THE continued success of the Allied forces was being acknowledged on the pages of the Daily Echo 100 years ago this week following the latest communications from the various theatres of conflict across Europe.

Occupying the most column inches on the paper’s lead story, and creating the most excitement amongst readers at the time, was the news that five British Naval airmen had flown a mission over Hoboken, near Antwerp, where they conducted a successful raid on five German Submarines that were in the process of being constructed.

After receiving news from Wing Commander Longmore following the completion of the sortie, the Secretary of the Admiralty released the following statement: “I have to report that a successful air attack was carried out this morning by five machines of the Dunkirk Squadron on the German submarines being constructed at Hoboken, near Antwerp.

“Two of the pilots had to return owing to bad weather, but Squadron Commander Ivor T. Courtney and Flight Lieutenant A. Resher reached their objectives and after diving down to 1,000ft, dropped four bombs each on the submarines.

It is believed that considerable damage has been done to both the works and two submarines. The works were observed to be on fire. In all five submarines were observed on the slips.”

The Admiralty release also revealed that there was no reported loss to allied craft during the raid, although it was revealed that Flight Lieutenant Crossley Meates was hampered by engine trouble and was obliged to descend into Holland.

It was also revealed that the two pilots that were forced to divert back to base owing to the thick mists were subject to heavy gunfire from ground defences during the attack.

The Daily Echo also carried a report from Athens stating that an Allied force had been landed at Gallipoli, and a general attack on the Dardanelles was expected to begin in the coming days following the arrival of further British and French warships.

The latest French communiqué from the Western Front revealed that two Belgium divisions had made progress on the Yser, while in Alsace the French were celebrating further successes.

On the Eastern Front it was being reported that the big German Howitzer guns had been a total failure before the Russian fortress of Ossowiece, and as a result had been withdrawn.

The enemy had tried to make advances in the area with a hurricane fire of 12-inch shells, but the Russians showed remarkable steadiness and drove them back with great loss on the whole front from Galitz to the Oszok Pass.

It was also reported that a terrific simultaneous attack by Austrian forces on the area had also been shattered with enormous losses to the Austrian ranks.