In the Air

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 44, 27 January 1916, Page 8

In the Air

RIVALLING OUR FLEET, THE USE OF FOKKER MACHINES [United Press Ahsoojition.] London, January 25. Mr Beach Thomas, from headquarters, outlines the Allies’ astonishing predominance in the air. In 1915 we were frequently hovering over the German centres in Belgium and were unmolested, the German airmen not venturing to pursue us, and the reconnaisances exceeded 1000 monthly with few casualties. New Year brought the Fokker, heralding a change, and though it has not given the enemy the initiative, it has unquestionably arrested our almost insolent command of the air. The enemy is improving big defences. The most remarkable development in the air war is defence, which is now vested in flyers and anti-aircraft guns, which are practically useless. Therefore it is essential to find an answer to the Fokker, which it is the greatest mistake to underestimate.

The Times aeronautical correspondent says that the real facts about the Fokker are that the Germans are employing a machine which i s considerably interfering with our airmen’s daily work. There is reason to believe that we have a machine as good or better, but the question is whether it exists in sufficient numbers to neutralise the Fokkers. Mr Tennant’s speech was a further instance of the sloppiness of the information given to the House of Commons on air-craft matters. The Fokker was capable of flights to the British lines, but we,.-' not intended for that purpose. It was not the German habit to fly over the enemy’s lines like ns. Why have we not got big engines when we are ahead of the rest of the world in design ? When we employ better machines the Germans will not lose time .in the production of better st’ll ind they are presumably already engag 'ed to that end. Our authorities must he ready to look ahead to the next development, and now is the time for a bold farseeing policy in air-craft. THE FOKKER SCARE. AN AUTHORITY’S EXPLANATION. (Received 10.30 a.in.) London, January 26. The editor of “Aeronautics,i’ describing the Fokker scare as baseless, points out that the Germans temporarily concentrated their Lest machines and pilots along the narrow sector of the British front, hoping to conceal certain reinforcements and the movements of troops foreshadowing a strong local offensive. Hence the sudden frantic effort to drive off our machines.