AEROPLANE REPRISALS.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3853, 3 December 1917, Page 3

AEROPLANE REPRISALS.

| The dropping of bomibs is the popular idea of the use of aircraft in war. It is far from being the principal use in military opinion. The Zeppelin raidis on London, Paris, and other towns have caused loud cries for reprisals from , civilians. They suggest that the Allies should bomb German towns. They should, however, consider that Zeppelin raids have ceased because the Germans came to the conclusion that they did not pay. The loss of airships was greater than the harm they didi or the moral effect produced.

To drop a really destructive amount of bombs on a big town 200 miles away-takes some doing by a fleet of aeroplanes. On the one hand, it has a terrifying effect on the population, and its cost is not. so great in money as an airship raid ; but its cost in good pilots is much ttao high for these results.

Really first-class pilots are none too plentiful; they 'take time to train even after they come out from a schteol. They are required! for all kinds of more important work, and if killed or maimed cannot easily be replaced. The choice of men for distant raids calls for those of wide experience, in the best training, or with exceptional powers of endurance. The distance to be flown without a landing is often 400 or 500 miles. This means that to the weight of the bombs, the oil and petrol, one or two guns and ammunition must be added. To fly with such a heavy machine means very carefful flying. A good pilot avails himself of every air condition at various altitudes. The higher he flies, the less power he gets out of his engine ; at the same time he may find more favourable conditions at 10,000 than at 5000 feet. The success of the raid depends greatly on his knowledge and his skill in turning it to his advantage.

Some bombing raids do not come under this category. ■•' They have a military object andi a great one, such as the following story explains : "Five of us set out at 4 o'clock one September mcrning. Our orders were to destroy the powderworks at D in Germany. The day previous we had attended a sort of conference on the subject, with copious illustrations and maps. We were all heavily laden at the start, and we had great difficulty in rising. Two of us were crippled as we crossed the lines, and had to return as best they could. Over M — we saw an Aviatik coining towards us. We had our machineguns ready, but went forward without being offensive. We crossed the Rhine, and just as we left it I heard a shot! behind me. I turned and saw a German machine close on my tail "Oh, my good man, wait there a second." I pulled rbund my gun and gave him a round. It shook him off, but he turned very short and got close to the side of our machine.

was pilot. Unluckily his

gun jammed (a habit they have, just when you want them most) and the German got in a shot which wounded him and forced him: to land. Only two lejffc out of five, and; we hadn't even got there! We had still 80 miles to go to D— , where the powder factory wanted blowing up. Near to F the Aviatik caught us up, and, heavily laden as we were with bombs, etc., we were unable to manoeuvre and turn to free ourselves' of his attentions. He made for Lieutenant D 's machine, opened fire and brought him down. We heard afterwards that! he died in a quarter of an hour. Only one left now, and we were, that one. I shivered to think of the fate of the others, and wondered how soon ours would come. I knew my companion who was piloting. He would not think : he wtould go straight on and carry out every detail ctf the expedition unless he was killed. I nerved myself to our lonely flight and kept repeating: "I must avenge them ; I must not f ail them." I turned savagely on the Aviatik as she came to get rid of us, and, to my intense joy, wounded the pilot, who fell with his machine. I felt better then, and we went on to our goal. Stoon after it came into view, with its tall jchhnneys and] surrounding town, //iver running alongside. We cam^ down in the middle of it to 4000 feet, and just between two chimneys we detached two large bombs.

The result put heart into me. J made a wide circle to see the effect; th*en six more were let lotose, and flames andt smoke told us we had done opr job. Nfot as five could have done it, but as well as one alone could. Now to return 200 miles. Being lighter by hundreds oif pounds, J—

was taking a higher altitude, when a most violent shiock rocked the whole machine, so that I thought no two bits could' hold together. There was nothing to do, so I eat still, and it recovered. A 105 had hit us. The shot had gone between my legs and out through the flo!or of the fuselage. I could see through the hole. Our hour had not come yet.

After leaving the — and recrossing the Rhine, we were chased

by a number of enemies. J——'•*kept straight on, while I gave them rapid! fire right and left as they.tried to surround us. They surprised my by making off, and I soon saw. the reason. Lots icif black specks were getting nearer, and I knew they were our own fighting machines coming to escort us home.

How glad we were to get back! We had been flying for five hours and had done some fighting. We had 60 holes besides the big one from the 105, but none were vital. I felt less depressed, as we had avenged our

cbmraides,