IN THE AIR

Taranaki Daily News, 19 February 1916, Page 5

IN THE AIR

A FRENCH RAID. STRUMXITZA VISITED. Salonika, February 10. Thirten Frencli aeroplanes raided the town and camp of Struranitza. They dropped 158 bombs, producing several fires. The aeroplanes were violently bombarded, but returned untouched, GERMANY SCORES AGAIN. PURCHASES A FRENCH SEARCHLIGHT. Received Feb. 18, 6.5 p.m. Paris, Feb. 17. A sensation has been caused by the announcement that the success of the recent raids were due to the Zeppelins searchlights using Dussand's cold light rays, which are so blinding that they pierced the mist like the sun, whereas the French searchlights were lost m the mist. Dussand's invention uses the whole electric current for illumination, instead of losing eighty per cent, from heat. Dussand, in 1911, ottered his invention to the French Government, but he was the victim of officialdom and sold his patent to Germany,

THE FOKKER .MACHINE. BRITAIN HAD THE REFUSAL. Received Feb. 18, 9.25 p.m. London, Feb. 17. . In the House of Commons, in reply to a question, Mr. Tennant sadi that the Fokker machine was offered to the War Office in 1913, but the aeroplanes were not accepted, it being considered they were inefficient and dangerous. Fokker since the war had produced two designs, which were not offered to Britain but were purchased by Gennanv. LOST ITS WAY. ZEPF-F.LIX LANDS IX HOLLAND. Amsterdam, Feb. 17, A storm in Belgium carried a Zeppelin adrift. It landed at Venalo and was wrecked. The crew were interned.