The Daily News. SATURDAY, MAY 20, 1916. BRITAIN'S AIR SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 May 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, MAY 20, 1916. BRITAIN'S AIR SERVICE.

The serious but totally unwarranted charges made by Mr. Pemberton Billingagainst the British Government in relation to Britain's air service caused qvite a sensation at the time they were made, but when a Commission of Inquiry was set up the accuser fjund it convenient not to put in an appearance, merely putting foiward the flimsy excuse that the Commissioners were not experts. What-the House of Commons thought of such conduct was plainly shown when the majority of members left as soon as Mr. Billing rose to reply to Mr. Bonar Law's scathing condemnation of his conduct, with the result i':iit the House was counted out. The debate, however, was most serviceable, inasmuch as it affcrded Ministers an opportunity for placing before the country the true state of affairs connected with the aerial service. We now know that the defence of London is very efficient, and that there has been a great improvement made in the British defences elsewhere. According to the UnderSecretary for War, the» British aerial fleet has won the great majority of fights and has habitually made jlo.c reconnaisajjees than Germany ere" inade. That is the work for whicli aeroplanes are move particularly n.-i-ded, and the record o.' their work b one oi which the authorities may well be proud. Mr. I'onar Law emphasised the fa .t that tin: British air service was it ie.ist equal to that of any of the Tielligoreuts wlile Germany never poss«-s*.l & iimcirne better than' the British, and the' into) mation he gave as to the remarkable success of British airmen proved the tiuth of his contention. ISy a curious coincidence the cable or. the same day that the report of the di.'baffc was sent through contained re,lo flits of exceptional activity bv the British and Allied airman. In the British sector of the Western front, there were on one day twenty-eight air combats, besides a considerable i'umber of successful bo-nbing raids. It is abundantly evident that there is no ground for anviety over the British air service, though there is probably room for still further improvement. Tin great point is that the wild accusation? have no foundation, and that not only has the British air service been thoroughly vindicated, but the skill, daring, and infinite resource of the jlr'tisli airmen has been evidenced boyrnd all question.