BATTLES IN THE AIR

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9630, 10 April 1917, Page 5

BATTLES IN THE AIR

FIGHTING BY LARGE FORMATIONS OF AIRCRAFT 40 HOSTILE MACHINES CRASH TO EARTH. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Router. , LONDON, April 8. Sir Douglas Haig reports:—Our aeroplanes during the oth and fith were continually harassing tho enemy’s communications seeking out his fighting machines at a considerable distance in tho roar. Seventeen hundred photographs wore taken of large tracts of the enemy’s country many miles m the rear. Despite repeated attempts to prevent it, the co-operation of the artillery was unhindered. , Seventeen successful bomb raids wore conducted on enemy aerodromes, ammunition depots, and railways a long distance in. the rear. There was intense fighting by large formations of aircraft. Twenty-eight efi our machines are missing Many are known to have been shot down. Fifteen hostile machines wore actually seen to crash to earth, and thirty-one others were driven down in a damaged condition. Tho large majority were undoubtedly destroyed. BRITISH AIRCRAFT NOT OUTCLASSED GREAT LOSSES DUE TO HEAVY RECONNAISSANCE WORK. Australian and New Zealand Cablo Association. , LONDON, April 8. It is authoritatively stated that tho rumours that British aircraft are outclassed by tho German arc unfounded. Our air service is liable to heavy losses because it is doing specially heavy reconnaissance work- Everything possible is being done to augment the supply of the latest aircraft.

WONDERFUL NEW MACHINES

BIRD-LIKE AGILITY AND SPEED. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association and Reuter. (Received April 9, 85 p.m.) LONDON, April S. Mr Beach Thomas says tho new air fighting is most wonderful. Tho. latest machines on both sides possess the most breathless speed, swishing past oirdliko or flvino- at viewless heights till one dives, winged, for its own linos. the fighting is now so quick and skilful that tho slower and older machines have little pliancc. , , , . „ ... Tho new British machine broke all records by destroying five of the enemy machines in ono flight. Tho machines now drop from tlio clouds plumraetliko 16,000 foot to bomb a train, fire a balloon or nddlo troops with machine guns- They coiiic so quickly that men on the spot with loaded rifles are too slow to fire before tho plane is out of range. ‘ . ~ Both sides exhibit uncanny skill in ambushing or escaping amongst me clouds. BRITISH AERIAL CASUALTIES MUCH EXAGGERATED COMMAND OF THE AIR ASSURED. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. (Received April 9, 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 8. Correspondents at British Headquarters insist that the seriousness of the aerial casualties is much exaggerated. A vigorous air offensive is essential it the artillery is to continue to do its best. Germany’s service lias been reorganised since the battle of the Somme, but it displays real initiative in bad weather only when the machines are able to hide in the clouds. Many of the Allied .casualties are forty miles behind tho firing line. Practically no German machines hare been brought down on the British front Ihe British airmen are confident that when the weather is settled they will he. able to so punish tho Gormans that tho British will practically command the air as during tho Somme fighting.

RIOTS AT DDSBELDORF SOLDIERS SHOT FOR REFUSING TO FIRE ON PEOPLE. I!y Telegraph—Prc«« Association— Copyrlc' 1 ' Australian and N.Z. Cable Association AMSTERDAM, April ». There was serious rioting at Dussfcldorf on Monday. The military was called out, but many of tho soldiers refused to fire on the people. Those soldiers who refused were shot by their officers. Two hundred soldiers and civilians wore killed. THEFT OF SECURITIES PROVISION TO STOP GERMANS FROM BENEFITING. l; 7 Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. PARIS, April 8. Owing to tho Gormans systematically 'burglarising safes in the occupied French territory and stealing; the sectirities. Senator Flandiu lias introduced a bill providing for penal servitude for any neutral banker setting foot in France after tlie war who assists in negotiating the stolen securities.

STARTLINGJIISGLOSUREB REGARDING UNITED STATES 1 FORTIFICATION. •y Telegraph—Presa Association—Copyright Eeutera Telegrams. (Received April 10, 1.10 a.m.) NEW YORK, April 9. Blue prints with elaborate notes of tho United States fortifications found on a German liner have been seized. There will be other startling disclosures when tho sailors’ baggage is overhauled. MEXICAN MENACE INCREASING TROUBLE ON BORDER. tiy Telegraph—Pres* Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received April 10, 1.10 a.m.) EL PASO, April !). The Mexican border menace is. increasing. .Five thousand additional Carranzists are moving north trom Torrcon. Nine thousand have already evacuated Chihuahua city to Villa and those are en route to Jnuroz. General Carranza continues silent as to his intentions-

RUSSIAN TORPEDO BOAT CAPTURES TEN LADEN SCHOONERS. By Telegraph—Preaa Association—Copyright Admiralty—Per Wireless Press. LONDON, April 8. A Russian official message states that a torpedo-boat landed troops at the mouth of the river Terme, eastward of Samson, on the coast of the . Black Sea, and burnt a Turkish observation post. The same torpedo-boat captured ten schooners with valuable cargoes, and brought them to Trehizond. ZEPPELIN SHEDS BOMBED BRITISH AIRCRAFT ACTIVE. By Telegraph—Press Asaoclatlon—Copyrish* Australian anil N.Z. Cable Association. COPENHAGEN, April 8. According to a frontier newspaper, British aeroplanes dropped several bombs on tho Zeppelin sheds at Tondern ou March 22nd. Tho extent of the damage is unknown. r I AUSTRALIAN RECRUITING AGE LIMIT NOW SO YEARS. By Telegraph—-Profi* Association—Coovrleh* SYDNEY; April 9. The military authorities have raised the ago of enlistment to 50. PALESTINE AND SYRIA ALL GERMANS RECALLED. By Telegraph—Preae Association —Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. BERNE, April 8. Germany, fearing the attitude of the native’s, has instructed all Germans in Palestine and Syria to proceed to Germany.

REFORM lIN GERMANY KAISER PROPOSES COMPLETE POLITICAL CHANGE. By Telegraph—Prose Arsociatlon —Copyright ■ Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. COPENHAGEN, April 8. The Kaiser’s letter in regard to electoral reform pays a tribute to tho nation’s unity in tho war, and to its sacrifices at home and in the field, which have broken down social barriers and opened a new era. He commands Herr von Bothmann-Hollweg immediately to prepare definite plans enabling the whole people to co-oper-ate in political life. The reform is to be adopted without delay on the soldiers’ return, which the Kaiser confidently hopes -will not be far distant. The measures must include direct secret election of the deputies. The Kaiser is convinced that the Prussian Upper House must be more representative of all classes, including the trading interests. AMSTERDAM, April 8. The German papers publish tho Kaiser’s letter instructing the Chancellor to draw up proposals for reform of the Prussian Diet. The Kaiser admits that the people's war sacrifices necessitate the abolition of unequal suffrage.

LIQUOR TRAFFIC IN BRITAIN “PUBS ” SHOULD BE TRANSFORMED INTO CLUBS. riy Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Australian and N.2. Cable Association. LONDON. April 8. The Government is apparently preparing the public for State purchase of the drink traffic. Mr J. Hodge, Minister for Labour, said that Britain’s ways and traditions disproved' prohibition or municipalisation. He was in favour of State purchase, the providing of pure beer, and the transforming of publiohouscs into working men’s clubs, with indoor games. The ideal publicbouso would have a tennis ground and bowlirig green. The local authorities could employ the profits in trade extension, amusements, and recreations. IMPERIALJjONFERENCE SUSPENDED OVER EASTER. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, April 8. The Empire Cabinet Imperial Conference has been suspended over Easter week. The meetings are likely to last into May, NEW ZEALAND MINISTERS THEIR MOVEMENTS IN ENGLAND. Gy Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Gable Association LONDON, April 8. Mr and Mrs Massey are spending the Easter holiday at Eastbourne, and Sir Joseph and Lady Ward at Minehead, in Somersetshire. Sir Joseph Ward will visit Glasgow on May sth, and review twenty thousand of the Boys’ Brigade.

BELOW GERMAN ANTICIPATION LOSSES OP BRITISH MERCHANTMEN. FEBRUARY’S RECORD OF FIGHTS WITH PIRATES. By Telegraph—Preaa .association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association LONDON, April 8. Lord Robert Cecil, Minister for Blockade, in an interview with a. representative of the “Petit Parisicn,” said: It could not be denied that the losses of merchantmen are'.serious, but it was no exaggeration to say that they were considerably below what the Germans anticipated. It ought not to bo forgotten that while we talk much about the victims of the Teuton piracy, we say nothing about the pirates’ losses. The Admiralty ban authorised him to say that between February 21st and April Ist there had been fortynine fights between British vessels and the German pirates. GERMANY’S "FINAL” DECISION NO MORE PEACE PROPOSALS. Oy Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Australian and NZ. Cable Association. ROAIE. April 8. A semi-official Note declares tbat Germany will not make further peace proposals until her enemies admit that they are vanquished.