THE NEW GERMAN MENACE IN THE AIR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2679, 27 January 1916, Page 5

THE NEW GERMAN MENACE IN THE AIR

BRITAIN'S ASCENDANCY THREATENED ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) (llec. January 26, 5.10 p.m.) London, January 25. Mr. Beach Thomas, writing from Headquarters, outlines the Allies 1 astonishing predominance in the air. "During 15)15 our airmen frequently hovered unmolested over the German centres in Belgium, and tho German airmen did not venture to pursue them. We made reconnaissances exceeding a thousand a month, with few casualties. Year has brought the Ger-man-'Fokker aeroplane, heralding a change, and though it has not given the enemy- the initiative, it has unquestionably arrested our almost insolent command of the air by improving the enemy's defences. Tho most remarkable development in the air is the defence, which is now vested in the flyers, the anti-aircraft guns being practically useless. It is therefore essential to find an answer to the Fokker. It would be the greatest mistake to underestimate it." "The Times's" aeronautical correspondent says: "The real fact about the Fokker is that the Germans aro employmachine which is considerably interfering with our airmen's daily work. There is reason to believe that we have a machine as good, or better, and the question is whether it exists in sufficient numbers to neutralise the work of the Fokker. Mr. Tennant's speech is a further instance of the sloppiness of tho information which is given to the House of Commons on aircraft niatters. The German Fokker is capable of flights over the British lines, though it was not intended for that purpose. It is not- the German habit to fly over tho enemy's lines like we do. Why havo we not got big engines when we are ahead of the rest of the world in design, and when we employ better machines? Tho Germans will not lose any time in tho production of something better still, and are presumably already engaged to that ■end. Our authorities must be ready to look ahead to the next development. Now is the time for a bold, far-seeing policy in aircraft."

HUNS' NEW AIR MONSTERS. A German airman engineer, who waa interviewed in Copenhagen last' July, gave an account of experiments in Germany with new giant aeroplanes, which the Germans hoped would supersede Zeppelins. The idea of constructing them arose from the examination of a largo double-planed Russian machine shot down in East Prussia some time ago, and now used as a model at tho aeroplane factory at Gotha. The actual construction of the new machines was being done by a Stuttgart firm, and the greatest aeroplane experts in Germany in conjunction with nrominent airmen were superintending the work. The machines were to bo biplanes, measuring 42 metres (about 140 ft.) across the wings, and they will have 300 h-P* motors, with three propellers each. They were to be capable of carrying-sufficient petrol for eight hours, have wireless and searchlight apparatus, and carry bombs of 10 kilogrammes. Also they were to be ablo to go to London and back in five hours. The foregoing description bears some resemblance to tho scrappy and somewhat- vague improssions .wo have had cabled out about the Fokker machine, but with this difference : while tho above machine is, from its description, an offensive cruiser, the Fokker apparently is merely a defensive machine, for quick action over a limited period. THE AIR RAID ON KENTISH COAST BRITISH AIR LOSSES ON WESTERN FRONT. By Telesranli—Press Association— OoryrlsW London, January 25. The Uiider-Sceretary for War (Mr. H. J. Tennant) announced in tho House of Commons that four aeroplanes pursued the ICrnti'sh raiders, who were too distant to be overtaken. Mr. Tennant added: "During the past four weeks thirteen British aeroplanes have been lost on tho "Western front, and either nino or eleven German machines. We used 128 machines in our raids, while the enemy used twenty. Tim number of our aeroplanes crossing the enemy lines is 1227, against 310 of i tho (>iinmy crossing our linn*. A! Ith*, I air uvfil't llghlfl occurred over or bemud Ltlia eaem* lines, Owirus to tiw

crly wind,the Germans, when hit, planed down, whilst ours could not. Therefore it was imposibl© to give a- correct comparison of the actual losses." A RAID ON DUNKIRK The High Commissioner reports: London, January 25, 1.25 p.m. The Admiralty announces that a report has been roceived from Dunkirk, stating that two aeroplanes dropped bombs on Dunkirk this morning. "A German seaplane this morning was forced into the water by a British machine north-east of Nieuport." GERMAN VERSION OF THE RAIDS London, January 25. A Berlin wireless message states: — "One of our seaplanes on the night of January 22 bombed the railway station, and barracks and docks at Dover. On the afternoon of January 23, two of our seaplanes bombed the airship sheds at Hougham, west of Dover, causing a large fire."