IN THE AIR

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9173, 13 October 1915, Page 8

IN THE AIR

GREAT FRENCH FLEET almost ready to attack ENEMY. Telcffraph— Press Association—Copy- , (Received October 12, 9.55 p.m.) PAMS. October 12. A party of Anglo-American journalists inspected a French fleet of two hundred now armoured cannon-carry-ing aeroplanes, and witnessed thorn manoeuvring high in the air, firing three-inch rapid-fire guns. Some of the planes stretch 130 feet across, A monster .battleplane lias three super-imposed planes, and its average speed is seventy-one miles an hour. It has a crew of twelve, with two threeinch cannon. _ It flow as steadily ns an ordinary biplane. The crew in actual fighting consists of an officer and four men. The cruiser aeroplanes are small planes of high power capable of rising almost vertically, with a speed of ninety miles per hour. • . Their evolutions wore thrilling. The battleplanes maintained a steady fire while circling and plunging. The fleet is almost ready to carry out on attack on the enemy’s rear. / The improvement in French aviation is astounding. One factory is turning out five aeroplanes daily, and others are nearly equalling that record. RECRUITING CAMPAIGNS IN ROTATION. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright MELBOURNE, October 12. Senator Pearce announces that a recruiting campaign will bo undertaken in, all the States in rotation. The next will probably bb held in Queensland. Ho deprecated tfie fixing of a definite quota. As to the proportion required from any State, the numbers requested by the Imperial authorities were an irreducible minimum, and ns many more as can bo obtained will be gladly accepted. BRISBANE, October 12. Sis hundred and sixty-six men enlisted last week. WOUNDED~SOLDIER’S DEFENCE OF MR HOLMAN. i ■ . SYDNEY, October 12. At tho meeting in the Town Hall < someone in the body of the hall asked why men drawing high salaries remained- at homo while the working men were asked to go to Gallipoli. Amidst an expectant silence a returned wounded soldier struggled forward, and replied, “I will tell you why they don’t go; because their war is . libfe. If wo had not men like Air Holjnan wo should not have the organisation to send tho men who ought to go. ■We want men of Mr Holman’s stamp here. Wo are willing to go back and fight tor them.” IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT 8X- .... " PEOTBD. : ' •'■■(Received October 12,* 9.46 p.m.) * LONDON. October 12. ■’ ‘The Parliamentary Recruiting and Joint! Lalbour Committees considered Lord Derby’s scheme for utilising xho informatipn on the pink form. ■ Lord Derby addressed the meeting in camera and tho scheme was generally approved. An important development of the recruiting movement is expected. AMERICAS DUTY REAL NEUTRALITY MUST BE MAINTAINED. By Telegraph— Press Association— Copyright WASHINGTON, October 11. President Wilson,, addressing Tho Daughters of the American Revolution, said that tho United States must keep out of the European war, not to avoid trouble, but to' preserve tho foundations upon which future'peace must be built. America must preserve real neutrality. American citizens should make’ lit plain whether their love of their .adopted country came before their sympathies for foreign countries. Ail • Americans ought to rally to the standard] of America. America had pro- ; raised the world to pursue a course founded on justice, and she must also preserve tho cause of humanity., NO MATING By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received October 12, 9 p.m.) LONDON, October 12. In London the “no treating’’ law was enforced on Monday in seven thousand hotels 1 and three thousand off- ( licensed houses! There were innumerable ruses by the ' 'public to defeat the mow order. , Being liable to a penalty of one hundred pounds and six months? imprisqn- , inent, hotelkeepers adhered to the strict reading of the regulation. Most people were disposed to treat ■ 'the matter as a joke. 1 .-.-I Customers evaded .the intention of ’ ' the order by exchanging money on eu- | tering and leaving the .bars, t Treating is allowed with meals. There was hopeless disagreement at lunch bars as to whether sandwiches • :of bread and cheese constituted- a ' meal. ~ It ia believed that the regulation will prove effective, inasmuch as it will minimise the treating of soldiers. jAPANK^inriONS METALS WILL REACH RECORD PRICES. Is By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright SYDNEY, October 12. ■ The Commercial Commissioner, in his last report, says that marked attention is being paid in Japan to the ‘ manufacture of munitions for the Al- , lies. Ho predicts that, in view of the largo demands, prices for load, copper, zinc, amd other metals will reach record figures. AUSTRALIAN SHELLS By Telegraph—'Press Association—Copyright SYDNEY, October 12. ■ Senator Pearce (Minister for Defence) announces that tenders for the manufacture of 18-pounder shells have , been accepted from the New South (Wales Government, the Queensland Railways, nine Victorian firms, the Newport workshops, the South Austra- ! lian Government, the War Munitions Company, Western Australia, and two ' other firms. The earliest date for delivery is ‘November Ist.