WAR IN THE AIR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17529, 12 July 1917, Page 5

WAR IN THE AIR.

THE LONDON RAIDS

MR LLOYD GEORGE SPEAKS

BRITAIN’S SITUATION EXPLAINED.

COMPLETE AERIAL PROTECTION UNSECURABLE.

CITIZENS MUST TAKE RISKS.

Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association and

Router. ‘ LONDON, July 10. An official message says:— Speaking in the.secret session of the House of Commons, Mr Lloyd Georgo stated that twenty-two Gothas, each carrying eight hundred pounds of explosives, came over London on Saturday. Three of these had been destroyed. The Germans had organised protecting squadrons in order to assist tho ra'iders’ return. Six of these were destroyed and ono injured. Therefore tho attack had not been made with impunity. Ho pointed out that complete protection in tho air could never be secured. British machines daily crossed the German lines at the front despite tho terrible anti-aircraft fire, and powerful air squadrons bombed stations and headquarters, proving that no measures that could bo taken would give complete immunity. They must aim at making the enemy’s visits as costly ns possible. * British naval aeroplanes during the last four or five months, Mr Lloyd George continued, dropped seventy tons of explosives on German aerodromes in northern Belgium, dropping six tons in tho night preceding the raid, whereas the Germans only dropped two tons in England. Tho Government’s first consideration was to see that the Army in France was sufficiently supplied with aeroplanes, without which an advanco was impossible. The twenty-eight fatalities among civilians was regrettable, but unless there was a sufficiency of aeroplanes at tho front the Army’s lossos might easily be twenty-eight

thousand. The Germans realised as much as the British the importance of aeroplane work to secure and protect soldiers’ livesMr Lloyd George went on to say that nothing would encourage the Germans more than to know that by bombing English towns the British were forced to withdraw fighting squadrons from France. Nothing could be more disas-* trous to the conduct of military operations than to encourage the-Germans to believe that the raids would excite clamour in England, resulting in the Government being unable to resist the demand for tho withdrawal of aeroplanes from the front. It it was unable to provide aeroplanes for the front as well as defence against raids, the Army must come first. It was vitally ‘ important that Germany should know this.

The Prime Minister, continuing, stated that he saw the people in the district a few hours after the raid, Ho had never seen people face disaster with greater cheerfulness and constancy. There were no signs of panic. Ho was convinced that if the country realised it was necessary to establish air supremacy in order to win victory on the front they would be prepared to take risks. The Germans realised the importance of air supremacy and had made prodigious efforts during tho last twelve months. , Britain had enormously increased h e C capacity for manufacturing machines. During the last half-year the number of employees in aeroplane works was increased by twenty-three thousand, and tho methods of organisation and tho typo of machines had also been improved. The Government’s information showed that the German capacity for production was inadequate to compote with Britain’s, Hitherto the Britisli increase in production had only been gradual. Now it was going up by leaps and bounds. April’s strike had lostrthe country between 150 and 200 machines.

MR BONAR LAW ON FRENCH OPERATIONS..

Sir Bonar Law, replying to a question, said that the opinions of experts was that.tb.e British types of machines were as good as the Germans’.' Ha ■pointed out that the French front was nearer the. important German cities than Britain’s, therefore it was natural that the French should play ‘ a larger part in offensive operations there against the enemy. Tho French had achieved remarkable success with impunity in the last few days.- Britain regarded tho raid on London as of no importance. The balance of military advantage must bo considered. The people who were demanding the instant production of large numbers of aeroplanes were apt to forget that there wero inherent limits to the rate of gnch increase. There wer© imperative demands for other services.

Mr N. Griffiths related his experiences at the front, and _ confirmed the statements regarding Britisli aerial supremacy there.

ANTI-GERMAN RIOTS.

FURTHER TROUBLE IN LONDON

LONDON, July 10. Anti-German disturbances continue in the East End and other parts. Two bakers’ shops in Holloway were sacked. Children bore banners inscribed, “We want reprisals.” Several police were injured and ten arrests were made. THE CASUALTY LTST. 43 KILLED AND 197 INJURED. Australian and N.!4. Cable Association and Reuter.

LONDON, July 10. The Press Bureau says that the casualties in Saturday’s air raid now total thirty men, eight women and live children killed, ninety-eight men, fortysix women and fifty-three children injured. WELLINGTON RELIEF FUND. [Peb Press Association.] WELLINGTON, July 11. - The Wellington Education Board has forwarded a first instalment of £569, subscribed by school children, for the relief of tho little sufferers in the recent air raid on England. , ’ .

FRENCH REPRISALS

ALARM THROUGHOUT GERMANY.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. . AMSTERDAM, July 10. Warnings of the great French air raid were sent broadcast throughout Germany. The lights were extinguished in all factories, the workers fleeing to the cellars.. . There is intense anxiety among civilians in the bombed towns, fearing further raids.

THE BOMBING OF ESSEN.

AVIATOR’S STORY OF DARING FEAT. « GREAT MILITARY DAMAGE CAUSED. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. PARIS, July 10. Sergeant Gallois, the hero of the bombardment of Essen, has supplied a thrilling narrative of his 750-kilometres’ flight, lasting seven hours. He states that he was heavily bomJ barded while crossing the German lines. Passing Metz he struck the Rhino, which ne followed until he reached Coblenz. His northward refute was illuminated by the fires of numerous factories, which increased, in number until ho reached his destination. Essen. was unmistakable on account of the hundreds of furnaces. Selecting a point where the factories were densest ho dropped ten bombs, and returned via the Rhine. AMSTERDAM, July 10. Two Dutch factory foremen from Essc-n state that violent bomb reports were heafd at three o’clock in the morning. People in night attire rush* ed into the streets crying, “ The swine are at it, bombing Krupp’s! God help us from the dogs!” Police, and soldiers in motor-oars, rushed throfugh the streets shouting through megaphones: “No danger! Go to bed!” but the people could not. be calmed. Tile narrators saw & large nrw stare near Krupp’s. Bombs were also dropped in many parts of Western Germany, causing more than two hundred casualties, and doing great military damago. « • ; Other accounts of the Essen raid state that a panic was created among the workmen, several bombs exploding inside the factory. ' The towns along the Rhine are begging headquarters to protect them and to discontinue attacks. -

THE CASUALTIES.

Ranter's Telegrams,

AMSTERDAM, July 10. **lies Noßvelles” states that. Dutch Workmen in Krupp’s have been discharged owing to tho destruction of buildings. Women and children fled to the country

The raid resulted in twenty-fire being Killed and hundreds injured in various localities. The killed include five aud the injured forty French prisoners.

TRAWLER’S FEAT.

. DESTROYS TWO SEAPLANES. The High Commissioner reports:— LONDON. July 10. Tho commodore at Lowestoft reports that yesterday evening an armed trawler destroyed two enemy eeaplaijfcs, four prisoners being secured.

Anatrsliftn and N.Z. Cabta Association and

Reuter.

LONDON. July 10.

.The Admiralty report? that on Monday evening the armed trawler Iceland destroyed iwo enemy seaplanes.