IN THE AIR.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 8 June 1917, Page 5

IN THE AIR.

FIGHTING THE RAIDERS. ATTACKED OVER NORTH SEA FOUR DRIVEN DOWN. LONDON, June 6. The Admiralty reports that a naval aeroplane from Dunkirk attacked on Mondav a German machine at sea, and drove it down vortical in a nose drive. We successfully bombed shipping in Bruges on Monday night. We observed one big and many smaller explosions. We again raided the town at daybreak, and dropped many tons of bombs.

Pour naval pilots, travelling from Dunkirk on Tuesday afternoon, indecisively engaged 18 German aircraft well out at sea off Osterid, and chased them towards England. While the enemy planes were returning our naval machines from the Kentish coast engaged them, driving down two. Our naval machines engaged the enemy over the Thames Estuary, and ten naval pilots from Dunkirk later encountered 16 seaplanes returning from England. Nib merous fights off Ostend followed, dur ing which we completely destroyed two and drove down four others out of eontro,l two of which were considered to be destroyed.

THE AIR RAID ON ENGLAND ELEVEN GERMAN MACHINES BROUGHT DOWJT. ENCIRCLED BY A KING OF FIRE. BRITAIN'S AERIAL SUPREMACY. Received 11.50 a.m. LONDON, June 7. Latest accounts show that half of Tuesday's raiders did not return to Germany Two were shot down in the Med way, two between Kent and Dunkirk, and two off Ostend. Four others were driven down off Ostend, whereof two were destroyed Eye; witnesses state the formation of the Medway raiders consisted of a line of bomb throwers, with other aeroplanes on the flanks ready to engage the Britishers, -who quickly ascended. Th e Germans, first flying very high, came lower than on previous raids. Not a British gun was fired until the attackers were above the town, then the raiders were *suddienly caught an a great ring of fire and seemed trapped. A shell caught the German machines and sliced off the propellor of an aeroplane which dived, but the pilot recovered himself, looping the loop as he descended several times, each time at break-neck speed in his descent. A patrol boat first reached the scene and released the wounded Germans, though it was impossible to salve the plane. A German, officer, yesterday Succumbed. Ten minutes later another machine burst, into flames and pitched downwards at a tremendous speed, falling on the town. The rest of the enemy aircraft managed to get out of the ring of fire and fled, our machines chasing them. The worst damage was done to a clothing store, where two bombs exploded, and the building collapsed. Fortunately a large number of Avomeu workers were removed when the raid was announced. The fire brigade was able to extinguish the fire. The mis-

siles included many aerial torpedoes whereof the buzzing whirr of the pro.pellors gave warning as they fell Since Sunday the British have brought down 62 enemy aeroplanes, our losses being only 20. AIR RAID ON GERMAN TOWN. Received 11.45. LONDON, June 7. The Adniirality reports that a squad ron of naval aeroplanes yesterday dropped a number of bombs on th aerodrome at Niewmunster, 15 miles south-south-west of Blanckenburgh, and bit a shed. Several bombs fell close to a machine aerodrome. Four hostile aircraft attacked the returning raiders, but were driven off. All ours returned safely. ON THE- SEA,

ARRIVAL OF AMERICAN WARSHIPS. Received 5.50 a.m. WASHINGTON, J mi o 7. American warships have arrived off the French coa*fr. MERCHANTMAN V. SUBMARINE Received 8.50 a.m. WASHINGTON, June 7. According to a Paris statement tjK American merchantman Silvon Shell fought a submarine in the Mediterranean. The Navy Department states the Silver Shell is the vessel reported yesterday as sinking a submarine. THE AMERICAN SQUADRON. GUARDING SOUTH ATLANTIC RIO DE JANIERO, June <5. The American squadron of warships on arrival here bad an enthusiastic welcome. It is understood the squadron will relieve the Anglo-French patrol in the South Atlantic, and will hav e free «so of Brazilian port©.