WAR IN THE AIR.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 June 1917, Page 3

WAR IN THE AIR.

THE ESSEX Vt.Uli

FURTHER PARTICULARS

LONDON, Juno v. A British official report says xn**, evening sixteen ■ aeroplanes dropped bombs in the country and small town* in Essex, and attacked a naval establishment in the Medway.

Considerable damage was caused to houso property, but the naval and military damage was negligible. The raiders, after losing two machines, made off seawards.

The casualties so far reported aj-e two killed, two dangerously wounded and 27 wounded.

A HOT ENGAGEMENT. LONDON, June 5

It is estimated that fifteen aeroplanes participated in the raids. They consisted mostly of taubos, flying at a great height, and dropping high force explosives. The anti-aircraft guns and the British aviators hotly engaged them. One machine was brought down and dropped into tho sea. Crowds watcliod the thrilling air battle. . LONDON, Juno 6.

The weather conditions favoured the enemy air fleet which at a great altitude was seeking to\ penetrate inland under cover of light clouds, but tliev were quickly 'spotted. The British aeroplanes engaged the enemy in cooperation with the land batteries. The dofence.s proved sufficient and tliq onomyonly penetrated a few miles, dropped bombs and fled at a high speed.

[(AID RESULTS. WELLINGTON. Tliis Dnv. The High Commissioner reports, London June Gtli at 415 p.m., The Germans claimed to'have dropped five tons of bombs on Sheerness, good hits being observed. The British official reports of the casualties in the raid gives killed 12, injured 3G. the material damage not being great. GERMAN LOSSES. "LONDON, June G. A German communique referring to yesterday’s attack at Ostend says that many Belgian civilians were killed or wounded It admits that there was some materia.l damages and'the leys of a torpedo boat. AIR RAID RESULT. FOUR RAIDERS LOST. (Received This Dav at .10.15. a.in ) LONDON. June G. In the air raid, four German aeroplanes were destroyed. GREAT AIR ACTIVITY. NUMEROUS COMBATS. (Received This Dav at 12.25. p.m.) LONDON, Jue G. The Admiralty reports a naval aeroplane from Dunkirk attacked on Monday a German machine over the sea and drove it down in a vertical nose drive. Wo successfully bombed shipping at Bruges on Monday night. We observed a big explosion and many smaller ones. We again raided it at day-break with many tons of bombs. Four naval pilots patrolling from Dunkirk on Tuesday 'afternoon indedisively engaged eighteen German aircraft well out at sea. oft Ostonu. We chased them to England. , While (they were returning.,' our naval machines front the Kentish coast engaged them. / driving down

two. ' - ... Our navryl mq.dhlmes engaged the enemy over tho Thames estuary. Ton naval pilots from Dunkirk later ((neounfereej sixteen- (returning from EngUanid. There were (numerous fights oil Ostend. We completely destroyed two and drove down four others uncontrollable, two of which are considered t he destroyed.