THE HONG KONG TELEGRAPH.
ZEPPELIN CAPTAIN'S STORY
OF BOMBS ON LONDON.
EXTRA
HONGKONG, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1915
Thrilling Night Journey over the World's Greatest City Eugland. What we have done to
triot.
The story was told in an inter- view with Karl von Wiegand, the special correspondent of the New York World in Germany.
within
#
The following is passed for
Nerves of Steal,"
man of perhaps publication, with the comment
Mathy is a that it contains namerons stats- thirty four years, with olowly. ments which are quite untrue and cropped hair, which gives him the one (to the effect that an anti-appearance of an entirely bald, aircraft gun has been placed under cover of St. Paul's) which can only be characterised as a fales hood apparently invented to excuse what German aircraft are attempting to do.
everything possible to avoid bit ting St. Paul'a and other churches, mussums, Palace, Westminster Abbey, Parliament, and, of osure, residential districts.
I
Below
118.
it
ap where We were.
•
take." Mathy intimated that the new Zeppeline have a consider- ably greater radius of action than London and back. I asked the Zeppelin commander if he had ever been attacked by zero- plansa on any of his raide on England.
warfare in which we had, more or for we call it firing, too-and third, a fourth, a fifth, until soon what extent damage was done When I asked how many bombe lose, to feel our way and study dodging shrapnel by smoking, there are more than B Boore ofcould not determine. Fisshes he carried and their size, Mathy aerial strategy, serial tactics, and A Zeppelin is the strictest Sanday oriso-orossing ribbons. As view from the Tower showed gone remarked that, much as he would to learn to loosta ip darkness the School institution; there is no ed from a Zeppelin, it looks as if placed there which I had already like to oblige me, that was a mili- military points and objects we de drink nor smoke. Each man's the city had suddenly come to observed on a previous also tary question, "We carry two aired to attack.
pockets are his pantry, for he car life, waving its arme around the They ware keeping up a lively kinds of explosive bombs, and We had to study the serial corries a snack, I take a bottle of sky, and sending out feelers for fire. Manavring and arriving similar ebells and fire bombs for rents above the North Ses and
go, along with some first aid the danger that threatene. But directly over Liverpool-street destruction by fire. I cannot tell material, in case someone gets car impression was more that station I shouted: Rapid fire you their size, but they are of England so far is by no means all hit." "No doctor?" "No, as they are tentacles seeking to drag through the tube, and bombs tremendous destructive foros, Ra
rained down. that we can do now that we have carry no doctor. If a shrapnel as so destruction.
There were probably you could convince learned many things we did not ball hits any of us we bandage
"Lanton keeps a good watch mucosesion of detonations and yourself if you could see around know and are necessary to know. the wounded man as best we can, on the sky. Our motors and pro- barate of fire, and I could see that Liverpool-street Station. The The Zeppelins had to be their and give him a drink of cognac pellers soon revealed our presence, we had hit well and apparently number we carry depends largely another and done great damage, which has on the distance we intend cover- Commander Mathy, the com.lins in say of the numerous at a scouts and information gath- and he has to wait until we get First one, thon mander of one of the Zeppelin tacks on England. Attacking erers. Now, for the first time, back. If we were brought down another of those ribbons shooting been gonfirmed by reliable re-ing, and the quantity of benzins raiders, tells, in the following under the cover of night coming my instructions were to attack guess there would be doctors out from the glaring, eyelike parts we have since received. for the motors it is necessary to story, of his experiences during a and going with great speed, and certain points in the downtown there, if we needed any, which searchlights, pick us up. Now Flames burst forth from several
few City of London, such as railway would be unlikely. But to return from below comes an ominous places in that vicinity. recent visit to the London dis diauppaaring
sound that penetrates the noise of Most Successful Trip. minutes, they are like a vision in stations, bridges, industrial es- to my narrative."
"Having dropped all my the night. The aeroplanes of tablishments. Strict orders to do
In short, terse, staccato-like sen our motors sad propellers. There Eagland's flying corps have so
tences Mathy told the story of the are little red fisehs and short bomba I turned my ship for As the suo sank in the burst of fire which stand out prom home. My orders had been far proved no defence against the
attack. west we were still a considerable inently (against the black back-carried out quickly. Despite the Zeppelin raide
disance out over the North Sea. ground. From north, from south, bombardment of the sky we had Several times I
Aeroplanes Versus Airships. was rapidly from right, from left they appear, not been hit, "I want to say there's not ab
"I have never experienced a On from below the sand of gaas. back at the dark outlines of my fight with an aeroplane; in fact, officer or man in the aerial fleet getting dark, but was still light and following the Asahes rolls up leaned out and looked up and
Impressive Picture, Zeppelin, but she had no hole in | have never been bothered by-- who doesn't feel it as deeply when one side or the other was a Zep- he learns that women and children pelin, in grey war paint, like that "It is a beautiful, impressive, her grey sides. In point of them. Men are always at my smooth-faced figure, slender, and sad other non-combatants are of my croft, visible in the waning but fleeting picture as seen from damage done, and hitting objects guns watching for them, but so eapple as a young womia, was formerly commander of a des-skilled as does a gunner or com light against the clear sky, gliding above, probably no less interest which I had received instructions far nons has attempted an attack. troper in the torpedo flotilla. Like mander of big guns when he majestically through the air. Ang from below, the greyish, to attack, it was my moet ado- We are pretty well prepared for of the Zapcessful trip in London or the them." He remarked, significant- officers of German submarines I hears his shell didn't strike ex low, mist-like fog hung over the dim, outline
through the vicinity. Asosading or desoundly: "Iam not afraid of them, have met, he made the impression actly where he wanted it to and epot in the distance where England peling gliding of being all nerves, and those resulted in the death and injury was. Store came out and it growing ribbons of light and ing until we found a favourable and think I could make it inter- of non-combatants. In fact, I calder. We took another pall at shrapnel cloudlets which hang wind current we made a quick eating and take care of thom an- less, perhaps, there was a rogaler would much rather stand on the our Thermos botiles and ate soms-
were you over ewarm. far bridge of a torpedo-boat, fighting thing. As we neared the coast 1 small lamps, and amidst these, ship against ship, then attack & we post especially in the black spots, the Lacon? asked the ligures for the defences oderoplane captain- | could be effective it must be re- city from the air, although not be higher in order that our motors baleful, gleaming, grest eye-like enant-commander, or cause the danger to me is much might not disclose our presence searchlights, and omstant red lieutenant, as is that title in membered that it takes some time fashes from many gone. But we German, sad upon whose left for an aeroplane to screw itself op greater in the latter.
"Let me say that a Zeppelin "I cannot tell you exactly the have no time to admire; our eyes breast was the Iron Oroas of the as high as we are, and by the time it gets there we are gone. voyage to England and back de time or place we crossed the coast and mind must be concentrated Firat Olass.
Then, too, a great difficulty pends on weather and wind condi-line, as that might be an ad vaatags on our work, for any moment w tions. If very favourable it can to the enemy. Msa went to the may be pinnged below a shape "What I call luck has played be made in less time with our new guns which fight off sirmen should loss meas of wreckage and human
fast cruisers. But you want to
we be attacked, and the others bodies shattered beyond reougai know about my last attack on
were each at bis post. My lieuten- tion. You saw it at Johannista! London,
ant took his place at the firing two years ago. I had no little and controls the speed or rapidity I have to think back now to give apparatas, which releases bombs time to register impressions that to the serial service reported h which they are dropped ac you a descriptive word picture of the weather the mo:o we can carry bridge on the front, gondola. It light picks you up you see the favourable conditions. Theosider ourding to my orders from the the scene. When firat the search The temperature was quite cool in a cold, clear, starlit night with firat fish of guns from below; little shock, when we started, with full me no moon-one of those nights when your nerves get gazine bombs which constitate distances and objects in looking but then you steady down, ani Zeppelin ammunition, and not toward the sky are illusive, and it put your mind on what you are much alike shells fired from & is difficult to get the range of there for. I picked up St. Paul's ship or siege artillery, which, after rapidly moving objects, while our sad with that point of orientation instruments tell us exactly how laid a course for the Baak of all, come through the air, too.
high we are.
England.
"London is a vast military con- tre and military-defended sity in every sense of the laws of war, written or unwritten as applic property, from point of serial at Lack, so far concerns everything usable for military purposes, nobs big railway stations, banks, dooks, shipyards, and in dustrial establishmente. If any one believes London is not 'defended, and pretty well də- fended at that he should have stood by my aide in the front gondols of my Zeppelin in my last stick on London a few nights ago and ason the red, angry flashes of scores cannon belching shrapnel as my So spoke Lieut-Commander Mathy, of the Zeppelin aerial graieer squadron of the German
craft,'
Navy.
of
The day of battlee in the air sad attacks from the air of which romance writers have long dream ed prophetic, though, perhaps, somewhat fantastic dreams, has Dome to stay. Only the future can tell how much of the faturis-
nerves of steel.
Mathy and his Zeppelia have participated in every attack made
last, which was on the downtown City of London, was his "century Zeppelin run," or hundredth voyage in the air, couating his training and trial tripa he told me.
a big part with me," he declared. Aad Mathy has been lucky. Daapits something which I cannot mention, but which every super- stitious believer in omens sal signs would regard as a Tory Mathy has been lucky. The day miguet of disaster and ill-look, before its destraction he was on a Zippelin which I saw barned and destrosei in the air above Johanistal two years ago, and only missed that trip by some menie (7) He was on a navy Zeppolin the day before the graft was wrooked in a storm on the North Ses off Danmark two years ago, and in some way missed the voyage on the fatal day.
a
meteorological balloons attached "The weather stations and
"What
:", ྃ
too boob,
dan darkou London aa
thiok. We can see thousands of return."
"How
"The main attack was from 10.50 to eleven, just ten minutes." for
"Then the Zeppelin tootios of attack are to make a dash to points to be bombarded and quickly get away?"
"Yes: attaoka must be short and quick."
the aeroplane to le
084 sta
at night, while we up all night and longer, if need be."
19
In my trips to and from Dane mark I have observed Zeppelins oat as far as Copenhagen scout The carefulnass with which the ing for enemy ships. My im- band developed daring oar talk, valuable service to the German plans of attack are studied before pression is that they have been of Mathy mentioned figures and navy as scouts, and this is ooa seemed to know to a yard how firmed by some things Mathy far it was from St. Paul's to the said.
"What could a set of twenty- Bank of England, thence the Tower and the different railway five or more Zeppelins do in an stations, and how long it took his attack on London?" was my Zeppelin, given the velocity of parting question to the comman Boon we were out over the
the wind and the revolutions of der. Liò About St. Paul's. the propellere, to cover those North sea and moving upon Eng.
"If you mean an attack with- land through the air at a lively the distance wecanses the Thames in the immediate vicinity of St. new fostraments and apparatus in anyone that would be terrible,
"The mist disappeared, and in-
"There was a big searchlight distances. He often referred to out consideration for anything or speed with a favourable wind, river which points the way to tic, impressionistic visions in the appealed more to the popular shores of Germany, below us the guidepost and a
As nothing in this war has Back of us were the receding London. It is an indestructible Paul's, and the English had ase in Zeppelins for navigation, awful, Zeppelins then could stay sare road to placed a battery of guns under locating and measuring objects maoh higher than now, when we air pictured by fictionists in their imagination or awakened greater white-capped billows of the North great ally. The Eaglish cover of that church, so I could below, and controlling dropping have to pick out certain points: romances on the subject may inte eat than the war under acasa like a watery desert in motion
plainly see from the ashes as bombs. This gave me the im- Such a fleet could probably oznac come true. Years ago anyone and in the air, I asked Mathy to stretching out as far as we can much as they like, they can never they belched shrapnel at us. pression that there has been much more thso a thousand fires, and who would have believed Jules. tell me about his last attack on
Perhaps from a military stand research, experimenting, and con- would mean the destruction of the Verne's dreams would become London. I will so far as I can see, without a sign of life except eradicate or cover up the Thames point I would, auder the circumsiderable progress along those greater part of London; but more or less a reality would have without disclosing what might single fishing craft."
It is our great orientation point was the principal from which we can always get our stances, have been justified in lines in recent months. There don't think there is soy danger of been regarded sa being not entire tough apan military secrete, and emotion or impression up there bearings and pick up any point in dropping bombs on the batters are a number of interesting facts that. We have no wish to ly normal. Two yesra' training that is pretty much everything on the bridge of your Zeppelin "London we desire. That doesn't which was very dear St. Paul's in connection with Zeppelins destroy indiscriminately and service in the big Zeppelin about a Zeppelin. Even the I asked the man who makes war mean that we always come up intention to do so, for fear I
bat had neither the desire nor the which, for obvious годвода. injure and kill WOMAD oruisers of Germany's airship crets of Germany's famous sub.
in cannot include from the air.
this children, and other дор float attached to our Navy con marines are nos guarded as olose-
along the Thames, by any means, possibly of damaging the ohurch, story, among others the number combatants." vinces me we are only at the dawnly or jealously as the Zeppelins.
"My ohisfimpression wasspeed, London is darkened, but was so of the day of war in the airsad from I have been abroad one of the and we get very cold. Our new aufliciently lighted that on this However, I don't think the of hours, it now takes to make Zeppeline are very much faster night I saw a related glow in English should use churches, a dash to London and return. the air, and only at the beginning largest U boats, and loosed than a ship, and I always think sky sixty kilometres away shortly museuns, and similar buildings There is good reason for assum of a grant era of development through the periscopes, went
in the Istest of serial crafts which will through from stem to stern, bat of the great difference in prosure before ten o'clock. I beaded as a cover or protection for their ing that
aro many have great bearing on fature have never been able to get with-88 compared when I stand on the
in gunshot of one of the Zeppelia bridge of my ship. Formerly and then a poins on the Thames, not yet dropped a bomb. Above much faster, can carry more, to get my bearings for my objsche Bank of England I shouted and go higher than formerly. In March I had the good for barbours. Even the officers and when commanders' gondolas on tune of meeting Lieut-Commander crew of war Zeppelins have been older Zeppelins were entirely tive attacks.
through the speaking tube con-Count Zeppelin told me Haasu, of the U. 18, but now carefully kept away from corres Our dew ones have comewhat of open this was even more marked.
Dark Spots Standing out
from Blur of Light." |necting me with my lieutenant st in February that those were commanding one of the latest and pondonts, or, rather, the corres- a protection in the form of a wind- Soon the city was outlined, the firing apparatus. Fire elow-three things he was working The Late Mr. Alfred Neubonner. biggest U boats, at a dinner, and pondents away from them, had the first interview with sub- I promised Mathy I wouldn't break Bat it's intensely oold still and silent, below in the 'dist. Now, mingling with the dim on.
English "Doing Well." marine commander during the sak bim any questions that would 3,000 to 5,000 or more feet in the ance. There were dark spota thunder and vivid flash of the
Asked from what height he at- present war. Hansen had just get him into trouble with the Ad-sit, moving at the spead. There which stood out from the blur of guns below, came the explosions
The death has occurred of Mr come back from a oraine, during miralty,
is no obanoe to move about much, lights in the well-lit portions. and barst of fiamos from our tacked London on the leat raid, which he had sunk five ateamers,
of course; one way of warming The residential sections were not bomba. With the mind aolely the Zeppelin commander replied, Alfred de Windt Neubronner, a on picking out "Sorry, but I don't want his residence in Perak Road, The To-day I was so fortunate as to "It was my hundredth Zeppelin pilots of aeroplanes, is wearing much darkened. It was the dark concentrated
to give the English deceased was seventy-one years of have an opportunity to talk cruise, counting my training trips, thick felt boots. Despite that we spots I was after, and I bore down places previously on the pro- you with the man in command and I was much interested in it get cold, especially on the last upon them, as they marked the gramme for attack as being factors their range. They are doing age. He commenced as this of the latest aerial attack on because of that, and wondered trip. We ate before we started, down-town portion of the city, having a military bearing on the well enough as it is, and learning clerk to the Resident Councillor at Malacos, was later transferred whether I would safely round out than occasionally took a pull at a A large city seen at night from a preparation, concentration, or fast."
"Balfour said London was to Penang, and left office to be my century," said the commander Thermos bottle of hot coffee or great height is a fairy-like picture, transportation of troops or places
city, We were too high to see haman of other than military use, and on not a fortified
and come Consul for Siam and Agent of the L- "I had taken my
"All Testotalars."
beings in the streets below. There stopping the Zeppelin and direct that ite defences against for the Perak Government. Ha Zeppelin in safety to England and
"Nothing stronger, commood-
was no sign of life, except in the ing the firing, the comparatively aerial attack were
was made Phya Djlp Siamkitob back several times, and learned
I broke in,
distance moving lights, which short time above Loudon appear ventured.
by Siam in recognition of his ser something of value each trip ap-
"No, absolutely
"We know there are several vices. Es was for twenty-five nothing were probably railroad trains. All ed much longer than it actually plicable to the next time. The
soems still and quiet; no noise as was. We soon observed flames forte and batteries around the years Coroner of this Battlement. first time I took my Zeppelin to stronger.”
"Zeppelins have neither bar, eende from below that penetrates bursting forth from several the City and cataide, and had he He retired from the position England it wassomething akin to discovering a new country, and kitchen, nor dining room, Zop- the sputtering motora and whir places Over Holborn Viaduct, stood by my siue a few nights ago Consul General for Bium aftes my impressions were much more pelins are teetotalers. We have ring propellera. As if in the in the vicinity of Holborn station and locked into those flashing serving that Government
dropped several bombs, guns all over, he wouldn't any thirty-eight years. ...
The funeral vivid than now. It and some of got to have clear heads up there, twinkling of an eye all this we the following wars more or less and cool steady nerves, the nerves changes. There is a sudden flush, From the Bank of England to the London was not & militarily de- took place at Western B experimental. We had much to which spirits don't necessarily and a narrow band of brilliant Tower was a short distance. Ifended city, and perhaps not cemetery this afternoon, and learn, despite all our practice and farnish. And we can't while light reaches out from below, and tried to hit the bridge, and think so poorly of its aerial de very largely attended
To fence." training. It was a now sort of away our time between firing begins to feel around the sky, believe I was successful.
• Ware."
London,
A
Mathy is commander of the L, one of Count Zappelin's lateat, biggest, and fastest oruisers of Germany's sorial floot; the value of which as ropating craft for the navy has been much under estimated abroad, and no fight ing craft beve, as Count Zeppelin told me in February, by no means reached their final development. That, despite their size, they are not so easily hit and brought down ae has been the general im pression in evident from the fact that the Germans lost no Zoppe
J..
Hundredth Cruise.
tsa.
"
er ?"
....
straight for the glow in the sky, gas. Although we had been Zeppeline, there
fired проп from all sides we had improvements, that they are.
15
poor,
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