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People rushed out of their houses to see the unwonted spectacle of an air…
ship dealing death and destruction from the clouds。 But soon the novelty
began to wear off； and as the raids became more frequent and the casualty
lists grew larger； people began to murmur against the policy of taking
these attacks 〃lying down〃。 It was felt that 〃darkness and composure〃
formed but a feeble and ignoble weapon of defence。 The people spoke
with no uncertain voice； and it began to dawn upon the authorities that the
system of regarding London and the south…east coast as part of 〃the front〃
was no excuse for not taking protective measures。
It was the raid into the Midlands on the night of 31st January； 1916；
that finally shelved the old policy of do nothing。 Further justification； if
any were needed； for active measures was supplied by a still more
audacious raid upon the east coast of Scotland； upon which occasion
Zeppelins soared over Englandat their will。 Then the authorities woke up；
and an extensive scheme of anti…aircraft guns and squadrons of aeroplanes
was devised。 About March of the year 1916 the Germans began to break
the monotony of the Zeppelin raids by using sea…planes as variants。 So
there was plenty of work for our new defensive air force。 Indeed； people
began to ask themselves why we should not hit back by making raids into
Germany。 The subject was well aired in the public press； and distinguished
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THE MASTERY OF THE AIR
advocates came forward for and against the policy of reprisals。 At a
considerably later date reprisals carried the day； and； as we write； air raids
by the British into Germany are of frequent occurrence。
In March； 1916； the fruits of the new policy began to appear； and
people found them very refreshing。 A fleet of Zeppelins found； on
approaching the mouth of the Thames； a very warm reception。 Powerful
searchlights； and shells from new anti…aircraft guns； played all round them。
At length a shot got home。 One of the Zeppelins； 〃winged〃 by a shell；
began a wobbly retreat which ended in the waters of the estuary。 The navy
finished the business。 The wrecked air…ship was quickly surrounded by a
little fleet of destroyers and patrol…boats； and the crew were brought
ashore； prisoners。 That same night yet another Zeppelin was hit and
damaged in another part of the country。
Raids followed in such quick succession as to be almost of nightly
occurrence during the favouring moonless nights。 Later； the conditions
were reversed； and the attacks by aeroplane were all made in bright
moonlight。 But ever the defence became more strenuous。 Then aeroplanes
began to play the role of 〃hornets〃； as Mr。 Winston Churchill； speaking
rather too previously； designated them。
Lieutenant Brandon； R。F。C。； succeeded in dropping several aerial
bombs on a Zeppelin during the raid on March 31； but it was not until six
months later that an airman succeeded in bringing down a Zeppelin on
British soil。 The credit of repeating Lieutenant Warneford's great feat
belongs to Lieutenant W。 R。 Robinson； and the fight was witnessed by a
large gathering。 It occurred in the very formidable air raid on the night of
September 2。 Breathlessly the spectators watched the Zeppelin harried by
searchlight and shell…fire。 Suddenly it disappeared behind a veil of smoke
which it had thrown out to baffle its pursuers。 Then it appeared again； and
a loud shout went up from the watching thousands。 It was silhouetted
against the night clouds in a faint line of fire。 The hue deepened； the glow
spread all round； and the doomed airship began its crash to earth in a
smother of flame。 The witnesses to this amazing spectacle naturally
supposed that a shell had struck the Zeppelin。 Its tiny assailant that had
dealt the death…blow had been quite invisible during the fight。 Only on the
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THE MASTERY OF THE AIR
following morning did the public learn of Lieutenant Robinson's feat。 It
appeared that he had been in the air a couple of hours； engaged in other
conflicts with his monster foes。 Besides the V。C。 the plucky airman won
considerable money prizes from citizens for destroying the first Zeppelin
on British soil。
The Zeppelin raids continued at varying intervals for the remainder of
the year。 As the power of the defence increased the air…ships were forced
to greater altitudes； with a corresponding decrease in the accuracy with
which they could aim bombs on specified objects。 But； however futile the
raids； and however widely they missed their mark； there was no falling off
in the outrageous claims made in the German communiques。 Bombs
dropped in fields； waste lands； and even the sea； masqueraded in the
reports as missiles which had sunk ships in harbour； destroyed docks； and
started fires in important military areas。 So persistent were these
exaggerations that it became evident that the Zeppelin raids were intended
quite as much for moral effect at home as for material damage abroad。 The
heartening effect of the raids upon the German populace is evidenced by
the mental attitude of men made prisoners on any of the fronts。 Only with
the utmost difficulty were their captors able to persuade them that London
and other large towns were not in ruins； that shipbuilding was not at a
standstill； and that the British people was not ready at any moment to
purchase indemnity from the raids by concluding a German peace。 When
one method of terrorism fails try another； was evidently the German motto。
After the Zeppelin the Gotha； and after that the submarine。
The next year1917brought in a very welcome change in the
situation。 One Zeppelin after another met with its just deserts； the British
navy in particular scoring heavily against them。 Nor must the skill and
enterprise of our French allies be forgotten。 In March； 1917； they shot
down a Zeppelin at Compiegne； and seven months later dealt the blow
which finally rid