The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 1916. THE RAID ON SCHLESWIG.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 March 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 1916. THE RAID ON SCHLESWIG.

The sensational news received by cable yesterday, relative to a combined naval and aerial raid on the German airship stations in Sehleswig-Holstein, was marred by its incoherence and scrappiness. Such a raid possessed all the elements of daring and danger that appeal with such telling force to all Britishers, whether in England or at the most distant confines of 'the vast Empire. A clear and vivid account of the exploits in connection with the raid would have been greedily devoured by the public, for the Navy and the airmen arc regarded as the idols of the people. Much stress has been laid by certain members of the British Parliament on the need for greater activity in destroying Zeppelins, and to the impetus given by these criticisms the raid' by a British squadron of seaplanes is probably due. Whether that be so or not there is every reason to believe that the attack will have important results, for, according to a Danish press message, the operations in enemy waters achieved their object, which was the destruction of aircraft and sheds. In addition, two German patrol ships were sunk. The enterprise was in every respect worthy of both atmg of the service. The leader of the expedition was well chosen, for Commodore Tyrwhitt has a reputation for daring and resource second to none in the Navy. When it is remembered that the operations were undertaken in thick, snowy, and stormy weather it will at once be recognised that the dangers incident to the affair were considerably augmented. Convoyed by a squadron of light cruisers and destroyers, the seaplanes were taken as near as possible t>j their objective, and then departed on their mission of destruction. According to travellers from Schlcswig our aerial craft succeeded in burning the granary at Randerup, smashing a large Gorman seaplane, besides bombing Hover and Tondern. The German airship sheds are located about seventy miles north g; the estuary of the Elbe, which is entered by the Kiel Canal, and are most probably protected by a strong force of light draft naval craft, as the risks of attacking seaplanes would he serious. It is stated that three of the seaplanes are missing, but whether their nonreturn is due to the bad weather which prevailed or to the enemy guns does not appear to he known, and the same remark applies to the Medusa, which is reported to have collided with the Laverock and ig also missing. The attenuated story abounds with possibilities, and the incidents mentioned are such to whet the appetite for complete

details. The vague reports of cannonading and the presence of large forces of light naval craft seem to imply that there was an engagement at sea, but iv. the absence of any confirmatory news it would bo premature to speculate on the truth or otherwise of the Danish reports. Ag the raid followed closely on the recent attack on Zeebrugge, it is evident the British authorities have entered upon a commendable offensive policy, and it is to be hoped it will be persevered m with the utmost vigor. Those who have been so persistently urging the British Government to strike at the root of the Zeppelin evil by destroying the machines in their hangars have logic on their side, though such a policy is manifestly far easier to enunciate than to carry out. Now that a commencement has been made there is every reason Why these raids should be continued. We cannot expect that extremely dangerous operations of this nature can be carried out with impunity, hut there are men eager and anxious to do the work in spite of the risks, and any losses that occur must be accepted with the same calm courage that is required in connection witli land battles. The attacks on Zeebrugge. and Schleswig rank with some of the brilliant exploits on land, and they mark a new departure that will be heartily endorsed throughout the Empire and by our allies, j