THE AIR WAR

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16215, 18 May 1918, Page 9

THE AIR WAR

(By Cable.—Pre&3 Association.— Copyright.) (Australian and 2C.Z. Cable Association.) Telegrams.) (Received May 18th. 12.50 a.m.) LONDON, May 17. Sir Douglas Haig's aviation report states: — "Our aeroplanes and balloons carried out a great deal of work on Wednesday in co-operation with the artillery. "Our bombing machines began to attack at dawn, and continued till dark, dropping over 24 tons of bombs. "The targets included railway stations at Tournai, Courtrai, and Chaulnes ; billets jn the neighbourhood cf Douai, Bap'aume, Menin, and the Somme; also Zeebrugge and the Bruges

Canal. "Enemy aircraft were active early in the morning, also in the evening, attacking our bombers with particular insistence. We brought down 25 German machines, drove down 12, and shot down one. Eleven British machines

are missing. "After dark our night fliers continued the operations, and dropped over 14 tons of bombs on railway stations at Chaulnes, Lille, and Douai; billets at Peronne, Bray, and Bapaume, and the docks at Bruges. One British machine has not returned. "Early on Thursday aeroplanes set out to bomb factories and railway stations at Saarbrucken. On crossing the lines they encountered ten scouts, and a running fight ensued along the whole way to their objectives. When Saarbrucken was reached they attacked the British with the utmost vigour, but despite their at- . lacks we dropped 24 heavy bombs cn cur objectives. Several bursts were seen on the railway, and a fire started. "Having attained their objectives our aeroplanes concentrated their efforts on fighting the enemy's machines, ant! brought down five. One British aeroplane was seen to be shot down. All the others returned."

PAHIS, May 16. An official report states that the air raid alarm was given at 10 p.m. Guns opened fire and defending aeroplanes 'ascended. No enemy machines reached Paris, but bombs were dropped in the suburbs. The signal, "All clear," was given at midnight. NEW YORK, May 16. Mr Justice Charles Hughes, ex-Gov-e-rnor of New York, at the President's request, will undertake an investigation of tho aircraft situation.