IN THE AIR.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 January 1916, Page 5

IN THE AIR.

THE RAID ON MONASTIR. 'GREAT FLYING FEAT. - ■ ■'■' Salonika, January 25. The air raid on Monastir surpassed that on Stuttgart, in view of the fact that 1!K) miles was covered, and that the airmen crossed several great ranges of mountains, of which the enemy occupied the ridges. Forty-five machines left the aerodrome at seven o'clock in the morning in regular sqnadrilla. After two hours' Might they reached Monastir, where the German and Hulgars were concentrated, taking refuge from the winter in the comfortable town buildings. A section of the aeroplanes dropped 200 bombs, and many fires broke out. The gunplanes heavily shelled the German and Bulgar headquarters, carefully avoiding the buildings used as hospitals. When the last squadron, flying in regular order, circled over the town preparatory to returning they saw great .clouds of smoke rolling up in many places. Meanwhile another squadron dropped 100 bombs on Ghevgheli with similar results. '

RAID ON GHEVGHEU. MUCH DAMAGE DONE. London, January 25. Sixteen French aeroplanes bombed Ghrvghcli afresh. There were a hunched victims, and considerable damage was done to the Bulgarian positions. BRITISH AIRMEN'S RECORD. A MONTH'S WORK. London, January 25. Mr. Tennnnt, in the House of Commons, said that four military aeroplanes pursued the Kentish raiders, who were, however, too distant to be overtaken. He added that during the past four weeks thirteen British aeroplanes had been lost on the western front, and nine or eleven Germans. We used 12S machines on our raids, while the enemy used 20. The number of our aeroplanes crossing the enemy lines was 1227. a.tainst 310 of the enemy crossing ours. All the aircraft fights occurred over or behind the enemy lines. Owing to the westerly wind the Germans, when hit, planed down, whilst ours could not; therefore it was impossible to give a correct comparison of the actual losses. GERMAN RAID ON DUNKIRK. London. January 25. Official.—Two aeroplanes bombed Dunkirk. A British machine forced a German seaplane' to the water north-westward of Xieuport.

EVOLUTION OF AIRCRAFT. VIGOROUS POLICY DEMANDED. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received Jan. 2fi, .15 p.m. London, Jan. 25. Mr. Beach Thomas, from headquarters, outlines the Allies' astonishing predominance in the air. In 1015 we were frequently hovering over the German centres in Belgium and were unmolested, the German airmen not venturing to pursue us, and the reeonnaisanees exceeded IOCO monthly with few casualties. New Year brought the Fokker, heralding - a change, and though it has not given the enemy the initiative, it has unquestionably arrested our almost insolent command of the air. The enemy is improving his defences. The most remarkable development in the air war is defence, which is now vested in flyers and anti-aircraft guns, which are practically useless. Therefore it is essential to find an answer to the Fokker, which it is the greatest mistake to underestimate.

The Times aeronautical correspondent says that the real facts about the Fo liter are that the Germans are employing a machine which is considerably interfering with our airmen's dally - vis-. There is reason to believe that we . are a machine as good or better, but the question is whether it exists in sufficient numbers to neutralise the Fokkers. Mr. Tennant's speech was a further instance of the sloppiness of the information given to the House of Commons on aircraft matters. The Fokfccr was capable of flights to the British lines, but was not intended for that purpose. .It was not the German habit to fly our the enemy's lines like us. Why have we not got big engines when we*are. ahead of the rest of the world in design? When we employ better machines the Germans will not lose time in the production of better still, and they are presumably already engaged to that end. Our authorities must be ready to look ahead to the next development, and now is the time for a bold farsecing policy in aircraft.