THE AIR WAR.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16227, 1 June 1918, Page 9

THE AIR WAR.

(By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Renter's Telegrams.) (Received May 31st, 7.45 p.m.) LONDON, May 30. Sir Douglas Haig's aviation report states:— "Low clouds and poor visibility prevented much flying on May 29tli until late in the day, when the weather cleared. We brought down five German machines and drove down one other uncontrollable. No British ma-j chines were lost. j "Our aviators dropped five tons or bombs in the day-time on dumps and billets in the neighbourhood of Armentieres and Bapaume. Thoy also heavily bombed during the night or May 2Sth the railway triangle at Metz Sablons. One British machine has not returned. "Our night-fliers dropped 16 tons or bombs during the night of May 29th on railway stations at Valenciennes and Busigny; also on the Bruges docks. All our machines returned." LONDON, May 30. Su- Douglas Haig reports.,: — "Yesterday was line, and the aviators had a full day's work. They dropped 25 tons of bombs in the daytime on billets, dumps, railways, and aerjdromes. They destroyed 13 eneiay planes and drove down four more. Five British machines are missing. At night-time they bombed various targets. _ Long distance bombers attached Thionville station, Metz-Sablon railway and barracks."

PARIS, May 30. An official message says:— _ "\esterday the enemy showed great air activity, and dropped bombs 4,t several places behind the front. "somo machines attempted to reach Paris, but failed to pass the violent barrage. Somo bombs were dropped in the suburbs. An enemy piano was hit and fell in flames."

. LONDON, May 30. The "Daily Express," in a leader, declares that it is almost incredible that the Germans should have the effrontery to request the British Government, through tho Pope, to grant the Rhine cities immunity from air raids on Corpus Christi Day, and it is much more amazing that the British Government should have acquiesced. Iho journal asks why Cologne wa3 spared on Corpus Christi Day, when a Paris church was devastated on Go</d ■Friday, and 123 people were kiliaJ, wounded, or maimed in London on Whit Sunday.