IN THE AIR.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 13 July 1917, Page 5

IN THE AIR.

ANOTHER LIE EXPOSED. LOSSES IN THE AIR. LONDON, July 15. Th» figures given in the German communique concerning air losses in June are entirely false. On the British front alone 131 German machines were destroyed, and 99 others driven down uncontrollable. The French accounted for 45, and the Belgians for four. No record is kept of the number of French machines downed, but as the number of British machines officially reported was 78, and as the heaviest fighting was on the British front, it is obvious that the German figures giving the Allied losses at 220 is absurd. The Germans claimed that they destroyed 220 Allied planes and 33 captive balloons, against a loss of 68 planes and 2 balloons. THE CONSTANTINOPLE RAID. LONDON, July 11. The Admiralty reports that the easttern Mediterranean naval air service successfully attacked the Turco-Ger-man fleet lying off Constantinople. It located the Goeben, surrounded by warships and submarines and attacked from a height of 80Qft. directly hitting the Goeben jlnd other ships. Big explosions and several fires occurred aboard. The airmen also directly hit the War Office. The enemy was apparently completely surprised, for no anti-air-craft guns were utilised till after the bombs had been- dropped. The airmen returned safely.

BIG AERIAL FIGHT. LONDON, July 12. The Admiralty report that five naval aeroplanes engaged on Wednesday ten Albatross scouts and three large twoseaters, southward of Nienport. They drove down three scouts completely uncontrollable. Two others were driven down. One of ours is missing. MESOPOTAMIA. KIPLING’S DENUNCIATION. OF MESOPOTAMIA HORRORS. LONDON, July 11. Rudyard Kipling, has contributed a poem to the “Morning Post” in biting denunciation of the Mesopatamian horrors. He says that the dead heroes cannot return, and asks whether slothful politicians and administrators shall be allowed to softly slide back to power by favour and contrivance of their kind. THE MESOPOTAMIA REPORT. ALL OFFICERS CONCERNED TO BE TRvIED. LONDON, July 11. In the House of Commons, Mr. Bonar Law announced that those impugned by the Mesopotamia report would be tried by an army court. All officers concerned in the inquiry had ceased to exercise any functions in connection with the Government. IN CANADA CONSCRIPTION .IN CANADA. LIBERAL SPLIT OVER ISSUE. NEW LEADER DEMANDED. Received 8.45. OTTAWA, July .12. There has been a complete rupture between Sir Wilfred Laurier’s followers and the Conscriptionist Liberals. The 'Western Canadian Liberals demand a new leader and the reorganisation of the party, as a nucleus of which there are 26 Parliamentarians favouring conscription.