IN THE AIR.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 19 July 1917, Page 5

IN THE AIR.

COLOSSAL BRITISH AIR OFFENSIVE. THOUSANDS T)F MACHINES ENGAGED. RAINING BOMBS NIGHT AND DAY. GERMANY’S BID FOR SUPREMACY Received 9.20.. LONDON, July 18. There is tremendous air activity on all fronts. Machines now reckoned in thousands where there were ten at the beginning of the war. The struggle is fiercest on the Flemish coast, where a colossal British air offensive foreshadows portentous events. Swarms of machines are raining bombs day and night on German military works, communications, dumps, and depots. While we are using all types of machines the Germans apparently pin their faith to the large twcj-engined Gotha 'of which new squadrons are constantly appearing on front and in Flanders. Also numerous machines are withdrawn from the Russian front. The Germans are undoubtedly the boldest bid for air supremacy, but British communiques reveal that the enemy are unable to ■ hold their own against British pilots.

AMERICA’S AIR FLEET. A BIG PROGRAMME. WASHINGTON, July 17. The Military Committee has reported the Aviation Bill to the Senate unamendecT, and. has recommended its passage. The Senate will probably vote tomorrow. Preparations to immediately start constructing a huge air fleet have been completed. BELGIAN COAST ATTACKED, Received 9.5. AMSTERDAM, July 18. It is reported that aviators thrice attacked the Belgian coast between midnight and 1 o’clock yesterday, BRITISH AIRMEN BUSY. VALUABLE WORK REPORTED.

LONDON, July 17. Shy Douglas Haig reports: We somewhat improved our position east of Monchy le preu. Despite thick clouds and strong winds, our aeroplanes did a great deal of successful work yesterday in conjunction with the artillery. They also bombed various points behina the enemy’s lines. There were many air fights, wherein we brought down six and drove down three machines. None of ours are missing. A ROYAL THIEF. GERMAN PRINCE LOOTS A CHATEAU. Received 8.45 a.m. WASHINGTON, July IS. The New York Herald’s Paris correspondent ha s evidence that Prince Eitel Frederick looted the furniture, then blew up the chateau of the Comte de Balmy, on the Oise, i n which he lived. He spent most of his time in a shell-proof dugout connected with the Chateau by a subterranean passage.. He transported numerous wagon-loads of furniture to Germany. The owner has lodged with the French authorities a fojmal charge of theft against Eitel. The Herald comments that the spectacle a prince of the blood royal a theft which has not evoked a protest or criticism in the German press indicates the depth to which the Germans have fallen.