MOCK AIR WAR.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19063, 27 July 1927, Page 9

MOCK AIR WAR.

ATTACK ON LONDON.

VALUABLE LESSONS PROVIDED.

(BT CABLS—PBZS9 ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT). (AUSTRALIAN AND N.B. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received July 26th, 7 p.m.)

LONDON, July 25. The mock air war has already provided valuable lessons. The enemy made a series of most daring raids from the east and south in a continuous attempt to break the defence cordon round London. Low clouds aided the attackers, but all five raids were quickly detected, thanks to small fighting aeroplanes. Within ten minutes of the first appearance of each of the five raids their direction was traced out and they were met by superior forces of defending aeroplanes. It is not yet known what casualties the raiding bombers experienced, but tho poor visibility enabled them to score some success upon the targets, which were the Duke of York's School, Chelsea, and the Stores. Depot at Kidbrooke. Tho enemy scored at least one direct hit on the Duke of York's School from 15,000 feet, the results being,registered by camera. The methods of defence included an artillery barrage as well as squadrons of aeroplanes working in the inner zone. The defence was conducted from map lines, a room, of which the whereabouts was a profound secret, and from which orders wore flashed by wireless. As the position of each attacker was noted a black disc was placed on the map, showing the height and direction in which it was moving. The manceuvres were marred by tragedy at tho Northoft Aerodrome. When the Seventeenth Squadron was returning Plying Officer Anderson collided with the next machine and crashed, being burnt to death in sight of hundreds who were unable to approach the blazing machine. The other pilot managed to land safely. Later reports indicate that there were eight raids during tho day, and of these several reached their objectives without being intercepted in the morning, necessitating a rearrangement of the plans of defence. LONDON, July 25.

No attacking squadron reached its objective without several casualtios. In one case a squadron crossed the coast at Havant at 8.14 o'clock, and attacked the Chelsea area at 9.30. At 10.5 the umpire noticed that the machines were only 300 yards from the Oholsea target. Despite the fact that Tiie attack was obscured by low clouds, a patron squadron failed to intercept it, so this raid was an enemy success. Another raid from Shoeburyness at eight o 'clock failed owing to low clouds. Eemembering the speed of modem aircraft—such a raider travels a mile while the shell from an "Archie" is climbing to him —it is difficult to see why any raid should fail. A squadron which crossed the coast at Bognor Middal attacked Chelsea at one o'clock, inflicting severe casualties on the defending aircraft. The attackers were beaten off in the afternoon.

A squadron at three o'clock bombed Chelsea from 15,000 feet, 'a patrol searching for two hours without making contact with the raiders. Each bombing force was accompanied by a photographer, whose pictures will be built up in a mosaic map. In addition, each machine took photographs as it dropped bombs. These photography will be used to test the accuracy of the work.

Bad weather defeated . the night raids. The defence fighters were in readiness from ten o'clock to set out at a moment's notice against the enemy, who were reported to have crossed the coast before 11.30. The raiders, however, encountered low clouds and a drizzle, and were forced to give up before approaching the capital. They returned without the home defence forces taking the air.