GREAT AERIAL ACTIVITY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 115, 20 May 1918, Page 5

GREAT AERIAL ACTIVITY

HEAVY ENEMY LOSSES, (Australian and N.Z. Cabk. Ascxuation and Renter.)

Sir IDonglas Haig reports: — We took a few prisoners in a success ful raid in the neighbourhood of Beau-mont-Hamel.

"We rushed a post northward of Morris, the garrison being kUled or driven out.

There was great aerial activity on Thursday,, when aeroplanes dropped 23 j tons of bombs On important- railway -| centres, aerodromes and billets. .:

The fighting was intense early in the morning -and in. the evening. "We •brought 3own thirty and drove down five enemy machines, while anti-aircraft guns brought down two others. Two hostile machines landed in our lines, th«* occupants 'being captured. Five British machines are missing. Our night fliers dropped a further 10£ tons of : bombs on/the railway stations afc Lille,- Douai, and. Chaulnes, billets in the neighbourhood of Bapaume, Perqnne,-and Pozieres, ans the docks at Bruges. The enemy's night- fliers were also active. A Gofcha landed behind our lines, the crew being taken prisoner. In reference to the Saarbrucken raid on the 16th inst., three hostile machines were driven down, n ot five. 109 GERMAN 'PLANES [DESTROYED ON- TOBST FRONT: IN TWO DAYS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Bee.'May 20. 11.35 a.m.) _ l LONDON, May 19. On' the West front on Wednesday and Thursday 109 German aeroplanes "were destroyed—6l iby the British, 25 by the French, and three by the Americans.

On the. Italian front 100 eneriTy machines "were brought down in 30 days. The famous French airman, Eugene Gilbert, was killed while testing an aeroplane. ' _ SUCCESSFUL FRENCH RAID. LONDON, May 18. A French communique states: There was" a violent ifaombardment last night in th e region of Hailes. We repulsed an enemy raid in the direction of Mesnil-St. Georges, and took prisoners. Our detachments penetrated the enemy's lines at two points south of Canny -sur-Metz, and brought bdek prisoners.

Enemy .aeroplanes crossed our lines and bombed several places behind the front. Some machines approached Paris, where the alarm was given at 10.32, and "all clear" at 11.2. Bombs -were dropped on the outer suburbs.

VIOLENT BOMBARDMENT ON

THE AVRE

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

and 'Renter.)

LONDON, May 18. A French communique states that there is a violent bombardment at various points north and south of the Avre.

"THOUGHT BETTER OF IT."

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

LONDON, May 17. The -United Press correspondent states:—The heavy German concentration of, gunfire this morning in 'the neighbourhood of Hinges and Pacant Wood seemed to-foreshadow a local attack, bat after the British had retaliated with a few rounds of fire the enemy thought'better of it. The weather is unusually -warm, -with bTJEfljairt sunshine. There /has been seyere" air fighting and heavy night •bombing.

SUCCESSFUL RAID AT MOKL\NOOURT. AUSTRALIANS RUSH A POST. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter.) (Rec. May 20/ 9.50 a.m.) LONDON, (May 19. iSir Douglas Haig reports:—Wo . successfully raided in the day time in the Morlancoui-t sector and south of Hulluch, taking prisoner a number. Artillery is active in the Villers Bretonneuxr sector. The High Commissioner reports : London, 18th May, 9.30 p.m. Sir Douglas Haig reports':—The Australians rushed a post at Morlancourt, capturing 21 piisoners nnd a, machine gun, without loss. FRENCH AND BELGIAN! REPORTS. (Rec. May 20, 9.50 a.m.) LONiDON, May 19.

A French, communique reports lively artillerying north of the Avre, in Champagne, and in the region of Massigucs A-.. Belgian communique states that there was violent artillerying in the direction of Nieuport, Merckem, Weidendreft and Houthulst Forest.

BELGIAN HOSPITAL BOMBED

(Australian *jn3. N.Z. Cable Association.^

LONDON, May 18.

A Belgian communique states that German airmen 'bombed a Belgian hospital at 'Calais, killing ten and wounding twenty, persons. LONDON, May 18. j GERMAN COMMUNIQUE.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Renter.)

(Admiralty per Wireless Press.)

ILOND'OTT, May 18. A German communique say&; — W repulsed a strong English thrust near Beaumont Hamel. We shot down 18 aeroplanes.