IN THE AIR.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 September 1915, Page 5

IN THE AIR.

THE FRENCH SERVICE. A WONDERFUL DEVELOPMENT. '(Times and Sydney Sun Services.) London, Sept. 18. The Times' correspondent at Paris writes that it has been decided to create a Minister of Aviation. This is a logical sequence of the great development of the French aviation service. Since the outbreak of war the number of aeroplanes haß increased sevenfold. New types have appeared, with motors three times more powerful, the carrying capacity trebled, the radius of action doubled, and the speed increased thirty per cent. Training schools have sprung up everywhere, and are preparing pilots, mechanics, observation officers and sharpshooters. More pilots hare been trained in a month than formerly in a year. These achievements made possible the extraordinary activity of the French air service. Last month's results and the laconic communiques daily, eloquently testify that since the Zeppelin raid on March 20 all attempts of German airmen to reach Paris have failed. A CHARACTERISTIC EXPLOIT. dropping: bombs on refugees. Petrograd, Sept. 16. Five German aeroplanes, flying very low, bombed an encampment at Karbran, where there were a thousand refugees. A large number of women and children were killed.