OUR GREAT AIRMEN.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 13 June 1917, Page 6

OUR GREAT AIRMEN.

LONDON, June 10,

Mr. Robinson, describing the value of the air service in the Messines fight, says; One squadron supplied reports enabling gunners to silence seventytwo German batteries. One brigade sent in 390 calls. In response thereto, our guns are known to have obtained 160 direct hits.

Besides dropping explosives on all enemy aerodromes airmen flow down and attacked sixty German conconrtations, immensely impeding the military machine. German wireless messages regarding our losses are hilariously untrue, for our casualties, when the wireless was issued, did not exceed 10,000. Seeing the number of prisoners, it is impossible to believe that the German losses are under 30,000.

NEW ZEALANDERS’ .DISCOVERY.

SYDNEY, June 11

.Captain Bell, '(Commonwealth War Corrrespondent) states that the New Zealanders found at the German headquarters at Messines an order to hold the ridge at all costs, also a message from the Kaiser and other high personnages consoling the 3rd Bavarian Division on their heavy losses in recent battles. The Commandant assured the troops that they would receive the Iron Cross. A further series of messages was terminated by a tank, 500 yards distant, approaching. JOYFUL PRISONERS. ■ PARIS, June 10 Th e "Petit ParisienV’ correspondent at the British front says: The age of most of the German prisoners at Messines is about 17 and 18, With the spontaneity of youth, they did not seek to hide their joy at having finished fighting Officers said the German leaders for a long time had not counted on winning. They do not believe that th e submarines can bring victory. IRISH AFFAIRS. IRISH CONVENTION. LONDON, June 11. The Press Association says the Irish Convention will be composed of fifteen Crown nominees; 33 chairmen of County Councils; the Lord Mayors of Dublin, Belfast, and Cork; throe Mayors and other municipal members; and rejxrcsentativcd of Chambers v of ConVmercc The Catholic Church will be offered four places, and the Protestant Church three. Political parties ■will bo represented by five each of the Nationalists, Sinn Fernery Ulster Unionists and Southern Unionists; two O’Brienties; two peers, and five Labourities. The Orange Order, the Hibernians and tire United Irish Part} will not be directly represented.