4 P.M.
On the morning of Tuesday , the 9th of March 1904 , the _ Times _ published the following telegram at the head of its Foreign Intelligence : -- ASTOUNDING OCCURRENCE IN RUSSIA . _ Destruction of Kronstadt by an unknown Air-Ship . _ -LRB- _ From our own Correspondent . _ -RRB- St. Petersburg , _ March 8th _ , 4 P.M. Between six and seven this morning , the fortress of Kronstadt was partially destroyed by an unknown air-ship , which was first sighted approaching from the westward at a tremendous speed . Four shots in all were fired upon the fortress , and produced the most appalling destruction . There was no smoke or flame visible from the guns of the air-ship , and the explosives with which the missiles were charged must have been far more powerful than anything hitherto used in warfare , as in the focus of the explosion masses of iron and steel and solid masonry were instantly reduced to powder . Two shots were fired as the strange vessel approached , and two as she left the fortress .