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Aviation History
1915
1915 - 0065.PDF
JANUARY 22, 1915. In a message dealing with the fighting in the Cham pagne district a Morning Post correspondent wrote :— " It is all very well for aeroplanes to detect trenches. We know they are there, dug into a solid chalky subsoil with sides to them like masonry. But from a range of ten miles—over twelve miles with some guns—to drop shells into trenches little more than a yard wide by two deep accurately and continuously, is well nigh impossible. The redoubts may suffer, but the shelters cannot to any effective extent, while, the whole place being mined like an ants' nest, local damage can be rapidly made good, and to blow the entire section of the globe in question into nothingness would involve something still more appalling in the way of gun fire than we have seen even in this appalling war." A Daily Telegraph correspondent, writing from Petro- grad on Sunday, said :—• " Interesting stories are told by Russians who have succeeded in getting through from Constantinople to Odessa. They relate that in consequence of the damage done by French aviators to the RAIDING BY WHETHER Tuesday night's raid on the East Coast was by dirigibles or aeroplanes or both—and the evidence in this connection appears to be divided—is not a matter of very much moment. The fact that the long-promised raids have been inaugurated at last is the point of interest. As we have always stated, there was no reason why adven tures of this character should not be organised—always provided that it was considered the game was worth the candle. In all probability this is but the first of other raids to follow, with London or other prominent centres as the objective. But that nothing will be attained by the Germans, beyond the murdering of a certain number of citizens and material damage to property, there is no possible doubt. As to the effect upon the general conduct of the war, beyond the tragic deaths of innocents which result from this style of " Kultur," such raids will be accepted as mere refined incidents in the humane methods practised by the Germans and will be regarded by the Empire as almost childish in their futility. That the pressure of public opinion in Germany as to the inactivity of both the Navy and the Aircraft Fleet is largely responsible for this week's doings is, we think, unquestionably the fact. One thing has emerged very strongly from this new experience, that there has not been the slightest sign of panic anywhere—except perhaps in the columns of some of the more pushful lay press—and their object is sufficiently obvious. ^As a matter of record, however, we give below the main facts as far as they are ascertainable, so that the historical " Kultur " departure may be appreciated for future gener ations to ponder over. The aircraft first appeared over Yarmouth about 8.30 p.m., and dropped about ten bombs in different parts of the town, but many of these did not explode. The most serious damage was done near St. Peter's Plain, where a house and workshop were wrecked, a shoemaker, looking out from his door, and an old lady of 75 years of age, who had been shopping, being killed. A very large number of houses were damaged, and there were many marvellous escapes. A second bomb exploded at the Fish Wharf, where a drifter was consider ably damaged by pieces of the bomb. Cromer was next visited, but the authorities having been notified, the town was in darkness, and no bombs were dropped. It was also reported that " Zeppelins " were seen at Runton. Four bombs were dropped at Sheringham at 8.45, one going right through a house in Whitehall Yard, fortunately without exploding. The other three fell at the Beeston end of the town, [/OGHf] Dardanelles forts, special guns for bringing down aeroplanes have been mounted in the trenches on Prince's Islands. " It is also reported that French aviators have done effective execution with their bombs at Adrianople." A Morning Post correspondent at Copenhagen reported the following on January 17th :— " The German hydro-aeroplane ' Erna 84' has been washed ashore at Mano, on the west coast of Jutland. The aviators are presumed to have been drowned. On board her were found four grenades. It is stated that the hydroaeroplane was built in November, 1914." Writing to the Daily Mail from Paris on Monday relative to an attack by the Germans on St. Paul, near Soissons, Mr. George C. Curnock said:— " Our artillery did marvels. Their fire was directed by aero planes, which flew, heedless of all dangers, into the hail of shell." ® @ AIRCRAFT. without doing any damage. About 10.30 the hostile aircraft were over Dersingham, and dropped a bomb there and others at Brancaster, Heacham, Snettisham, where a church was damaged, and Lynn. At n p.m. the aircraft were over King's Lynn, where at least seven bombs were dropped, the objectives apparently being the railway station, the post office, and the docks. On receipt of a warning of approaching aircraft, the work of extinguishing the lights of the town was commenced, but it had not been completed when the first bomb fell near the junction of the Hunstanton railway line with the London line. Another fell in some allotment gardens, and then two others fell on cottages in Bentinck and Melbourne Streets. In one house a boy of 16 was killed while asleep in bed, and in another a soldier's widow who was visiting some friends was killed, the other occupants of the house having miraculous escapes. Several houses in Albert Street were also damaged. It was at first reported that bombs were dropped at Sandringham, where the Royal Family had been in residence up to the morning previous to the raid, but it was subsequently ascertained that no bombs had been dropped nearer to the spot than Snettisham. Aircraft were again heard over Yarmouth just before midnight, but nothing untoward happened. The official account by our own authorities as to what actually happened will be awaited with considerable interest, but up to the time of going to Press nothing has been issued. The following official telegram from Berlin was received in Amsterdam on Wednesday :— "On the night of January 19th naval airships undertook an attack on some fortified places on the English East Coast. The weather was foggy and rainy. Several bombs were successfully dropped. The airships were shot at, but returned unhurt.—(Signed) Deputy Chief of the Admiralty Staff VON BEHNKE." According to the Dutch Telegraaj, three German airships were seen at midday on Tuesday at Nees, in the Island of Ameland, and at Terschelling, proceeding in a westerly direction. Two German airships were also reported as having been seen at the Dutch island of Skiermonnikoog. Reports were later received from some of these places of three airships returning eastwards. The captain of the tug " United Service," arriving at Yarmouth from sea on Wednesday, reported that the master of the St. Nicholas Lightship saw a " Zeppelin " arrive from eastward just before 8.30 p.m. and return seawards about midnight on Tuesday.
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