WAR IN THE AIR

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17614, 19 October 1917, Page 5

WAR IN THE AIR

AIR REPRISALS. GERMAN' TOWNS TO BE ATTACKED. LONDON, October 17. Mr Bonar Law, in answer to n question whether reprisals would bo deferred until an Air Ministry is established, said: "No. General Smuts clearly stated the Government's policy, and it is our intention to employ aeroplane* over German towns as far as our military needs make machines available." HUNS FEAR RAIDS. BERNE, October 17. Several German newspapers significantly express doubt a 3 to the wisdom of air raids on open towns. The "Munich Post'-' urgently demands an agreement by all belligerent? to desist from a practice which onlj hardens tho victims to thc war spirit.

LONDON PRECAUTIONS. i SCHOOLS TO BE CLOSED. LONDON, October 17. Tho County Council is closing the London elementary schools during the last week of October in view of the possibility of air raids. ALLIED ACTIVITIES. BRUGES ATTACKED. TONS OF BOMBS DROPPED. A. and N.Z. Cable Associa ion and Ecutei LONDON, October 17. The Admiralty reports:— Naval aircraft on Monday night, dropped many ions of bombs on the Bruges dock. ' All returned.

DROPS BOMBS ON ESSEN. PARIS, October 17. The French aviator Jardin, participating in the raid on Frankfort, proceeded to Essen on his own initiative and dropped ten bombs. Mo landed in Switzerland during a mist and was interned. NEW GERMAN MACHINES. PREPARING FOR NEXT SPRING. ■•Router's Telegrams. (Received October 18, 10.45 p.m.) LONDON, October 17. Tho French stuff learns that Germany is straining every nerve in anticipation of America's new air squadrons and tho Abies' spring air offensive. Quantities of thrcc-seater, 250 horse-power bombing machines are boing built, capable of carrying 18c\vt of bombs and climbing 12,000 feet in 86 minutes. New model aeroplanes of every typo are being feverishly produced, including a now machine, all metal, for co-opera-tion with infantry. A big Gorman bombing machine recently landed in Holland. It was fitted with an electric installation for tho purpose of warming the aviator.