100 years ago in COUNTRY LIFE

February 3, 1917

DURING the battle in the North Sea on January 24th, 1915, in which the German cruiser Blücher was sunk, pheasants in various parts of England crowed and flew from their perches in alarm. They were probably disturbed by movements of the branches and undergrowth caused by air-waves spreading out from the scene of the battle. The great explosion in East London on January 19th had similar effects over a wide area—how wide, I am now trying to ascertain.—charles Davison