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Aviation History
1916
1916 - 0121.PDF
FEBRUARY IO, 1916. The following messages were included in the "Wireless" news sent out from Berlin on February 3rd :— "To the German Embassy, Washington. " The German papers, commenting on the Zeppelin squadron attack on England, p .int out that the British will, of course, c'amour against the barbarous German a'tacks upon open towns and the assassination of women and children, if such happen to be victims of this important military acion. The papers point out that Birkenhead, which is the chitf place for the construction of warships, is the principal entrance to the harbour of Liverpool, and a depot for American ammunition, at the mouth of the Mers«y, and is also a fortiess; while Manchester contains sheds of cotton, which, according to the Briii-h, is contraband. Nottingham manufactures ammunition and barbed wite, and Sheffield makes cannon and ammunitions, while Great Yarmouih contains a great number of small craft, armed and destined for the chase of submarines." Berlin, Wednesday. "To the United Press, New York. "Judging from the Zeppelin observations, it is believed that the Other Raid IN the Staffordshire area, where there were two attacks, one in the early evening, and the other in the midnight hours, twenty-six civilians, including women and children, were killed. In one town all the lights were put out and the Zeppelins cruised over without dropping any bombs. Before midnight the lights were lestored, and a Zeppelin reappeared and dropped fifteen bombs in twelve minutes. They were released in twos and thiees, while the last discharge must have comprised five or six missiles. Atone place in the Midlands Zeppelins were seen at 8 p.m., 11 p.m., and 2 a.m., but no bombs were dropped within ten miles, although distant explosions were heard on the first occasion. An engine driver, when a bomb fell near him, thought a boiler had exploded. A Norfolk correspondent of the Daily Telegraph states that an airship passed so low over a station he was at that it seemed to be almost on top of their heads ; eveiy detail could be plainly seen. Another was seen at dusk. He continues:—"Was in, the train from five o'clock last night until four this morning, when I got into . What gets over me is the fact that we don't use ihe aircraft guns, as there are sevei al at . The Zepp. was a splendid target, and wis going dead slow, and was hovering over , although I don't think they have done much damage." On its second visit to one town thirty incendiary bombs were dropped, but most of them fell on open spaces; there was no important damage and not a single casualty. At all the places visited inhabitants obtained a view of the raiders, and at one or two spots observers were able so clearly to view the airship that they could see the trapdoor in its bottom opened, a shaft of light stream through, and the bomb released. Of ten victims in a Leicestershire town four were men, five women and a girl; many of the wounds were caused by flying pieces of metal. At the inquest a constable said a short time after receiving warning he heard a buzzing noise in the air, but could not see airships; while endeavouring to locate them he heard explosions accompanied by flashes. All the bombs fell in streets or gardens, and material damage was confined to the fronts of houses or shops. Th; jury found a verdict of death by the explosion of bombs from enemy aircraft.and strongly recommended more stringent regulations. When Zeppelins were approaching they urged that hooters be sounded and electricity cut off. At an inquest on thirteen Staffordshire victims, including four children and three persons each over 60 years of age, the jury's verdict was : " That the thirteen persons whose bodies we have viewed were killed by explosive bombs dropped from enemy aircraft, and that a verdict of ' wilful mutder ' be recorded against the Kaiser and the Crown Prince as being accessories to and after the fact." The coroner thought it was useless to record such a verdict against any person who could not be brought to trial. With this the jury disagreed. One of the victims was an estate agent who was visiting some property which had suffered. At an inquest on a victim in Derbyshire the coroner observed that only one other death had occurred in his district, and the damage to property was not serious. He described the raid as a dastardly outrage, which carried German frightfulness into their very midst, and it was appalling to think that such acts could be perpetrated by what was once considered a civilised country. Of fifty bombs dropped in Lincolnshire, the bulk were incendiary ; many dropped in gardens and failed to explode. Only three lives were lost. At one point a Zeppelin on its journey sent down a flare, apparently with the object of discovering what kind of ground was being passed [/OGHT] attack on Liverpool accomplished is object, which was to destroy the grain elevators. It is ofticiilly stated that England receives most of her grain from foreign countries through Liverpool, and that there are also great mills there, so that practically all English grainfiod supplies must go through Liverpool. It is pointed out that this raid must not be considered as a reprisal for the Baralong incident. " Weather permitting, it is hoped that this is only the beginning of an air campaign which has as its object the destruction of any thing of mili ary importance, or of food values, so long as England continues her policy of starving Germany. It is explained that air raids have been impossible for some months, because the air currents were against the Zeppelins, but the present weather conditions are ideal. " I am officially informed that Germany also feels it to be imposs ible for her in future to consent to accept the regulations regarding submarine warfare as long as England (missing) ' continues to intercept goods coming to Germany,' via Holland.—(Signed) ACKERMAN, Berlin." Gleanings. over. The light no doubt revealed what was required, and the craft passed on, wasting no bomb* on the open fields. At times the Zeppelins appear to have flown very low. One was seen hovering over a passenger train, but the train was not attacked. One Zeppelin when crossing the Ejst Coast dropped a message reading, " We will be back later." Zeppelins were seen to arrive over the Norfolk coast shortly before; 5 p.m. One Zeppelin was distinctly heard returning at 5 a.m. the next morning. In some theatres and cinemas in Staffordshire the audience, when the lights went out, refilled to believe that Zeppelins were in the vicinity, and the performance was continued by candle light. In Staffordshire many bombs dropped in ca- als, of which there are a large number in the Midlands. The airships were over one Staffordshire town for forty minutes, which included an interval of quiet of fifteen minutes. One bomb rolled off the roof of a theatre, and dropped flaming into the roadway. In Derbyshire, at one place, bombs appear to have been released simply to get rid of them. In a Lincolnshire town the workhouse outbuildings were demolished. Of several craters made in the ground, the largest mea-ured 14 ft. across by 11 ft. deep. In Norfolk a number of birds, most of them sparrows, were killed. A Norfolk farmhouse was evidently mistaken for a building of another character for between 30 and 40 bombs were rained on it. Fortunately there were no casualties. In one place the noise of the exploding bombs was thought to be tiring at sea. At one town four Zeppelins were seen at intervals of half an hour each. In Suffolk 40 or 50 bombs were dropped in an open field ; two hens were killed. Atone place in Derbyshire it was pitch dark, but occasionally the presence of the Zeppelin was indicated by the use of its searchlight. The actual bombardment did not last for more than two or three minutes, during which time about 15 bombs were thrown. In one coast area the information of the approach of Zeppelins was received at 4,30 in the afternoon, and they reached the coastline shortly afterwards. A bomb fell near a cinema theatre at a time when a bomb throwing incident was being shown on the screen. The driver of an express, who sighted a Zeppelin following him, put on full speed for seven miles and pulled up in a tunnel. One bomb which failed to explode in Leicestershire was about 2 ft. 6 ins. high and about 9 ins. in diameter. The raid caused considerable alarm in a local Hun prison camp. One unexploded bomb found in Staffordshire was estimated to weigh 168 lbs. A hospital had bombs dropped on each side, but escaped un damaged. A man who had seen the Zeppelins over the London area on the occasion of the last raid, said he saw one of the raiders this time in Suffolk, and it seemed to be twice the size of those be saw over London. A report presented to the Worcester County Council states that 28 bombs were dropped in one visit on the borders of the county and 17 in the second visit, and the only estimate of damage done put it at £5. Eight bombs and a piece of a propeller were found. 21
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