A HUGE FLIGHT OF AEROPLANES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 4, 7 April 1916, Page 5

A HUGE FLIGHT OF AEROPLANES.

OUR BRAVE LADS AND "THE DAY." There is nothing so engrossingly interesting and nothing so thrillingly romantic as the work of aeroplanes, 1 I whether working singly or in great' flocks. Notwithstanding what may have been said to the contrary, the war work of the Allied 'planes, in 3 the great struggle has.been of a mag-1 nificient character, embracing skill and daring of a very high order. Any claim by Germany to the superiority * of German machines or airmen l must be taken very largely with a grain of 'salt. No men could be braver and for . the most part, more skilful than the Allied airmen. The assertion made on behalf of the German "Fokker" 'plane, as to its eminence amongst the 'planes of the world may be taken , for what- it is worth, but in view of the reticence of the Allied nations, particularly the British, on the air 'arm of the service, as to the powers and perfection of their flying* ma-" chines, it is better to suspend , judgjment until something more convincing than bare assertion can be adduced to bear out the claim made for superiority of the "Fokker." When the Allied 'planes are working' anywhere, but more especially on the Western front, our men in the trenches are treated to a form of entertainment they delight in hugely, and ' when any enemy "bird" is winged or brought to terra firma, their delighV knows no bounds. Are the enemy 'planes brought down frequently? It' is sufficient to say that tfcey are brought down more often than is re-* lished by our opponents. A flight of f aeroplanes engaged on a serious un«q dertaking of military importance, is | something which the ordinary individual is not permitted to exeprience, - but a lively imagination can more or ■ less visualise it. Imagine a huge flight of machines converging, say, | on the heart of Taranaki, at Stratford: big 'planes and smaller 6wif| monoplanes, flying swifter than a swallow and as graceful as a frigate bird. They are coming in, north, south, east and west. While in the distance a droning noise is heard, and* as they approach closer the noise is increased, until i when they are close in, there is. a roar of racing engines.. What would occasion such a flight on the heart of Taranaki ?. It could only he to bring huge crowds in honour OH Soldiers Day on Easter Monday. Don't stop reading here on the peril*, of your life. As, , however, 'planes, are not available for. the purpose, the people of Taranaki will go to Stratford in huge numbers by trains atf* excursion rates, by motor cars, and vehicles of all kinds . All roads lead to Stratford on "The Day."... Our brave wounded lads have done their; duty: Be sure you do yours -by patronising the Great Carnival on Easter Monday.