WHIRLWIND WARFARE

Evening Star, Issue 20133, 25 March 1929, Page 8

WHIRLWIND WARFARE

HEW METHODS OF ATTACK AND DEFENCE MEDITERRANEAN EXERCISES Press Association- By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, March 24. (Received March 25, at noon.) Probably the greatest,combined Navy and Air action yet seen occurred yesterday afternoon, when the entire Atlantic and Mediterranean Fleets participated. It was the first occasion on which four aircraft carriers took part. There was a grand battle off the coast of Barcelona. The ocean suddenly became a bewildering mass of ships, and the air became peppered with aircraft. The pageant far exceeded any air mameuvres seen ashore. The aircraft carriers loosed piano after plane. Within a few minutes of each other six flights swept over the Repulse to meet tho enemy. Immediately the opposing guns blazed out, but the aeroplanes, with magnificent impertinence, swoojied down on tho barrage, loosening torpedoes and bombs. In this theoretical attack, tho result of which cannot even be conjectured until tho data is examined, many aircraft were shattered to pieces and many ships were also victims.

Eighty aircraft participated in a magnificent spectacle, of diving within a few feet from tho bridges of the great battleships, dropping torpedoes. They flew almost tip to tip throughout, and scampered likewise back to the carriers.

Ships often engaged both ships and aircraft simultaneously. The incidents were crowding one another, and it was impossible to keep pace with the progress.—United Service,