IN THE AIR.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 26 September 1917, Page 5

IN THE AIR.

MORE RAIDS ON ENGLAND. INVADERS DRIVEN OFF. Received 9.28. LONDON, September 24. The Press Bureau reports that anticraft gunfire drove off a group of aeroplane raiders which aproached London last night. Only one or possibly two, penetrated the defences. The casualties arc now reported as fifteen Killed and seventy injured. Material damage is not great. Enemy airships crossing the Yorkshire and Lincolnshire coasts did not penetrate far inland. They attempted to approach various defended localities but gunfire drove them off. They slightly injuring three women. Little damage was done. SEVERAL GOTHAS ENGAGED. ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNS DO GOOD WORK. LONDON, Sept 25. Several Gothas were engaged m the latest raid, which was generally expected owing to the fine weather conditions. Bombs commenced to fall on London at 8 o’clock. The Gothas were seldom visible. They apparently divided into three parties. The first moved eastward and the second and third made for central London. Anti-aircraft guns were exceedingly efficient, extensive barrages driving the raiders off the centre. ARGENTINE. ARGENTINE AND GERMANY. A WISE PROCEEDING. BUENOS, Sept. 25. The Government has sequestrated all telegrams sent and received by the Swedish and German Legations since May and is decoding them for publication. The mobilisation of the navy has been ordered at a rendezvous 37 kilometres from the city. There is unusual military activity. ARGENTINE DECIDES ON RUPTURE. Received 10.30. BUENOS AYRES, Sept. 24. The Chamber-of Deputies has voted to break with Germany by 53 to IS. WAR PLANS COMPLETE. Received 11.15. BUENOS AYRES, Sept. 24 The mobilisation is ostensibly due to the strike. A high official admitted the Government had other necessities in then eye. The German Notes have coniliated ncother the Legislature nor the people. War plans are completed, and commanders appointed. Argentina will actively participate in the war if forced to do so. Two divisions will be sent to Europe. Every-' thing is ready except artillery, which the Allies will supply. The strike is practically complete, and German influence is accentuated. ■\ REPRISALS ALONE TELL. GERMANS DISLIKE THEIR OWN MEDICINE. NEW YORK. Dr. Henry Van Dyke, the ex-Unitcd States Minister to Holland states concerning the question of reprisals for air raids: “Germany has conducted these raids on cities which, whether they were fortified or not still had the right according to international law, to receive notification before the beginning of a bombardment which would necessarily expose the lives of women, children, and helpless old people. “On the question of 'reprisals,’ in general I think one broad principle may be laid down. It is not’ necessary that they should have an actual military value in putting a stop to or in frustrating the practices against which they are directed. For example, the Germans made an unannounced aerial bombardment of the little Froiffeh city of Bar-lc-Duc, in which no military damage w 7 as inflicted, but in which scores of helpless and harmless men. , women, and children were killcfT. This was done on two successive nights. Soon after, the French, by way of preventing a repretition of this brutal business at Bar-lc-Duc, sent their aeroplanes over Karlsruhe and bombarded that city. The Germans put up a terrific outcry about this. They did not like their own medicine. But, all the same, they have never repeated their raids on Bar-le-Duc. The reprisals in this ease were therefore effective. I doubt very much,” adds Dr. Van Dyke “whether the German Government, by which I mean the predatory Potsdam gang, is open to any other form of argument at the present.”

FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT IN ENGLAND. NINE NEW ZEALANDERS KILLED r ( Received 10.30. LONDON, Sept. 24. A railway accident has occurred at Beerferrers ; near Plymouth, by which nine New Zealanders were killed and three seriously injured. The nine were mostly cut to pieces, and only identified by their discs. The men went to the rear of their stationary train where rations were being served, when an express suddenly came round the curve and caught the New Zealanders. Red Cross workers, who were aboard the train, rendered aid. The names of the victims are unobtainable.