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Aviation History
1914
1914 - 1180.PDF
[/OGHT] On November 27th the Morning Post correspondent in Belgium sent a translation of the German Minister of War's letter of advice on the training of the new German armies. In the course of this document, which was dated September 26th, was the following :— " The rdle of the aeroplane in war has taken on an unexpected degree of importance. Their work should be carried on in very close connection, not only with the general command but also with the artillery command. Every possible effort should be made on the manoeuvre grounds to train for a close co-operation and a reciprocal understanding between the aeroplane service, th: general command, and the artillery. " Aviators on reconnaissance should be provided with pistols and hand grenades. Though these latter produce no appreciable results for the most part, nevertheless they have an important effect in creating alarm among the enemy, and should therefore be employed." Regarding the aerial raid on the Zeppelin works at Friedrichshafen a Daily Telegraph correspondent wrote thus from Paris on November 26th:— " Two of the three heroes of the recent daring aerial raid upon the Zeppelin factory at Friedrichshafen passed through Paris yesterday proudly wearing the Cross of the Legion of Honour, which the French military authorities, at the instant request of General Joffre himself, conferred upon them in the presence of the garrison of Belfort, the starting point of the heroic exploit. In this way we have the first detailed account of thrir great adventure, which, apart from the unfortunate accident to Commander Briggs, seems to have b:en crowned with complete success. Here is the story as the Figaro representative narrates it from obviously first hand information : — " The raid had a two-fold object, first, to destroy, wholly or partially, the Zeppelin sheds on Lake Constance, and secondly to create a feeling of insecurity throughout Germany. In both respects the enterprise succeeded. It is an open secret that bombs reached their mark, destroying the extremely delicate apparatus indispensable for the construction and repair of Zeppelins, which is, moreover, irreplaceable without long weeks of labour. " The project, which was kept secret from all save the highest military authorities, was arranged for November 2ist, indepen dently of atmospheric conditions, but these, fortunately, were favourable. The start took place at ten minutes past ten on Saturday morning, the three aviators leaving Belfort at five-minute intervals, and in this order—Commander Briggs, Lieutenant Sippe, and Commander Babington. At once they rose to a height of 1,500 yards, made for the Rhine, and followed the course of the river. The three aviators kept within sight of each other as far as Schaff'hausen, when Commander Briggs lost his way in the mist, and, bearing to the left, must have reached Friedrichshafen by way of Ludwigshafen. " Meanwhile Lieut. Sippe and Commander Babington both followed the course of the Rhine independently. As soon as he sighted Lake Constance Lieut. Sippe descended and flew so low that his machine almost grazed the roofs of the buildings, his object being to conceal his presence and the direction of his flight. Reaching the lake he flew lower still, and came within a couple of yards of the water, cleverly using the surface mist as cover. " Striking straight across the lake he flew beyond Friedrichshafen, turned, and rose rapidly. Then it was that he saw Commander Briggs was already at work, his attention being first directed to his companion by the bursting of fourteen or fifteen shells at a height of a thousand yards, obviously aimed from the ground by the enemy's defensive artillery, " When within a kilometre of the objective Lieut. Sippe, accord ing to the prearranged plan, swooped down till within 200 yards of the hangars, then suddenly rose again and, amid a hail of shells, and rifle bullets, dropped his bombs, first on the hangar and after wards on the machine sheds. " In the workshop yards Lieut. Sippe could see men running to and fro panic-stricken. He and Commander Babington completed the work of panic and destruction that Commander Briggs had begun. Eleven bombs in all were thrown. "Their mission concluded, all three aviators then returned towards France, and in 3 hrs. 50 mins. afterwards Lieut. Sippe landed at the very point whence he had started. Commander Babington went astray in the mist, and came down 15 miles further on. Commander Briggs was missing. Later it was learned that the leader of the party had been compelled to land on hostile soil owing to injury to his machine. On landing he was attacked by a number of soldiers, seven of whom he shot with his revolver. As their captain approached Commander Briggs covered him with his revolver and shouted, ' Another step and you are a dead man.' The officer replied, ' Surrender and your life will be spared.' DECEMBER 4, 1914. Commander Briggs dropped his arm. and handed his revolver butt foremast to the Germ in offi:er, who, observing that its chambers were empty and that he had been tricked, struck the English officer across the face with his cane, drawing blood from his forehead. " Immediately on returning Commander Babington and Lieu tenant Sipp» reported to the French Staff, who informed General Joffre, by whom in turn the report was transmitted to the British Government." The Legion of Honour Crosses were pinned on the breasts of Flight-Commander Babington and Flight- Lieut. Sippe by the Governor of Belfort at a review held on the morning of the 23rd. It is stated that the Cross of the Legion of Honour has also been awarded to Squadron-Commander Briggs. Writing from Romanshorn to the Daily Chronicle regarding the Friedrichshafen raid, Mr. Alan Bott said :— " If Friedrichshafen were not suffering from an acute attack of aeroplane fright it would be the proudest spot in Germany. . . . " They do not love journalists in Friedrichshafen. Those who visited it in search of copy about the raid were rounded up and sent back by men with fixed bayonets. One man asked for an explanation and was told : ' Here we class journalists and spies together. Newspapsr articles on the airihips contributed largely to the raid by the British airmen.' . . . . " ' Flugzengfurcht'—aeroplane fright—is widespread on the German side of the lake. Sentinels are now posted night and day all round the shore between Constance and Friedrichshafen, on the look-out for stray aircraft. Even before the raid quick-firing guns and mitrailleuses were kept ready for use on the roofs of the castle, the church, and several houses at Friedrichshafen. Now there are batteries on two or three of the surrounding hills in readiness to bombard British aeroplanes at a second's notice. The roofs of the works are being covered with metal. The top of the gas-house was already thus protected before the raid. If ever a bomb is dropped into this building, which on certain days contains an enormous volume of hydrogen and other gas, the explosion will, indeed, be terrible. " The new super-Zeppelin, which was ready on the day of the raid, has made its first flight over the lake. There were two in the large shed, and probably one-half completed, which were damaged. " I am able to add that the bombs (to be dropped from a basket let down to 150 metres below the car) are exceptionally large and are torpedo-shaped. They have what can best be described as a kind of small plane on either side, so that they can, if desired, be made to descend in a regular curve instead of straight down. There is a special apparatus for despatching thern. " The constructors have tried to find a suitable shot-proof sub stance to cover the envelope, but have not yet been successful. Neither have the experiments with regard to a special light gun to be used with the mitrailleuses on the platforms been brought to a definite issue. " None of the new Zeppelins are being built in the floating shed, but in the works on shore. The shed on the lake is only used for housing the completed vessels, and for repairs. The airship I saw in it from a rowing boat was one of the old ones that had been damaged in the war, and was being repaired." A Morning Post correspondent telegraphed from Berne on November 27th :— " Despite German denials, I am in a position to state from trust worthy information that the attack on the Zeppelin shed at Friedrichshafen did injure one Zeppelin. " Further information from Friedrichshafen says that Commander Briggs, who was made prisoner and taken to hospital, has had his face cut badly, but is in no danger. His aeroplane was hit in the petrol tank by shrapnel, which forced him to descend. The Germans are amazed at the excellent maps found in his possession." In a message on November 29th the Morning Post correspondent said : — " Since the attack on Friedrichshafen by English aviators the whole shore of Lake Constance and the town of Friedrichshafen are in utter darkness at night save for small coloured lights at the pierheads. " Searchlights are playing continually during the night, and strict orders have been issued to the population that in case of renewed attacks they must go indoors and remain there." According to the Berne correspondent of the Journal de Geneve, who stated that he had it from authoritative source:— " The English aviators who carried out the recent attack on Friedrichshafen so timed their raid that they should arrive over the 80
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