AIR RAID ON CALAIS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XL, Issue 12541, 12 May 1915, Page 2

AIR RAID ON CALAIS.

Tin? "Daily Chronicle's" especial corR\«|.n.'init.'nt writes from tlio North of France iiiititr date March 18:Kxactly at 12.30 last night u Zeppelin once more made its appearance over Calais.

The circumstances of the raid were somewhat peculiar. If ■ever a night seemed unsuitable for an aerial raid, and especially that of a Zeppelin, it was that of Wediiesday-Thureday over the north part "of Franc; 1 . A thick fog hung in the air curtailing .the field of vision and making it almost impossible to .see more than a few hundred yardrs. Only the ab.-ence ol wind was' favourable to the air monster.

Croat, therefore, was the amazement of the guardhouse in Calais when the telephone rang, a little after midnight, to report from .Mark, a small town on the Dunkirk-Calais' line, that a Zeppelin Jia'-d been perceived in the night making its way towards Calais. Immediately the searchlights were switched on "and launched into the air their brilliant shafts, while the town itself was quickly plunged' into absolute darkness. Unfortunately the beams of the searchlight were unable to penetrate the mist to any great distance, and when the roar of motors was heard overhead it was impossible to make out the dirigible itself. Ere long the first bombs began to explode. Tnese were for the most part incendiary bombs, which at the moment of explosion threw into the sky a red glare that lit up the streets and houses like some strange Bengal light The first volley . of bombs had little effect, and the Zeppelin for a moment arrested both its Hiuht and bombardment. For a few minutes we could not hear the motors, and we had begun to hope that the danger had passed, when the roar of engines started' again as loud as ever, and the dirigible, having taken her bearings to her. satisfaction, once more began to drop bombs on the town.

All this time quick-firing guns were blazing away at the airship, and some shrapnel shells even were aimed at her. But, extraordinary as it may seem, not a single glimpse was revealed of the giant craft at any moment during her flight; neveithelesii it is even more extraordinary that those on board of her were able to make but exactly where they were and to follow the precise route they had set out for themselves. .

They were unsuccessful, although they dropped bombs. One of them found a target, killing seven men and wounding nine others. This bomb fell upon two second-class railway carriages in which a number of mechanics belonging to the Northern Hailway Company were sleeping. These mechanics were refugees from Lille, who, having no hom.is of their own, had made a temporary habitation in those railway carriages.

The effect of the bomb on the.se unfortunate men was teriible. They were all more or less mutilated, and heads, hands, orfeet-were torn off.

Then flames broke out on tcp of this carnage, and in a moment tin; railway carriages were one huge eollagration. As the Zeppelin drew off its occupants had the sinister satisfaction of leaving behind them a great glare which ltddened the whole sky for a full hour, in strange contrast with the total blackness of the town.

Nine mechanics were extricated alive from the blazing woodwork ; one of them will not survive his injuries.

One bomb fell on Notre Dame Cathedral, piercing the vault of one of the chapels oi' the right, transept and wreakin.g irreparable damage to the beautiful old glass of its .Gothic windows. This same bond), which must have hem of considerable size, sent debris flying into the courtyard of the Lamarq Hospital, Rue de la Riviere, full of Belgian wounded who are being tended by English nurses. One of these muses, .Miss Nicholson, told me her experiences. ".Myself and three of my colleagues were sleeping on the first Moor of the hospital when we wore awakened by a frightful uproar. Our window panes had been slmtterid to fragments. We immediately realised what had happened, and run at once .to our patients. Two of them had been lightly crazed, in particular one man whom we had been treating for tetanus for several weeks past. \ "These men wore all frantic with alarm.' Wo continued to reassure them until all danger had passed. We saw quite distinctly the track of the burning petroleum which the Germans were pouring .upon the. town. Fortunately, this blazing oil was extinguished on its way to the ground. An incendiary bomb also fell outside our .doorway, but did not go off."

I could not help but admire the coolness of this . fair-headed girl who described these terrible happenings with a smiling face. She showed not the least sign of ner\ ousness.

Altogether these nurses of the Lamarq Hospital behaved admirably, for all the men folk in the hospital except the doorkeeper fled for refuge into the cellars, and the women were left alone to look after the wounded. ■

lit Calais one hears nothing but praise fur t.h se couiageous Englishwomen.

These Zeppelin expeditions are becoming more and more reckless of the dictates of common humanity. Of this the dropping of incendi/lry bombs and burning oil is sufficient proof-.

I may add that one bomb fell in front "f ;he General Post Ollice. but all the damage it., d'd was to make a s'hiall hole in the pavement some few inches wide. Owing to the mist if is uncertain what direction the Zeppelin took after having the town.

If is reported from Boulogne that the Zeppelin was observed a few miles from that- town above the main railway line, but I cannot corral>orate this report under reserve.