AERIAL ACTIVITY IN THE WEST

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 88, 7 January 1918, Page 5

AERIAL ACTIVITY IN THE WEST

RAIDS BY BRITISH AIRMEN MANY ENEMY POINTS BOMBED London, January 4. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Raiders were driven off before reaching cur positions oast of Epehy. Tho hostile artillery is active south-west and west of Cambrai, and also along the front from south of Lens to Armenticres and in tho neighbourhood of Zonnebeke. Our aeroplanes last night dropped a few bombs at Carvin, in spito of bad weather. We haye advanced our line slightly on the right south of Lens."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable- Assn.-Reuter. (Rcc. January 6, 5.5 p.m.) London, Januarv 5. ■ Sir Douglas Haig reports: "We repulsed raiders in the neighbourhood of Hollebeke. An enemy party rushed a post eastward of Zonnebeke. A few of our men are missing. Thero was great aorial activity on both sides'on Thursday. Bombs were dropped on two hostile aerodromes, a railway junction, and hutments in Hie neighbourhood of Houthulst Forest, and billets to the southward of Lille. Eif?nt hostile aeroplanes were brought down. Three of our machines are missing. Bombs were dropped last niglit on six aerodromes, including that at Controde. Success, ful raids were carried out, despite iery bad weather, against factories at .\iai-zieres-le-Metz, railway communications at Woippy, and a railway junction at St. Priv.it. all in the neighbourhood of Metz. All our machines returned. A later report states: "As the result of local fighting en the Canal du Nord, reported earlier, four of our advanced posts were pressed back a short dis* tance. A few of our men are missing. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. The Admiralty reports: "Our naval aircraft raided the Ghistelles aerodrome. Numerous bombs were dropped on sheds and buildings. All thei lactones returned."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ,

'FURTHER BOMBING RAIDS BY THE BRITISH (Rec. January 7, 1.45 a.m.) London, January 6. Sir Douglas Haig reports: "Tho enemy made a. strong local attack against our positions on the Hindenburg line eastward of Bullecourt. A small party occupied a. sap before the front trench. The enemy was repulsed on the remainder of the front before reaching our positions. Hostile i.rtillery is active north-east of Ypres. Our aeroplanes on Friday dropped 200 bombs at Denain, Ledeg, Meiiin, and Roulers railway stations. The air in* is mostly confined to the northern portion of the front, where we brought down eW>t enemy machines and drove down two. Five of our machines arc missing. We bombed, last night, factories, railway communications, and other targets of military importance at Mnizieres-les-Metz. All our machines returned."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.Reuter.

GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT. (Rec. January 6, 5.5 p.m.) London, January 4. A German official report states: "English attacks eastward of Ypres and northward of the La Bassee'Canal broke down. The enemy have lost 23 aeroplanes since January 1. —Aus.N.Z. Cable Assu.-Reuter. INQUIRY INToIaMBRAI REVERSE SEVERAL OFFICERS RETIRED. London, January 4. The inquiry into.the C'ambrai ivvt-.Tse has been completed, and several officers have been retired from responsible positions.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.