WAS IN THE AIR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2703, 24 February 1916, Page 5

WAS IN THE AIR

RECORD DAY IN ALL THEATRES ' ■ * NEW AVIATION CONTROL LORD DERBY'S NEW ROLE By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, February 22. General Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Twenty-six aeroplanes attacked depots at Don (seven roijes south-west of Lille),, and $id extensive damage .to stores and the railway. Enemy jOrcraft recently made several night attacks 011 various towns in our area, but with 110 military results. A few civilians were killed." THRILLING TRAGEDY IN THE SKY ; HOYf THE ZEPPELIN CAME TO EARTH. (fteo. February 23. 9.10 pjm.j Paris, February 22. Details of the destruction jof tho Zeppelin, show that at eight o'clock iu the- evening the airship was reported, with lights out, struggling against the wind jit 11 height of 20U0 metres. When gun Hire was opened with incendiary sliolls, 0110 st) lick the side of the Zeppelin, and went right through. Flames spread from end to end of t'lio airsh'ip within a few seconds, outlining her clearly. There was no explosion, and the Zeppelin slowly descended, enveloped in llames. When it touched tho earth all the bombs op board exploded, and nothing remained' but a tangled heap of wreckage, in which worn found between twenty and thirty naked corpses, including that of an officer clad in a .few shreds of uniform. Tho Zeppelin was numbered LZ77, a new naval type. A. second Zeppelin witnessed tha aster, and turned tail. LOSS OF ZEPPELIN AD JUTTED. (Kee. Ffcbruarv 23, 9,1.i p.m.) • f Amsterdam, February 22. • A Gorman communique admits the loss of a Zeppelin at Tlevigny. . ZEPPELIN~CHASED. The High Commissioner reports: London, February 22, 5.15 p.m. "'A Zeppelin flew over Luueville last night, dropping bombs and causing unimportant damage. Pursued by French aeroplane, it made off towards Metis."

A FIELD DAY FOR AIRMEN

ATTACKS ON ALL WAR FRONTS

London, February 22. Communiques show that yesterday was a record-breaker for aeroplane attacks. ■. Apart from the destruction of a Zeppelin and the groat raid on Don, air raids and fighting have been reported from all theatres, including Austrian raids on Brescia and Milan (in which small damage was done), and Russian raids on Bnczacz and Manasterjisk; the French brought down a Fokker, an albatross, and a third* machine in various sectors; seven machines f.lso fought four aeroplanes at Hattpnchatel, two being brought down" and the others taking to flight. A French chaser squadion attacked fifteen Gorman machines, and forced the Germans to fight at Rovigny, the French bringing down one machine; a squadron s of soventecu machines dropped soventy bombs of heavy calibre on the aerodrome at Habslieim, and tl\a goods station at Mullmusen; a squadron of twenty-eight bombed tho eiiemy's munition factory at Pagny-sur-Moseile, all the machine! roturaing safely. , s The Zeppelin reported to ho in flames at Brabant,-le-Roi was shot through with an incendiary shell, ..It is stated that it is possible to makp an ineeudiary non-explosive shell, which is plainly visible at night during tho whole of its; flight. The shell develops'such terrific heat that it will inevitably set fire to a Zeppolin if the airship is struck. ZEPPELIN SI-lEDS DAMAGED BY I-lURRICANE. Paris, February 22 Reports in Swiss papers state that a hurricane partially demolished Zeppelin sheds at Friedrichshafen, the great air station and hangar depot on Lake Constance. AUSTRIAN HEADQUARTERS BOMBARDED. Basle, February 22. It is authoritatively stated from Vienna sources that a Russian aeroplane dropped thirty honibs on the Austrian Stall: Headquarters. A OF THE AIR. ' The High Commissioner reports:— London, February 23; 1 a.m. "A British ae'roplano was struck by an anti-aircraft shell, and although the pilot's leg was practically severed, he managed to land his machine safely in the aerodroino without injury to the ob, server." LORD DERBYTO DIRECT AIR SERVICE AS CHAIRMAN OF AIR COMMITTEE London, February 22. Lord Derby is likely to he the chairman of a committee to co-ordinate the naval and military air services. Colonel Sir David Hendorson, Director-General of Military Aeronautics, will assist him. ENEMY'S STRENGTH IN THE AIR AN AUTHORITATIVE REVIEW London, February 22. The "Daily Telegraph," in an authoritative review of tho German air service, points out that uutil the summer ol 1915 tho British and French aeroplanes had a decided asccudcncy, owing to tho superiority of tho pilots and "the fact that tho machines were better- adapted to stand the stress of a protracted campaign. Sisice tlien the Germans, h.v a. lavish use of more jxjwerful aeroplanes and t'lio concentration of tho llqwer of their a'ir service in tho West, had contrived to reconquer the highways of the air. Six hundred and lifty-ono German machines are now in active commission, and ovou more aro in reserve. The aviation establishment, consists of 03 squadrons, each of 7 aeroplanes, : Of thesa, 70 are held squadrons, one

allotted to every army corps. Eight squadrons are specially detailed for artillery observation, and four are fortress squadrons.

Each German field squadron consists of the following three aeroplanes for observing artillery lire:—Unarmed, and provided with wireless apparatus, usually Aviatiks and Albatross machines; two fighting machines, armed and without wireless, mostly Fokkers'; one heavily armed and armoured machine, with wireless; and one machine in reserve. The ammunition carried varies from fiOO to IUOO rounds, and the wireless equipment weighs 45 pounds. The organisation includes many training centres. Each army has a complete aviation park, with stores, the re-servo machine, spare parts, aiid workshops. Tho official reports in 1915 placed the Austro-Germaii losses at 210 aeroplanes and 17 captive balloons. Tho real losses wore much higher. r WHAT CAN N T E\V ZEALAND DO? By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, February 23* Tho statement 'contained in the above cablegram supplied the inspiration for an interesting suggestion, on the part of the Minister of Munitions to-night (Mr.' Arthur Myers). "This news," he said, "only proves the necessity of * something being done in connection with tho provision of aeroplanes for Great Britain.' It seems to me to be appropriate that New Zealand should take tho matter up, as was done at the time of the gift of the battleship New Zealand to the Old Country. That gift created an elcctrical effect, and stimulated the movement for a "strong Navy. If the various cities and towns [of tho Dominion' would take up i'he question of gift aeroplanes, and it each would subscribe towards a fund for that object, it would have a good effect, especially as we can now train men as aviators in this country. 'I look upon this as aps.vchological moment to justify such actici\ as I Slave suggested on the part of New Zealand, which is so prosperous. and so loyal." FRIENDS MISTAKEN FOR FOES INCIDENT ON KENTISH COAST. ' London, February 22. Mr. Bennett Golding in the House of Commons that, during an air raid in Kent in January, a British aeroplane mistook a seaplane for the oticmy. A battle ensued, and the antiaircraft gunners, witnessing tho figlit,' turned their guns upon both.. ..'fhey damaged the tower of AValmer Church, and injured somo men in tho barraoks there. ' i »