AERIAL FIGHTING ON ALL FRONTS.

North Otago Times, 20 July 1917, Page 6

AERIAL FIGHTING ON ALL FRONTS.

>"V • . ■". -,' '•■ ■ v ; ■■...■■'7' : I< , > " ' " "• r-i , ' - , MACHINES'RECKONED IN THOUSANDS, COLOSSAL BKITLSJI- OFFENSIVE ON FLEMISH' 1 COAST.' \ ■ '' .> PRESAGING' MOMENTOUS OPERATIONS; • i • ' i . ' ' . ' i v •' , • " ' I (United Service) t y' \ . . .... LONDON, July 18. There is tremendous air .activity on all fronts, Machines are i •.now reckoned in thousands there "were ten at the beginning of the war. The struggle is the fiercest on the 1 Flemish coast, , wiiere a colossal British air offensive foreshadows portentio'us events Swarms of machines are raining bombs day and night Oil German military works, communication dumps, and depots. • "While we are using all types of machines, the Germans apparently pin their faith in the large two-eiigiiied Gotha battleplanes, of, which new squadrons are constantly appearing on, : ■ West Front and in Flanders, together with.'numerous machines withdrawn from the Russian front.' The Germans are no doubt making a very bold bid for'air supremacy,' but British communiques * reveal', that .'tl'i'e enemy are unable to hold their own against the' British pilots. _ ■ J ' 'Australian and Hew Zealand Cable Association.). It is reported that_aviators thrice attacked the Belgian coast, between midnight and one o'clock yesterday. (Australian and New Zealand Calile Associati?-;.) LONDON. July 18, A German ('oiiiiiiuniqiK. l falsely alleges,.[hat German seaplanes hit two destroyers escorting a nuiubcr of merchantmen .near. Hoofden Bank.