BRITAIN'S STRENGTH IN THE AIR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2569, 17 September 1915, Page 5

BRITAIN'S STRENGTH IN THE AIR

• 'AN IMMENSE FLEET. ' By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, September 15. Mr. Balfour, First Lord of the Admiralty, replying to questions in, the House of Commons, regarding the naval air service, said it was 11017 immense. The number of flyers was very great. The defence of London was in process of development. With''the' assistance of Sir Percy Scott, he hoped it would be completed in reasonable time. He was unable to promise immunity from attack, but everything was being done to diminish the dangers} RAID ON GHENT. GERMAN COTTON FACTORY! . DESTROYED.(Rec. September 16, 3.30 p.m.) Amsterdam, September 15. Airmen destroyed the German cotton factory at Gheiit. Forty soldiers were either killed or wounded. THE ZEPPELIN RAIDS. GERMAN PRESS COMMENT. ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) (Rec. September 16, 6.30 p.m.) Londonj September 15. _ The German Press is seeking to justify the Zeppelin attacks on London. The "Lokal Anzeiger" says: "The only reason why the English airships have not destroyed the Royal Castle at Berlin and killed thousands of peaceful citizens, disregarding international law, is because it is impossible, for them ;to reach the capital." The "Vossische Zeitung," in an imaginative account of the last Zeppelin, raid, comments on the failure of preventive gunnery, and says: "It must be extraordinarily difficult to hit airships at night, but even when seriously injured by gunfire the Zeppelins are able to cover long distances."'