WAR IN THE AIR.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15871, 10 April 1917, Page 7

WAR IN THE AIR.

SUPREMACY.

RECORDS.

MODERN METHODS OF AIR-

FIGHTING.

BOTH SIDES SHOW UNCANNY SKILL.

IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS EXPECTED "HSr THE WEST.

(3rd TEAR—253rd OAT.)

THE WESTERN THEATRE. WONDERFUL AIR FIGHTS. NEW BRITISH MACHINES BREAK ALL RECORDS. AMBUSHING IN THE CLOUDS. (By Cabld—Fxess Aaflosiatkm— (United Service.) (Received April 9th, 8.5 pjtu) LONDON, April 8. Mr Beach Thomas, the well-known war correspondent, states that the new air fighting is the most wonderful of the war. The latest machines on both sides achieve almost "breathless speed, bwishing past, birdlike, or flying at viewless heights till one dives winged and wounded for its own lines. Tho fighting is now so quick and skilful that tho slower, older machines have little chance. The newest British machine broke all records by destroying five enemy planes in one flight. the machines now drop from the clouds, plummet-like, from a height of 16 ) OO0 r feflt to bomb a train, set fire to a balloon and riddle troops with ma-ehine-gtUtf. They come so qtiickly that the men on the, spot With loaded rifles are' too slow to fire before the plane out of range again. Both sides exhibit uncanny skill in ambushing in or escaping amongst the clouds. BRITISH AIRMEN CONFIDENT. CAN COMMAND THE AIR.

ENEMY'S SUCCESS CONFINED TO BAD WEATHER. (Australian &nd N. 25, Cable Association.) (Received April 9th, 8.80 p.m.) LONDON, April 8. ' Correspondents at British Headquar- , ■ tdrs-'insist that the serious nature of the aerial casualties must not be exaggerated. A Vigorous air offensive is MMntiftl ifc the artillery is to continue tb do its be6t. . air Service has beenre-ot-gatiised' since the battle of the Boinme, bttt i\ displays real initiative in bad Wfealiier only, when the machines 4re sable to hide in tile clouds. Mftby of tho Allied casualties have dfidurred forty miles behind the firingllfte. Praeticftlly no German machines hate bgeil brought down on the British imt. The British airmen are confident that when -the weather is settled they will b6 able to 6o punish the Germans that will practically command the air '' ' as they did during the Somme fighting [ ' last year. ' INTENSE AERIAL FIGHTING. jr " •. i . HEAVY ENEMY LOSSES. >.r (Australian and N.Z. Cabl« Aiiooiation.) (Beuter'fl Telegrams.) LONDON, April 7. Sir Douglas Haig reports: — ' We progressed at a number of points Seloncy and Jeancourt, and {{ached tho outskirts of Freeny-le- , Petit. Our aeroplanes during April sth and 6th were continually harassing the •Winy's communications, and seeking out hig fighting machines a consider-W6-distance to the rear. Seventeen jwndred photographs were taken over ? "Tga tracts of the enemy's country] jMday miles in tho rear of his front 1 "MS. Despite repeated attempts .to prevent them, their co-operation with the artillery was unhindered. - Bovetiteen successful bomb raids were t conducted on enemy aerodromes, ammunition depots, and railways a long disin tho rear. i .Intenao fighting took place between • >■ S e in large formations, and ,28 of our machines are missing, Many of them are known to have been brought i?" Fifteen hostile machines wero ,Wholly seen to crash down, and 31 „ others were driven down damaged. The , . large majority were undoubtedly de- - rtroyed. HEAVY AIR WORK. ' -BRITAIN NOT OUTCLASSED. : (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, April 8. It is authoritatively stated that the - rumours that we are being outclassed .oy German aircraft are unfounded. ■ Our air service is liable to heavy tosses because it is doing especially heavy reconnaissance work. Everything possible is being done to augment «i3uly of latest aircraft.

allied airmen confident of

NEW BRITISH MACHINES BREAK ALL

THE DECISIVE BATTLE. MAT BEGIN THIS "WEEK. (United Service.) LONDON, April 8. The large number of aerial encounters on Friday supports the "Standard's" statement that the great bombardment of the German lines has commenced by preliminary operations, which will show by the end of the week •whether the Germans are willing to accept a decisive battle. sheds bombed. COPENHAGEN, April 8. According to a frontier newspaper, British aeroplanes dropped several bombs on the Zeppelin sheds at Tondern, in Prussia, on March 22nd. The extent of the damage is -unknown. BRITISH PROGRESS. ENEMY LINES, ENTERED. CA-turtxalian and TT. 2. Cable Awbin latum) (RerrWa Tckgr&bw.) (eceived April 9th, 5.5 pjn.) LONDON, April 8. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "We made considerable progress on a front of 3000 yards north of Louverval. "We entered the enemy's lin« at a number of points, including south-east of Tpres. "Our aeroplanes carried out fiucccesful day and night bombing raids, dropping large quantities of explosives on aerodromes, transport trains, and a battery in action. .We destroyed three hangars." FRENCH HIGH COMMAND. GENERAL MARCHAND PROMOTED. (Atutr&lian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received April 9th, 8.30 pjn.) PARIS,'April 8. General Marchand has been promoted to General in command of a Division. General Foch remains on active service without command, and at the disposal of the War Cabinet.

VIOLENT BOMBARDMENT. RHEIMS STILL SUFFERING. (Austxali&a and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Beater's Tel&gratns.) (Received April 9th, 8.5 p.m.) LONDON. April 8. A French communique states: "There has been violent mutual artillery action in certain sectors between the Sommo afld the Aisno. "In the Champagne tho Germans continue the bombardment of Rheims." MUCH DAMAGE DONE. TREMENDOUS EXPLOSIONS AND FIRES. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received April 9th, 8.30 p.m.) AMSTERDAM. April 8. After the British air raids at Zeebrugge and Bruges tremendous explosions were heard and great fires were witnessed. THE HINDENBtRG LINE. ALREADY SERIOUSLY COMPROMISED. ENEMY'S POOR GENERALSHIP. ROME, April 8. Advices from German sources state that Marshal von Hindenburg is gravely dissatisfied with the poor leadership of Prince Rupprecht and other generals. - , The line fixed as.the limit of the retreat has already been so seriously compromised that it is expected that the Germans will fall back to another line not yet sufficiently fortified. FALLING BACK TOO FAR. ENEMY EXPERT ASTONISHED. AMSTERDAM, April 8. The military critic of the "Munchuer Abcndzeitung" does not conceal his astonishment that the German retreat continues beyond the point fixed by the General Staff. A TERRIBLE EXPLOSION. (Router's Telegrams.) LONDON, April 8. A correspondent on the Western front statos that one of the most terrific explosions of the war took place on Wednesday near Arras. It is believed that our guns exploded a great mines reserve.

ENEMY POSITIONS PENETRATED i LONDON, April 8. A French official report states: — "There has been intermittent artillery activity, and numerous patrol encounters between the Somme and the Aisne. "In the region of Lombartyde, in Belgium, our troops penetrated two points of the enemy's positions, and found numerous German corpses in the trench, which had been wrecked by our fire. "The enemy made surprise attacks in the region of Celles and Largitzen, in Alsace, which were easily repulsed." THE GERMAN CLAIM. (Australian and .N.Z. Cable Association.) (Renter's Telegrams.) Admiralty per Wireless Press. LONDON, April 8. A German official report states: — "We repulsed strong reconnoitring detachments after hand-to-hand fighting south-east of Ypres. "There was lively artillery fire against St. Quentin, and several hits damaged the Cathedral. "A fresh French attack near Laffaux broke down with heavy losses. "We destroyed yesterday thirteen enemy, aeroplanes. "Our fire on the east bank of the Vardar averted all English attacks. "Our enemies lost in March, on all fronts, 161 aeroplanes and 19 balloons. Our aerial attacks destroyed 143 and 19 respectively. We last forty-five aeroplanes." STOLEN FRENCH SECURITIES. PROVIDING AGAINST NEGOTIATION. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) PARIS, April 8. Owing to the Germans having systematically burglarised safes in French territory, and stolen securities, Senator Flandin has introduced a Bill providing nenal servitude for any neutral banker setting foot in France after the war who assists in the negotiation of stolen securities.

SUNNY DATS. FIGHTING ACTIVITIES . INCREASED. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received April 10th, 12.30 a.m.) LONDON, April 9. A message from British Headquarters Btates that the weather is improving. The days are bright and sunny, and the ground is quickly drying. The change is greatly increasing activity in fighting. Though the infantry has not yet reached the main German forces skirmishing between patrols and rearguards continues. Apart from the fighting on the Hindenburg line wo are executing innumerable raids on trenches and bring back many prisoners. ■WEEK-END CASUALTIES. (Received April 10th, 12.30 a.m.) LONDON, April 9. Casualties published at the week-end include 249 officers and 2216 men.