MASTERY OF THE AIR.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 227, 17 November 1916, Page 4 (Supplement)

MASTERY OF THE AIR.

GERMAN OFFICER TELLS WHER\ GERMANS ARE BEATEN.

A route book found on a German lieutenant recently taken prisoner contains complaints of the insufficiency of German aviators. It acknowledged th«« superiority attained by the French avi. ation services.

A note in the route book of the German lieutenant, of the 127 th Infantry Regiment, says:—-"'The French onlv lire with large calibres (12J cm., '5inch) and they bombard us the whole day. The adjustment is irreproachably effected bv their aviators, whilst our own still show themselves"JTOt to lie aviators. The French are the masters ot the air. The value of our aviators 's so mediocre that even far behind the front they are u t masters of th ■ battle-field. Our airmen are far from being equal to the French and English. We dare not go a yard ontsid" l our shelters, for the enemy aviato-.; always report our presence. Nobod'drives off these parasites .which sti.'v to us without respite from daybreak to sundown. Enemy aviators, flying it a height of 100 metres, have even taken part in the fighting with their macliin 1 . guns."