IN THE AIR.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 4 October 1917, Page 5

IN THE AIR.

BRITISH AIR OFFENSIVE. AN ANNOUNCEMENT SHORTLY. Received 8.40. LONDON, October 3. The Daily Chronicle learns authoritatively that Lloyd George will shortly make an announcement regarding an air offensive. Cabinet has practically decided to establish an Air Ministry. The Chronicle adds: "We will shortly be in a position to conduct extensive air reprisals on German towns, but at present our military requirements demand almost all the available, aeroplanes on the West Front. The public must not become panic-stricken, but exercise patience. Shortly we shall see British air supremacy with substantial results. ALLIED AIR RAIDS. ON THE GERMAN LINES. LONDON, October 2. A French communique reports: "Our bombing machines dropped over ten thousand kilogrammes of explosives on the depots at Roulers, six thousand kilogrammes on the railway stations at Metz-sur-Davoippy, the Thionville aerodrome, the bivouacs at Spincourt aiid Tilly, and a munition depot at Longeau Farm, where a violent explosion was observed. - The British Admiralty reports: Naval aircraft on Sunday bombed the hangars at the St. Denis Westrem aerodrome, igniting them. • They also bombed Zeebrugge lock gates. Another raid was made on St. Denis Westrem at noon on Monday. Several direct hits ignited two sheds. Those hit on Sunday appeared completely gutted. GERMAN TOWNS BOMBED. LONDON, October 3. The High Commissioner cables: — French official: YeEterday nSght, in reprisal for raids on Dunkirk and Bar le Due, -French aviators bombed Stuttgart, Treves, Coblintz. and Frank-fort-on-Main. LLOYD GEORGE'S INDIGNATION. "WE WILL GIVE. THEM HELL." LONDUN, October 2. Mr Lloyd George and General French toured the damaged area in London. Stanidng in the doorway of a cottage where four youths were killed, Lloyd George's Celtic temperament found vent. Turning to the crowd of people he shouted: We will it them all back. We will give them hell, and we will give it them soon. The crowd cheered. ■ REPRISALS URGED. LONDON, October 2. After visiting the worst-bombed districts in London, Dr Addison, late Minister of Munitions, and General Lloyd, Director of London Defences, j convened a meeting. Dr. Addison assured the citizens • concerning the air raids. He said fhat already we had mastered submarine ruthlessness. We were doing especially nvell lately, and he believed that we should soon achieve similar supremacy in the air over the enemy's country as well as ours. The defences of London had advanced enormously during the week On General Lloyd's suggestion a resolution in favour of reprisal raids on Germany was adopted. ON AN UNPRECEDENTED SCALE LONDON, October 2. Last night's raid was 'on a larger scale than hitherto; A wireless German official message states: , Our aviators last night again attacked London, Sheerness, Ranisgate and Dover. THE CASUALTIES. LONDON, October 2. The casualties during the week's raid on London are 52 killed and 257 injured.

GENERAL CABLES ECONOMIC ANTI-WAR BOYCOTT A GERMAN OPINION. .V Received 10.15. LONDON, October 3. A remarkable article in the Bremen AYeser Zeitung ridicules England's threats of an economic boycott, and declares that Britain cannot economically expand without German co-op eration. If Germany resorted to economic retaliation the foolish Brit-is-h people would speedily be brought to reason.