IN THE AIR.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 July 1918, Page 5

IN THE AIR.

MAURICE'S REVIEW. ALLIED SUPERIORITY DEVELOPING AMERICA WILL TURN THE TIDE. London, July 2. General Maurice says It appears that the Air Ministry has created an independent air force primarily for attacking Germany. German communiques show that the enemy lias been forced to send back more guns and aeroplanes in response to the persistent demands of the population for protection. We are therefore forcing upon the enemy the same measures he has compelled us to adopt. Wo have thereby obtained a military advantage, apart from the actual damase to the Rhine towns.

General Maurice admits that bombing the German towns will produce n great moral effect when the people see military success is impossible, but raids, however numerous and effective, will not convert defeat on the battlefield into victory. The prime duty of the air forces in France is to co-operate with the troops, therefore until we are unquestionably supreme in other departments of aerial warfare we cannot divert strength in order to carry the air war into Germany. Our greatest air superiority was in 1916, during the Somme battle, and we 'have never since re-established such a mastery, although we have now held our superiority for a long time past. It. has never been a great superiority and we have always had to fight hard for it. It is as certain as anything can be in war that the Allied superiority will develop Bteadily. Our own output of aircraft has not reached its maximum, and America has hardly begun to inako itself felt. When her full output takes effect we shall have such a superiority that it win be one of the first great steps towards final and complete victory Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc. GERMAN TOWN BOMBED. London, July 2. The Air Ministry reports: We, on the night of the 29th, bombed the chemical works at Mannheim.

On the night of the 30th we attacked an aerodrome nt Bouky. and railway ■works and stations at Thionville, Remilly, landau, Zweibrucken and Saarbrucken, also works at Mannheim. We bombed with good effect on Monday railways and workshops at Karthaus 'station, Treves railway triangle, and Metz Sablons.—Aus. N.Z. Cable Assoc, and Reuter.