
honeward with the first signs Of dawn
September 1924 twelve airships
creased the sea and undertook a raid
One came to grief in Essex, anothe,
near Billericay and third near Merses
1aaad. Only three reached London
They bombed the streathsm and Brix
ton districts and blew . tramcar into
pieces. There was damage to dwelling
anA shop properties in Northeast Lon