BRILLIANT AIR WORK.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 9 December 1916, Page 6

BRILLIANT AIR WORK.

IMPORTANT RESULTS. ATTACK OX COMMUNICATIONS. LONDON, Dec. 26. Reuter's correspondent at headquarters, writing on Saturday, said:— "Apart from minor actions incidental to trench warfare there were no encounters to-daj". Rain is falling heav? ily. The bombardment of BeaumontHamel and Bcaucourt has slackened, failing to make any impression. A flicker of activity on the part of the German aeroplanes was promptly extinguished. Our, pilots drove down a number of machines. The British are actively consolidating the new ground, which is in a deplorable condition." Router 's correspondent at Paris states that details have been published of a great air raid on November 22, the results of winch were most important.. The object was to deprive the Germans of a line of communications 30 miles be- i hind the front on which intense activ- ' ity had previously been noted by airmen. The operation was entrusted to a British squadron of 16 machines escorted by twelve chasers, of which seven were French. The squadron carried four tons of bombs, and was favoured with splendid weather. It reached a certain railway line full of trains carrying material, which it bombed. Then it arrived at a big railway station, where there wer e two trains —one full of troops, and the other laden with material. Great excitement was observed.

An enemy squadron which immediately attacked the British machines, was put to flight by the chasers, and one driven down. Meanwhile the British machines dropped 80 bombs on the station and precincts. 'A series of explosions was distinctly heard, while an immense sheet of flame rose above the central station building. Smoke darkened the sky for a long time. Despite anti-aircraft guns the squadron got away, but the work was still unfinished. Following the railway line the squadron arrived at an important supply station just as :i munitions supply train was coming in. Descending to 990 feet the squadron dropped 50 bombs, completely destroying the train. The raiders then attacked with machine-guns and revolvers motor-cari convoys which were on the point of leaving. The soldiers fled in all directions in panic. Enemy air squadrons attacked the Allies and au exciting battle ensued. We put two hostile machines out of action, and arrived at our base intact.