CASUALTIES AMONG AIRMEN

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 21 June 1917, Page 6

CASUALTIES AMONG AIRMEN

A well-known English journalist writes as follows in reference to the heavy casalties amongst the Royal Plying Corps in the Western front: — "Apparently we are losing more machines and men than the enemy, and that is enough to start the pessimists squealing. To those who follow these matters and understand the position, this probably is inevitable, because our pilots are charged with the difficult, dangerous, but vital duty of discovering, observing and photographing the new lines of defence occupied by the enemy since our pressure on the Ancre became so intolerable as to necessitate a retreat as essential to disarrange our plans as to obviate a continuous and useless loss of men and the rapid deterioration of the German morale. That is work than which no other in the war is so dangerous, or so profitable when accomplished at whatever cost. It was the magnificent work of our air pilots which made the Ancre success possible. It is upon their work that we must plan our assaults on the new German defences, and according to whether it is well or ill done will our casualty lisis be light or heavy and our success swift and certain, or delayed and difficult. Some people seem to think that command of the air can be secured and maintained without paying the price of success or without fighting for it."