AIR FORCES PLAY IMPORTANT PART IN OFFENSIVE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16980, 14 October 1918, Page 5

AIR FORCES PLAY IMPORTANT PART IN OFFENSIVE.

FRENCH FEEL 211 ENEMY MACHINES IN SEPTEMBER.

TWO HEAVY BRITISH fIAIDS MADE INTO GERMANY.

Australian and N.Z. and B«uter. (Reed. 5.5 p.m.)

LONDON. Oct. 11.

A French aviation communique states: Thirty-five tons of bombs were dropped in the day time on Thursday in the Vouziers region, where ammunition dumps were exploded. In numerous air fights 17 enemy machines were felled and eight balloons set on fire. Twentyfour tons of bombs were dropped at night on bivouacs, stations, convoys, and trains. Two .hundred and eleven enemy machines were felled in September, mostly over enemy lines, 62 balloons set on fire, and 370 tons of projectiles dropped. An earlier French communique stated: Despite a fog, on Wednesday cur observing aeroplanes made numerous reconnaissances far in enemy territory. Great concentrations of troops were reported and were attacked by massed squadrons of aeroplanes, which dropped 33 tons of bombs and fired thousands of cartridges with successful results on the troops and convoys. During these operations 21 enemy machines were brought down. The fog was denser at night, when only 5j tons of explosives were dropped on various stations. The Press Bureau states: The independent force, despite the mists* attacked the railways at Thionville, Metz-Sablons, and Mezieres, blast furnaces at Rombach, and the aerodrome at Frescaty. On Wednesday night the force heavily attacked the railways at Mezieres, Metz-Sablons, and Thionville, and the aerodromes at Freseaty and Morhange. Good results were observed at Mezieres, and five direct hits were obtained on the Metz-Sablons railway, and a fire was caused, two direct hits were obtained on the Thionville railway, and four on the Karlsruhe Works. A total of 22£ tons of bombs was dropped.. We again heavily attacked Metz-Sablons to-day, five direct hits being obtained. '

Sir Douglas Haig reports ? Despite the weather our low-flyers continued to harass the retreating enemy. German aircraft were inactive. We destroyed two aeroplanes. Night flying was impossibles We bombed the railway junction at Mons, Valenciennes, and Lille* securing direct bits. Nine British machines are missing.