IN THE AIR.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 May 1918, Page 5

IN THE AIR.

ZEEBRUGGE BOMBED. ENEMY I)ESTROVEJ}« HIT. ATTEMPT TO OPEN NEW ENTRANCE. Received May 24, 10.25 p.m. London, May 23. The Admiralty air force contingents, between May 20 and 2-2, carried outbombing operations at Zeebrug-ge, also at the mole and the base. The enemy's skipping iii the. vicinity and the aerodrome at St. Denis-Wcstrem were also bombed- Two direct hits on enemy destroyers were madeA photographic reconnaissance shows one destroyer sunk. We drove down three enemy machine?, uncontrolled. All ours returned.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assoc. The authorities state that aerial photographs within the last few days reveal a satisfactory situation at Zeebrugge. Tlie Germans are evidently unable to remove the obstacles, and are now cutting away some piers at the canal's entrance, with a view to making a new.channel outflanking the obstructions. 'but the position of the Thetis is throwing up slit, and makes tlie. latter operation difficult. Photographs show that the' number of destroyers, torpedoboats, and submarines in Ostend and the Bruges Canal is the same as before the raid", proving that the vcssls Irnve been immobilised.—Press Assoc.

GERMANY'S GIANT GOTHA. FRENCH CAPTURE FIRST MACHINE. ARMED WITH SIX GUNS. London, May 23. Reuter's correspondent at French headquarters gives the following particulars of the new giant Gotlm bombing plane which tjie Germans employed in the latest night raids on Franco and England. It has a wing spread of 40 metres and is driven by three motors, each of 300 horse-power. It can accommodate nine passengers, but on raids the crew numbers five or six in order to permit the carrying of more bombs andpetrol. The plane carries about two tons of bombs, including one about a ton in weight, containing SSO kilos of explosive. Owing to the difficulty of landing at night with machines of such size there will probably be a number of losses through accidents.—Reuter. New York, May 23.

The New York Times correspondent at the American front announces that the French brought down the giant German aeroplane attacked by Lnfberry, as cabled on May 20. A bullet pierced the pilot's armor.

The machine was found to contain six machine-guns operated by two gunners. — Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc.

RAIDS ON PARIS. SEVERAL CASUALTIES. Received May 24, 5.5 p.m. London, May 23. French official: Enemy aeroplane dropped bombs on Paris on the evening of the 22nd, but no damage or casualties ensued. A second raid was made in relays early this morning, thirty machines participating, but only one reached the capital and dropped a few bombs, killing one person and wounding twelve. .Further casualties were reported in the outlying districts. The raiders met a fierce barrage and were chased by a large squadron of French planes.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoo. and Reuter.