MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 July 1917, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

ANTI-AIRCRAFT DEFENCE. STATEMENT BY PREMIER. AIRCRAFT AT FRONT FIRST CONSIDERATION. London, July 10. Official.—At the secret session, Mr. Lloyd George stated that 22 Gothas, each carrying 8001b. of explosives, came over London on Saturday. Of these three were destroyed. The Germans organised protecting squadrons in order to assist the raiders' return. Sis of these aeroplanes were destroyed and one injured, therefore the attack was not made with impunity. He pointed out that complete protection in the air could never be secured. British machines daily crossed the German lines at the front, and, despite the terrible anti-aircraft fire and powerful air squadrons bombed railway stations and headquarters, proving that no measure we could take would give complete immunity. We must aim at making the visits as costly as possible.

Our naval aeroplanes during the last four or five months had dropped 70 tons of explosives on German aerodromes in Northern Belgium, dropping fi tons the night preceding the raid, whereas the Germans only dropped two tons -in England. The Government's first consideration was to see that the army in France was sufficiently supplied with aeroplanes, without which an advance w4s impossible. The 28 civilian fatalities were regrettable, but unless there was a sufficiency of aeroplanes at the front the army's losses might easily be 28,000. The Germans realised as much as we did the importance of aeroplane work to secure protection for their soldiers' lives.

DO NOT ENCOURAGE; GERMANS. Nothing would encourage the Germans more than to know that by bombing English towns we should be forced to withdraw fighting squadrons from France. Nothing would be more disastrous to the conduct of military operations than to encourage the Germans to believe that the raids had excited clamour in England resulting in the Government being unable to resist the demand for the withdrawal of aeroplanes from France. If we were unable to provide aeroplanes for the front as well as for defence against raids, the army must come first. It was vitally important that Germany should know this. He saw people in the district a few hours after the raid and he had never seen people face disaster with greater cheerfulness and constancy. There were no Bigns of panic. He was convinced that if the country realised that it was necessary to establish air supremacy in order to win victory at the front they would be prepared to take risks. The Germans realised the importance of air supremacy and made prodigious efforts to secure it. '

PRODUCTION BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS. In the last twelve months we had enormously increased the capacity for manufacturing machines, and in the last half year had increased the number of employees in aeroplane works by 23,000. Wo had also improved the methods of organisation and the type of machines. The Government's information showed that the German capacity for production-was only gradual; now it waß going up by leaps and bounds. The strike in April lost us between 150 and 200 machines, Mr. Bonar Law, replying to questions, said that in the opinion of experts our type of machines was as good as those of the Germans. He pointed out that the French front was nearer important German cities than ours, therefore it was natural that the French should play a larger part in offensive operations there, which they had done with remarkable success and Impunity during the last few days. WTiile they did not regard raids on London as of no importance, the balance of military advantage must be considered. People who were demanding the instant production of a large number of aeroplanes were apt to forget the inherent limits to the extent and rate of Bueh increase and the imperative demands of other services. Mr. Norton Griffiths related his experiences at the front, confirming British aerial supremacy there.

SUBMARINING HOSPITAL SHIPS. NEW (POLICY AS TO HOSPITALS. Received July 12, 155 a.m. London, July 11. In the House of Lords,. Lord Derby said that owing to the brutal policy of sinking hospital ships, it was necessary to shift the military hospitals from Malta to Salonika, and seven other general hospitals had (been sent from Britain. Since the policy of torpedoing hospital ships was instituted there had also been a convalescent camp at Corfu. AIR RAH) CASUALTIES. •London, July 10. The Press Bureau says that the casualties in -Saturday's air raid are now: Thirty men, eight women, and five children killed; 98 taen, 46 women, and 53 children injured. ANTI-GERMAN RIOTS. Received July 11, 8.15 p.m. London, July 10. Anti-German disturbances continue in the East End and other parts. Two bakers' shops at Holloway were sacked. Children bore banners inscribed, "We want reprisals!" Several police were injured and ten arrests were made.