BRITISH AIR SUPREMACY.

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 September 1917, Page 8

BRITISH AIR SUPREMACY.

RELIABILITY OF REPORTS.

ENEMY DECLINING BATTLE

LONDON, August 10

Writing from British Headquarters, Mi 1 . Picric Robinsota says that) the unprecedented weather which followed the battle of July ”»1 was a blessed happening for the German flyers. Jt enabled them to reorganise their shattered squadrons and rest their nerves. When the air cleared the British had to face a rejuvenated cnemv. 1

Since then the fighting has been continuous- and of Hie most .bitter 'character. B lias resulted largely m our favor,” he adds. “I he people may unhesitatingly accept our communiques as the truth. The counterclaims by the enemy are unequivocal lv false. Our statements' are' excessive! v scrupulous. Our-pilots know that from 20 to ”0 per cent more German machines have been destroyed than ft claimed. Aviators are- compelled to prove that an enemy aeroplane has been brought' down, or that they have seen a machine hit and on the ground, and have observed the wreckage; before their statement is l accepted. When fighting at a. height of 10,000 ft and watching other attackers it is most, difficult to observe the result; Probably a third of the casesi where the pilot's, are credited with smashing their enemies may he allowed, through other aviators who are living low observing the descent from the clouds.

“Owing to the westerly winds tho Germans have habitually declined combat. They try to draw the British on to their own ground in the hope that some mishap will prevent their ■returning against the wind. It is notorious that the late Captain Ball knew that, he brought down hO Germain machines, hut he was officially credited with hi. The same Is true of others. The bringing down of machines isi a minor item of the living work. .The essential functions are in assisting the artillery and bringing in Intelligence to’ help the command. For battle planes to fight is only essentia] to prevent the enemy doing similarly.

■‘ln the course of one day the guns guided by aeroplanes: silenced 7'S hostile batteries and ‘2l gunpits, and entirely destroyed oh others,, while they damaged !<S by explosions' of ammunition, and 1h tires were caused. The enemy is indulging more and more in night flying but it is mere/windowdressing, and doesi not inlluonce the war. Our day work exceeds: the Germans’ night work tenfold.” The volume of the work of haras ' the troops and communications is amazing.