SUPREMACY OF THE AIR.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 284, 15 June 1917, Page 4 (Supplement)

SUPREMACY OF THE AIR.

Xord Derby, whose, authority to speak on matters relating to Britain's .-if ■■service will noj, bo questioned, recent■*V ver.fied the statement which lias been repeatedly made by competent <-undents of aeria! development, i.e., that no ration has complete supremacy of the air. This can be understood when it is remembered that the aeroolane as a weapon of offence or de.fencOj is passing through a 1110rj or less -experimental stage. We are still witr.essing a race in construction, m whien either side may occasionally gain a temporary advantage over (he other. .Superiority thus gained, says cne writer, has been transient, as the other s:de has invariably come forward with •i new type of machine or more power'.ill engine, and with this temporary advantage has restored th». balance. one will doubt Lord Derby's statement that "on the essential days of t.ho Sommc- and Arras battles, supremacy was absolutely ours," and if the? are able to repeat this performance 111 future there will be 110 reason to find fault either with our airmen or wit'i tiie types of machines supplied to them. To be able to secure supremacy on all essential days" is about all a conimati <ier can desire. The Germans secured it on the essential days of the fir.;i week ol the Verdun offensive, and tnc advantage enabled tlieni to make 10icarkable progress during that period. The loss of superiority in the a r durng the latter of that offeiisr.o must have contributed towards tiie . oniparative failure of some of the

-enemy s sub:->'|iient att'cl-.s in tlmt region. T!io Uriti.-h and l-'rs'iicli wcr; masters o 1 the air on most, if not ill, of the essential days during the Sonini's offensive, the effects of their mastery l.cing -eflcctod in the lobular nature of I heir successive advances. As far as the Arras battle is concerned, our airmen appear to have don.- all that conl 1 havo laeen expect.d ol tiiem during tlio o essentia! da;.s before the snitnl attack on April :R'i, «i:d have en !■ t lined to »ive a r/.00.J a< ;-imnt of themselves ever sinee. Tii'-ro are, liotv-

ever, more days ciiea I ot i.s when ii w II be 0.-scnt.ial lor the Isr ti: h aiiiu.vt to establish sapren aoy lai- a while it '■he Arras battle is io continii - in out iavour, and the mere iact that our men have accounted for mori-imniv machines than they tliemscive.-, l-.-t t\ i certa n (!atc. does not necessari! / ]j:ore ihat they hehl supremacy of H; : -> ■ t'r on that particular day.