DESTRUCTIVE RAIDS BY BRITISH AIRMEN

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 205, 18 May 1918, Page 7

DESTRUCTIVE RAIDS BY BRITISH AIRMEN

, ENEMY POSITIONS AND TOWNS BOMBED v. GREAT FIGHT WITH . ENEMY AVIATORS By 'Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright. v (Rec. May IS, 0.5 a.m.) London, May 17. Sir Douglas Ilaig's aviation report states:—"Our aeroplanes and balloons carried out a great deal of work on Wednesday in co-operation with the artillery. Bombing machines began to attack* at (lawn and continued till dark, dropping over 24 tons of bombs on targets, which included 1 railway stations at Tournai, Courtrai, and Chaulnes, billets in (he neighbourhood of Douai, Bapaunie, Mernin, and the. Somme, and also Zcebrugge and Ihe -Bruges Canal. Enemy aircraft were.active early in the morning and also in the evening, attacking our bombers with particular insistence. We brought down 25 German machines, drove down 12, and shot down one. Eleven British machines are missing. After' dark our night fliers continued, and dropped over 14 tons of bombs-oil the railway stations at Chaulnes, Lille, and Douai, billets at Peronne, Bray, and Bapaume, and the docks at Bruges. 1 One British machine has not returned. Early on Thursday our aeroplanes sot out to bomb the factories and railway stations at .Saarbrucken, Crossing the lines they encountered ten scouts. A running fight ensued along the whole way to the objectives. When Saarbrucken was readied 25 hostile aeroplanes collected, and attacked the British with the utmost vigour; Despite the attacks we dropped 2-1 heavy bombs on our objectives. Several bursts wero seen at a railway, and ii fire was started. Having attained their objectives, our aeroplanes concentrated their ■efforts on fighting the enemy's machines. We brought down.five. Ouo British aeroplane was seen to bo shot down. All' the others returned." Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assu.-Reuter. POSTPONEMENT OF THE ENEMY'S ASSAULT ~ ; CAUSED BY LOSSES IN EARLIM OFFENSIVE. ,- : (Rec. May 18, 1.30 a.m.) ' ' London, May 17. Mr. Philip Gibbs writes: "The long postponement of the enemy's assault seems definite proof that his losses in the earlier offensives were so heavy that ho was obliged to abandon his costly tactical blows in order.to prepare "for new battles on a wide front." .Mr. Gibbs opines that the enemy will not striko until ho has completed fresh formations and their special training in order to resume the offensive on something like the ,scnle of March 21. "True, t'hat process may be near. completion, but we have gained invaluable time. ' Tim enemy thereby lost his greatest, perhaps his only, chance of victory. Our gaps have been refilled, our troops rested and refreshed, and the British, with French assistance, ■ will not again be obliged to bear tile brunt of au unequal struggle."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S REPORT (Rcc. May 17. 11.50 p.m.) London, May 17. Sir Douglas llaifr reports: "There has been mutual artillery activitv. niihicularly northwards of the Lys."-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. A BELGIAN REPORT ENEMY AIRMAN BOMBS A HO SPITAL. (Roc. May 17, 11.50 p.m.) London, May 17. A Belgian communique states: "An enemy aviator dropped four bombs upon a hospital at Hoogstade. Artillery action has assumed a lively character csrm'ially in the region of Pilkem."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. ON THE FRENCH FRONT GREAT DESTRUCTION OF ENEMY AIRCRAFT: (Rec. May 17, .11.50 p.nU London, May 17. A French communi(|ue states: "There is marked reciprocal artillery activity north and south of the Avrc. Eighteen enemy aeroplanes were brought down on 3fay 15. Four eisptive balloons were set on fire."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.-Keuter. THE GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT (Rec.. May 17, 11.50 p.m.) London, May 17. A wireless German official report states:—"Wo ejected the French from a point they had gained northwnrd of Kenimel. AVe repulsed a strong advance from lleiccat Wood. We shot down 33 aeroplanes."—Aus.-N.Z. C'ablo Assn.Reuter. GENERALISSIMO'S APPOINTMENT AN URGENT NECESSITY FOCH WILL ATTACK AT THE RIGHT TIME.

London, May 16. General Maurice, in an article in the "Daily Chronicle," discusses tho appointment of the generalissimo. The failure of Russia and" the bringing of a concentration of Germans to the West front, ho fays, have made it extremely dangerous for the Allies if the defence failed. Previously when they were attacking there was littlo likelihood of unpleasant consequences, and theret'oro tho English and French were able to rub along independently. "Command by commitieo " was tried at Versailles, but it had inevitably failed. The critical days 01 .March had made the appointment of a supreme commander urgent. When General Foch took clmigo (lie battle was at its height. Tho greatest German concentration was threatening to sever the English and French, but the enemy was checked, and the French and British Annies aro still ii) direct touch, and Amiens remains in our hands. Such is tho present achievement of the man who fought beside the British nt the Marne, and commanded during Hie bloody lighting on tho Yser, at Vimy. and Loos and on tho'Homme, lie has his own peculiar methods. He believes iti ;i small StatT, absolutely under his control, and lives very simply, with 110 military ostentation. JIo abiiors red tape, ami in an emergency scatters stereotyped methods to tho winds, ami uses any and every means. People in England often ask when F'och will counterattack. Tlio'inan who was tho hero of tho .Marne ami who sent during that battle tho message: "The enemy is attacking my (lnnks and threatening my rear. I am attacking in front," can be trusted not to remain on the defensivo an hour longer than is prudent or than generalship demands.—Aus.-N./,. Cable Assn. THE HIGH COMMAND IN FRANCE NO CHANGE IN CONTEMPLATION. (Kec. May 17, 8 p.m.) London, May IG. Replying to Mr. R. L. Outliwaito, Mr. Bonar Law stated that no e'hango had occurred'or"was contemplated in tho High Command in Fl'nnce. Ho strongly deprecated sucli questions, which in tho future ho would decline to answer — Ecuter.