WAR NEWS BY MAIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16266, 27 June 1916, Page 8

WAR NEWS BY MAIL.

SUPERIORITY IN THE AIR.

MANY FRENCH SUCCESSES.

DEATH OF IMMELMANX. "

FAMOUS AVIATORS' METHODS.

To-day's cablegrams contain a farther reference to the death of the famous German airman, Flight-Lieutenant Immelmann. The following account of recent French aerial sncesses and a description of the late Lieutenant Immelmann's methods of fighting, from a war correspondent on the western front, came to hand bv yesterday's mail. The writer savs:—"

According to official reports French aviators succeeded in destroying 31 German aeroplanes during the month of April, while only six French machines were lost. During the month of March 35 German aeroplanes were smashed against 13 French. c It appears that no particular tactics are observed in aerial combats. No definite methods have been yet recognised ; individual decision and temperament are the chief factors in obtaining the results. In other words, it is unquestionably the best and qmckest-witted pilot who "wins— less his opponent is flying a much better machine. Inunelraann's Falcon Swoop. The Bulletin des Annees—organ of the French troops in the field—however, mentions an exception. Immelmann, the German champion, has his own system of fighting, and he has never been known to vary it. His method is to mount as high as possible and wait until an enemy aeroplane comes into sight. Then he lets himself drop like a stone and opens fire with his machine-gun on the adversary as he passes it in his giddy descent. The combat is then finished so far as he is concerned, for, whatever the result, Immelmann flies back immediately to the German lines. Out-Manoeuvring the Enemy. The typical French pilot—Navarre, for instancewill, on the contrary, attempt to out-manceuvre the enemy. He will spend considerable time worrying him with perplexing evolutions until he has " shepherded " him to the right position. Then the Frenchman's mitrailleuse comes into play, and the bullets rarely go astray. The Frenchman is tenacious: he refuses to leave his enemy until he has brought him down, or until the German, favoured by circumstances, makes his escape. Good Eyesight Essential. For the military pilot eyesight is everything. Hearing is practically suppressed by the roar of the engine. The risk of surprise by a hostile aircraft is therefore considerable. Speed and swiftness in ascension are indispensable both in attack and defence. Aerial duels are usually fought at close quarters. That i s to say, pilots do not usually waste their ammunition until they are within 15yds or 25yds of the enemy, although it is on record that Navarre, with a lucky discharge, brought down a German machine from a distance t>f 200 yds. Ramming is rare, but pilots in moments of desperation sometimes have recourse to this terrible form of aerial warfare, in which almost Always both combatants are killed.

"GEKMANY IS BEATEN." i AN AMERICAN'S VIEW. THINKS END IS IN SIGHT " Germany is beaten, and the end of the War is in sight. Peace will come as suddenly as the war started." Such is the opinion of Mr, Samuel Hill, the son-in-law and intimate business associate of Mr. James J. Hill, the Northwestern Railway magnate, who has just returned to New York from a visit to Europe, where it is believed he was sent by his father-in-law for the purpose of learning the present status of the war. Mr. Hill added:—" There will not be another winter campaign. Germany cannot struggle against the overwhelming conditions prevailing since the war began. In 1913 Germany imported half a million labourers to harvest her crops. This year she will only gather 60 per cent, of the harvest of the year ■. before the war. ITALY'S KING. AT FRONT. FAMILIARITY WITH TROOPS. One of the points that has struck M. Pichon most, after a visit to the Italian front, is the relation existing between the officers and men. This, he says, is one of great cordiality, the example being set by the King. M. Pichon proceeds:— " There is .no affectation, no pride, and no pose about King Victor. He is on terms of familiarity with all ranks, but never loses the dignity of his rank. In reason he is coldly logical. His language is clear cut, and he fully realises the difficulties to be overcome. He rises at dawn and leaves for the front at sunrise with' a veiy small escort. His visits to his generals are unannounced. He scarcelv eats and takes very little rest, and is carrying oat in the noblest way the traditions of his dynasty which inspire in all Italians a respect, admiration, and devotion that constitute the best reason for believing in the success of the arms of the country to which he indicated the obligation of entering into battle."

I THE ANZACS IN FRANCE. "IN TOUCH WITH HUMAN SPIRIT." [from our OWN correspondent 1 -- „_ .„ London, May 19. ihe New Zealanders and Australians are very popular alreadv among the village folk in France; the slouch hat is declared to be the admiration of the peasant girls. But these hats are being exchanged now for the war helmet, when front-line work is in hand. Speaking of the Anzacs the other day, a Frenchman said, "They are just like our own people"—and they have found like pursuits. " The shell fire in France is more intense than anything we had to endure from the old Turk," says a young New Zealand captain, " and not pleasant, but at least one can get away from it here for a spell. And, better than all, one is fighting here in a civilised country, within reach of towns and pleasant-spoken people, and the conditions of life are more human! That's what it is. The men feel in touch with the human spirit of things, instead of the isolation of the Egyptian desert and the barren hopelessness of the Gallipoli rock. It's all a matter of temperament, I suppose, and our boys are as temperamental as any kind of men, though they seem to take things so carelessly." In spite, however, of this bombardment, the men find France more pleasant than Gallipoli. They enjoy their days of leisure in rest billets, and are intensely interested in the aerial fighting.