IN THE AIR.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 October 1917, Page 5

IN THE AIR.

REPRISALS APPLAUDED. RAIDS TO BE VIGOROUS. London, Oct. 4. The newspapers applaud the Government's decision to raid German towns, and ask how soon the campaign will begin. Italian and French newspapers are delighted at the British decision, especially as America has always favored hitting Germany back.

It is understood that Britain will not be content with small attacks, such as the French carry out after undefended towns have been tombed, but contemplates a vigorous system of air raids aiming at destroying the German morale and upsetting communications. This drastic system will alone satisfy public opinion in England.

The Central News states that Mr. Lloyd George and General Smuts are considering schemes for reprisals. A high authority explains that the difficulty in the past has been the insufficiency of aeroplanes to carry out raids on an extensive scale, it being obviously useless to pend one or two machines to drop a few bombs. When we send aeroplanes they will go in very large numbers and attain far greater results in a single raid than the Germans have attained in several raids.

Thus far the aeroplanes have been needed for bombing hangars and hutments and essential work on the fightill" front. We have definite military objectives which must be attained before the winter sets in. The British output of powerful machines ha 3 also been greatly accelerated. It is a mistake to believe that Germany's aeroplanes are more powerful than ours.

RAIDING AEROPLANES. INCREASED PRODUCTION ORDERED Reuter Service. Received Oct. 5, 7.30 p.m London, Oct. 4. It is stated that the Government has ordered a greatly increased production of special aeroplanes for raiding purposes. GERMANY TAKING PRECAUTIONS. Amsterdam, Oct. 4. Wilhelmshaven and Essen are preparing to meet the British air raids. All the ports and many other important towns are plunged in" darkness at 8 o'clock in the evening, when the theatres and cafes are closed. The air defevces are being doubled and trebled at many important centres.

ANOTHER BOMBING EXPEDITION. Received Oct. 5, 9.15 p.m. London, Oct. 5. ■ The Admiralty reports that naval aircraft bombed St. Denis and Westrem, the Zeebrugge lock gates, the Bruges dock, and Thourout railway junction. All returned. FRANCE. BOLO'S OPERATIONS. THREAT TO IMPLICATE OTHERS. Received Oct. 5, 7.50 p.m. Paris, Oct. 4. It has been disclosed that 8010 Paslia tricu to buy M. Clemenceau's paper, and also tried to negotiate the purchase of the Figaro. He invested £60,000 in Fiappel. 8010 has given up his hunger strike and threatens to drag highly placed persons into the affair.