IN THE AIR.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 April 1917, Page 5

IN THE AIR.

INTENSE FIGHTING. HEAVY LOSSES ON BOTH SIDES. BRITISH AIRCRAFT HOLDING THEIR OWN. Received. April 0, S p.m. London, April 8. General Haig imports:—We prtgressed at a number of pn'uls between Selency and Jepc-ourt and readied the outskirts of Freeny-ie-Petit. Our aeroplanes during the fifth and sixth continually harassed the. enemy communications, seeking out his fighting machines at a considerable distance in the rear. Seventeen hundred photographs jvcre taken of large tracts of the enemy's country many miles in the rear. Seventeen successful bomb raids were Conducted upon enemy aerodromes, ammunition depots, and railways, a long distance in the tear. There was intense fighting amongst large formations. Twenty-eight of our machines are missing. Many are known to itnve been shot down. Fifteen hostile machines were actually seen to crash down. Thirty-one others were driven down damaged. The large majority were undoubtedly destroyed. London, April 8. It is authoritatively stated that the rumors that we were outclassed by the German aircraft are unfounded. Our air service is liable to heavy losses because thev are doing specially heavy reconnaissance work. Everyttting possible is being done to augment the supply of the latest aircraft. AERIAL ENCOUNTERS. PRELIMINARY TO BIG OPERATIONS ; united Service. London, April 8. The large number of aerial encounters on Friday supports the Standard's statement that a great bombardment of the German lines has commenced as a preliminary to big operations), which will show by. the end of the week whether the Germans are willing to accept decisive battle.

THE SUPREMACY OF THE AIR. NO NEED FOR ANXIETY. BRITISH CONFIDENT OF RETAIN ING- COMMAND. Received 'April 9, 9.30 p.m. London, April 8. Correspondents at the British headquarters insist that the seriousness of the aerial casaulties must not be exaggerated. They state that a vigorous air offensive is essential if our artillery is to continue to do its best. Germany's air service lias been reorganised since the battle of the Somme, and displays real intiative in bad weather only, when able to hide in the clouds. Many of the Allied casualtie» took place 40 miles behind the firingline. Practically no Germans have been downed on the British front. Britishers are confident that when the weather settles they, will be able so to punish the Germans that they will practically command the air as they did during the Somme fighting. WONDERFUL FIGHTING. INTREPIDITY OF LATEST JIACHINES, NEW BRITISH MACHINE BREAKS ALL RECORDS. Received April 9, S p.m.. United Service London, April 8. Mr Beach Thomas, the war correspondent, states that the new air fighting is most wonderful. The latest machines of both sides go at most breathless speed, swishing past bird-like, or flying at viewless heights till one dives, winged or wounded, for its own lines. The fighting now is so quick and skilful that the slower and older machines have little chance. The newest British machine has liroken all records, destroying five enemy machines in one flight. The machines now drop from the clouds, plummet-like, a distance of 1(1,000 fcefy to bomb a train or fire a balloon, or riddle the troops with machine guns. They come so quickly that the men on the spot with loaded riiics are too slow to fire before the plane is out of range. Both sides exhibit uncanny slcill in ambushing in or escaping amongst the clouds. EXPLOSIONS AT ZEE,BRUGGE. Received April 9, 9.90 p.m. Amsterdam, April 8. After air raids at Zeebrugge and Bruges, tremendous explosions and great fires were witnessed. BRITISH RAID ON ZEPPELIN-SHEDS Received April 9, 5.5 p.m. Copenhagen, April 8. According to a frontier newspaper, British aeroplanes dropped several bombs on Zeppelin sheds at Tondern on March ii. The extent of the damage is unknown. AMERICAN UNIT HOISTS ITS FLAG. United Service. Received April 10, 1 a.m. ■ London, April 9. The American squadron of aviators, lighting with the French, have hoisted the Stars and Stripes. In future it will be purely an American unit), and has already dowusd 80 enemjr machine*,