OUR AIR SUPREMACY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3028, 15 March 1917, Page 5

OUR AIR SUPREMACY

AN' UNDECIDED SITUATION IN THE WEST STATEMENT IN BRITISH PARLIAMENT London, March 13. Speaking in Ihe, House of Commons, Mr. J. J. Macpherson, Under-Secrc-tarv to the War Office, stated that tho average British casualties in tho air per week during; Iho past, six weeks wero 7.6 men killed, 8.(3 wounded, and <1.2 missing. Tho War Offieo was satisfied with the best types of machines at present employed, but certain machines wero not up to tho best standard, and these wero being replaced rapidly. The air situation on tho .AVcst front at present was undecided. All tho belligerents had utilised) tlio winter to increase and-improve their air services, and wo must expect severe contests before wo obtain ;i superiority sufficient to drive the enemy again upon tlio defensive. The German Air Service had never been able to perform-work voinparahle with ours. Tlio situation resembled that of a year ago, when the Germans, after resting and reinforcing their service, severely contested onr supremacy until our superiority was re-established. There bad never been absolute air mastery on the West front. We wore continuously sending reinforcements of machines and material to the front, a.nd had reason to hopo again to establish our superiority, but only after severe fighting.—Aus.-N.JS. Cable Assn.