THE GREAT AIR BATTLE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3105, 8 June 1917, Page 5

THE GREAT AIR BATTLE

FURTHER DETAILS OF THE ENCOUNTER . A FIGHT THAT RAGED ACROSS THE CHANNEL London, June (i. Tho Admiralty reports: "A naval aeroplane from Dunkirk attacked, on Monday, a German machine at sea. which was driven down, making a vortical nose dive. We successfully bombed the shipping at Bruges on Monday night. We observed a big explosion and many smaller ones. We again raided Bruges at daybreak. Many tons of bombs were dropped. "Four naval pilots patrolling frpm Dunkirk on Tuesday afternoon indecisively engaged eighteen German aircraft weU oiit to sea from OBtend. They chased them to England, and while they were returning our naval machines from the Kentish, coast engaged them, driving down two. Our naval machines engaged the enemy over tho Thames Estuary. Ten naval pilots from Dunkirk later encountered sixteen Gorman machines returning from England. There were numerous fights off Ostond. We completely destroyed two and drove down four others, which were out of control. Two of tlio machines are considered to have been destroyed.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assu.-Eeuter. FOUR DESTROYED AND SIX DRIVEN DOWN. London, June-6. Tho communiques do not include two of the enemy's aeroplanes "which were officially reported as brought (loTm yestcrday, henco altogether lour taiders were completely destroyed and six driven down; thus more than half the raiding squadron was put out of action.—ltoiiter. A NIGHT RAID. London, June 7. Official: Sixteen German aeroplanes participated in a night raid across tho Essex coast. They arrived at G. 15 p.m., dropped bombs in tho country districts and small towns in Essex, and ,PP>»

oeeded to attack the naval establishments in the Medway, dropping a considerable quantity of bombs. A certain amount of damage was done to house property, but the damage to the naval and military establishments was negligible. Our gnns engaged the enemy, and our aircraft pursued the raiders, who, after losing tiro machines, made oft' seawards. Our casualties lye™ two 'killed and twenty-nine wjouiided.—Aus.-N./. Ca.ble Assn.-Reuter. THE GERMAN CLAIM. The High Commissioner reports:— London, Juno 6, 4.30 p.m. The Germans claim to havo dropped five tons of bombs on Sheerncss, good hits Twin" observed. The British official report of the raid states that 32 were tilled and 36 injured, and adds that the material damage was not great.