WAR IN THE AIR.

North Otago Times, Volume CV, Issue 13931, 13 July 1917, Page 6

WAR IN THE AIR.

BRITISH AERIAL RAID ON CONSTANTINOPLE, TURKISH FLEET AND WAR OFFICE DAMAGED. ■ (Australian and N.Z, Cable Association) LONDON, ,hily]l.' British airmen dropped bombs on the War Ollice at Constantinople,and damaged the, eruiser Goeben, The High Commissioner reports:— LONDON, duly 11 (0.20 p.m.) The Admiralty report that our airmen made an attack on Monday on the Ttirco-fierman fleet in the Golden Horn, The Goeben and other warships were hit and. big explosions and fires were caused. The aeroplanes also attacked the War Office. We suffered no casualties.

ATTACK A COMPLETE SURPBISE. (Australian and Router). ; LONDON, July 11. The Admiralty reports: The Eastern Mediterranean naval air service successfully attacked the Turco-G'erman fleet lying off Constantinople. It located the Goebon'surrounded by warships and submarines, ami attacked from a height of 800 ft, directly hitting the Goeben and other vessels. A big explosion and several fires occurred aboard. The airmen also directly hit the War Office. The enemy were apparently completely surprised, as no anti-aircraft guns were utilised till after tho bombs had been dropped; ■ AERIAL LOSSES. ... " GERMANY'S: FALSE FIGURES. I

(Keuter'a Telegrams). LONDON, July 11, The figures given in the German communique regarding the air losses of June are entirely false." On the British front alone 131 'German machines wore [destroyed and 99 others driven down out of control. The French accounted for 45 and the Belgians for 4. No record was kept of tho number of French machines-brought down, but as'the number of British machines officially, reported lost was 78, and as the heaviest fighting was on the British froutj it is obvious that the German figures of the Allied losses, viz,, 220, are absurd.

SOUTH AFRICA'S PART. DANGER OF REPUBLICAN • PROPAGANDA. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association) Received July ]!>, 3.45 p.m. CAPETOWN, July 11. At the Congress of , the South African Party the Hon. F, S. Malan, Minister of the Interior, emphasised till' danger of the republican propaganda which would probably- lead to civil war. ..RL'fcj'i'inir to the attitude of the Xaiionalists and the anti-War Party, he said there could-be no rapproachenient between them and his .party while, the war lasted.