THE FRENCH AIR VICTORIES SUFFERERS BY AIR RAIDS. ON THE NAVY-S ACTIVE LIST CHEAPER SHELLS THE WAR ON GERMAN TRADE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2704, 25 February 1916, Page 5

THE FRENCH AIR VICTORIES

SUFFERERS BY AIR RAIDS.

ON THE NAVY-S ACTIVE LIST

CHEAPER SHELLS

THE WAR ON GERMAN TRADE

GREAT BATTLE IN THE CLOUDS — ; HOW THE ZEPPELIN WAS CAUGHT, By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Paris, February 23. The, French celebrated the result of the first big air battle as a genuine victory. The battle included combined aerial operations, aeroplanes skirmishing on the wings, while the Zeppelins held tho centre. The results were everywhere favourable to France, whose now chaser-plane proved fully equal to tho Fokker.. The latest accounts state that two Zeppelins started . from . tho Crown Prince's shed in the Ardennes. ,It is believed that tho Kaiser, who. was visiting the headquarters at Mezieres, witnessed their departure. They were detected by tho noise of their engines while over the Argonne Forest, and tho news was - telephoned to the, French headquarters. Batteries and searchlight's were got ready, and the French soon located one of the Zeppelins. Motor-cars, equipped with searchlights and quicklirers, were manned by special naval gunners. Tliore'was an exoiting, phase, the cars rushing along rough roads in the darkness. The Zeppelin tried to break through the merciless ring of searchlights, but tho gunners never lost sight of it. . There wore several misses bofore a shout of triumph announced that the Zeppelin had been hit.

An eye-witness states that the searchlights suddenly caught tho Zeppelin when it was in pitchy darkness. 'When tho shell pierced it an immense sheet of Hanio shot up, and the airship turned over two or three times, and then fell like a gigantic torch. Tho spectators were dumb with horror for a few moments ; then a shout of exultation went up. The terrific explosion when the airship landed tore a vast hole in the ground. It is believed that tlio- Zeppelin brought down by tho French gunners is the twenty-sixth destroyed during the var.

RECENT RAIDS IN ITALY POPE'S REQUEST TO AUSTRIA. Ron>3, Febnwj 23. « The Pope lias requested' thc'"!Emperor" <if Austria to abstain from air raids. Ho demanded a guarantee of tlie safety of St. Mark's,, Venice, and other churches, '['lie Emperor's\ reply is awaited with considerable interest. -

QUESTION OF COMPENSATION. By TcTcgraph—Press Association—Copyright ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) (Rec. February 24, 5.10 p.m.^ . London, February 23. Mr. F. 'A. N. (Unionist), in tlie House of Commons, asked, that sufferers by Zeppelin raids should bo compensated out of German investments in Britain. _ . Mr. Asquith replied that there was already provision under the State insurance against air raids. • •> '

PERSONNEL NOW 320,000j ("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.) (i)f Telegraph- i'ress Assn.—Copyright.) London, February 23. Dr. Macnamara, Financial vSecretary to the Admiralty, in a published letter, Btates that the Navy active lifit at the beginning of the ivar comprised 146,000 officers, meii, and boys. The number was now 320,000, and was expected to reach 350.000. Eighty-five thousand men were employed in the Royal dockyards, and the naval enlistments numbered between seven hundred and nine hundred.

BIG REDUCTION IN WAR. BILLS'. By Telf.Erapii—Press Association—Copyright Lcntinn, February 23. In the House of Commons, Dr. Addi-. soil, Parliamentary Secretary to the Munitions Department, said reductions in the cost of many classes of shells had effected a saving _of £400,000 weekly. In many other instances there had been reductions on pre-war prices.

AGITATION IN BRITISH PARLIAMENT. Bv Telegraph—Prcsn Association— Copyright i ("Times" and Sydney Services.) (Rec. February .24, 5.10 p.m.) Lontion7 February 23. Imperialists in the House of Commons are pressing Mr. Ronar Law (Secretary of State for tlio Colonies) to immediately consult the Dominions and secure the organisation of the; whole economic strength of the Emnire and our Allies against German trade. '