AERIAL WARFARE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3327, 19 December 1917, Page 17

AERIAL WARFARE.

Sir Douglas Haig reports: The Germans are displaying great aerial activity, bombing our dumps, depots, and field- works, and we retaliate with great numbers of ficrhting planes. Our aeroplanes engaged the enemy durina the attack at Bullecourt on Wednesday. There was much air fighting sbc enemv machines being brought down The enemy's aoroolsmes were particularly active on the 10th westward o! Cambrai. They repeatedly attacked our artillery and machine gunners. Our aeroplanes dropped many bombs and machinepunned villages, butments. and trenches. Wo brought down five German planes; three of our machines are missing. JNext morning our machines proceeded to Germany to bomb certain factories. They found their objectives obscured by clouds, but bombed a large railway station northoast of Pirmosels. The Admiralty reports: Three of our naval aircraft, when patrolling, attacked and drove bad- five enemy scouts and seven large seaplanes. We also destroyed two enemv machines and raked With machinemm fire enemy trenches and an anti-aircraft battery. Wo raided the Varssenaere aerodrome", obtahrng two direct hits All our machines returned safely. Our naval aircraft on Monday night (10th hist.) dropped many tons of bombs on the Mostacker aerodrome and Bruges docks. The result* achieved at th© former were difficult to observo. but a flro started at Bruges docks. All our machines returned. Our naval aircraft bombed Bruges docks on the night of the 11 tli inst., but the visibility was bad. One of our machines is missing. We

brought clown an enemy machine during patrol work. Router's correspondent at French Headquarters states that, according to approximately exact figures, the German army possesses 273 aeroplane squadrons, comprising 2500 machines. It is reported that Germany's aeroplane output is rapidly increasing. A French communique states: Since December 10 nine enemy aeroplanes have been brought dWn. Our aeroplanes dropped 10,000 kilogrammes of explosives, especially on the aerodromes at Colmar and Scielstant, the depot at Logelback, factories at Rottbach, and several railway stations, with effective results. ' A German official reports claims: Tho enemy lost during November 22 balloons and 205 aeroplanes, of which 8 fell behind our lines. We lost 60 aeroplanes and two balloons in November. Three thousand aeroplane workers at Bristol, England, are striking for increased wages. AIR RAIDS. Two German aeroplanes were brought down during the raid on the 6th inst., being forced to descend owing to the damage done by our anti-aircraft guns. • | Lord Rothcrmere, following Mr Lloyd George, at a dinner to the licads of tiie air service, said the Air Board whole- j heartcdly favoured reprisals. If the enemy | elected it would be an eye for an eve and a tooth for a tooth. He detested the docjtrine as grossly immoral; but wo were fighting for the lives of women and children. Whatever outrages were committed on the civilian population would be met by similar treatment of the German people. REVIEWING THE. SITUATION. A high military authority, reviewing the situation, says: " The readjustment of the Cambrai sector was accomplished with a. considerable area in our favour, including the whole of the Hindenburg defences. The enemy had no defences on tho ground I we evacuated, and with winter arriving all | the odds are in our favour. It is too early yet to give reasons why our old front gave way where it did, but there has been a good deal of criticism about want of coordination. When the Cambrai battle started a number of divisons were free , owing to the Russian situation. Cambrai ! attracted these free forces, and benefited I Italy. What was that but co-ordination?" Regarding Palestine, the high military authority emphasises the fact that the real difficulty of the campaign was not fighting the Turks, but the conquest of the desert. Troops at Gaza and Jerusalem were drinking water brought from Egypt over 150 miles of desert. In Jtaly the enemy had gained little ground of any importance. COMMANDERS CRITICISED., Mr Dillon, criticising the reverse at Cambrai, declared that incompetent generals j were being retained in their commands. Mr J. T. Thomas declared that tho feeling was growing that the people at the top were not being treated in the same way as privates. In the House of Commons Mr Bonar Law, replying to criticism, said that one of the most gratifying stories of tho whole war was our recovery from .initial mistakes in Mesopotamia and tho brilliant operations which led to the capture of Jerusalem. He declared that if an attack wpre made upon Salonika he could assure the House that we had the situation in hand. The reports of tho set-back at Cambrai were exaggerated, because exaggerated hopes were at first entertained from our advance. The German surprise was one of the inevitable accidents of war. The Government would make inquiries arid act accordingly. The Cabinet would not favour any officer's retention if circumstances showed that he should not be retained. The first thing the Cabinet did on learning of the Cambrai setback was to instruct Sir Douglas Haig to send a full report of what had happened and the cause thereof. He did not wish the'House to suppose that the Government iVould prejudge the question. The Government and the military authorities were de tormined to find out the whole truth about it. Mr Bonar Law deprecated talk aDout clashing between soldiers and politicians. If anything went wrong it was the Government, not those whom it appointed, whom the world held responsible. There must be good feeling on one side and common sense on the other. • Mr Frank Symonds, in the New York Tribune, says that General Byng's neglect of his flanks on the Scheldt, in an attempt to reasonably enlarge his success, was a blunder; and even Sir Douglas Haig may find his own personal position insecure. The New York Tribune's London correspondent has interviewed Lord Northcliffe, who docs not agree- that time is altogether on tho side of the Allies. He points out that, while tho Allies are discussing the transportation of the United States troops to Europe, the Germans are actually moving their forces from the Russian frontier to France. Our ships are not being used to their fullest capacity. He declares that the development of tho Allies' air services would give them victory. AMERICA'S PART. President Wilson has issued a proclama tion of war against Austria, allowing Austrians full liberty if they obey tho law. America's declaration of war against Austria has now been intimated to that Power, and it assures the despatch of United States aid in the Italian struggle. The Sanate has passed a Bill permitting exporters to combine for foreign trade. President Wilson approves of the Bill. AMERICA'S AIMS. Mr Josophus Daniels, Secretary of the Navy, in tho course of a speeoh, said that America did not desire vengeance on the German people, who were pawns in a bestial warfare; but tho United States favoured no quarter to the German war loaders. America was determined to press the war to absolute victory and fight till Germany's war lords are deposed. America's slogan must bo "Freedom for all for ever " Mr Baker, Secretary of War, in a speech said: "America is showing the world that unwillingness to fight does not meat: inability to fight. There will be two results from the war: First,, the Allies' military victory ; second tho vindication of the inviolate righteousness of treaties, and proof that among nations, as among individuals, the wages of sin is death." Mr Baker added that Mr Daniels states that already 1000 American ships are serving the Allied cause. Mr Baker, in a communique, warns tho Americans not to minimise tho German conJ ccntration on tho west front. The enemy are now able to mass a greater force than ever before, and if. they take the utmost

advantage of their fortunate position, they may achieve relative advantages. The United States must speed up her military effort, and prepare not only to fight but to win. A SHORTAGE OF ARTILLERY. Tho Senate Committco elicited tho fact that General Pershing's force is- using British and French artillery, as few American guns can be shipped abroad till June, 1918. Mr Crozier, Chief of the United States Ordnance Department, giving ovidence before tho Senate Committee, Dlamed Mr Baker, Secretary of War, for delays in providing machine guns and rifles. America, ho stated, manufactured 10,000 rifles daily for Britain, but America changed tho models because it had been decided that tho United States troops should go to French* and not British, sectors of the fighting line. In consequence, the United States factories were now producing less than~sooo rifles daily. -Thirty thousandmachine guns are needed, but none have yet been delivered. '-_ The committee was impressed with the inefficiency shown, in pushing on the war preparations. THE AMERICAN NAVY. Mr Daniels, United States Secretary of the Navy, in his annual navy report, urges the creation of an international navy after tho war to keep the world's peace, each contributing Power assigning units according to its wealth and population. . Mr Daniels adds: "The United _ States would readily contribute to these police of the sea. It would be a lasting calamity if competitive navy construction continued after the war." A committee has been appointed to investigate the administration of the United States Navy Department. A movement is growing in favour of a Coalition Government. GERMAN ARTILLERY LOSSES. A secret order, signed by General Ludendorf, shows that the German artillery losses are alarming' proving that the number of guns lost monthly by a single German army is 870 field guns and 585 heavv guns. Allied bombardments knocked out 800 guns. Tho other losses were duo to wear and tear. INTER-ALLIED COUNCILS. The Admiralty announces that a Naval Allied Couneil has been created to watch and report on the "respective Governments' general conduct of tho naval war and to ensure co-ordination of effort. The committee consists of the Ministers of Marine and the Chiefs of the Naval Staffs. America and Japan will be represented. . . . j, Tho various Admiralties will furnish the council Avith tho information necessary for its work. It is officially announced that the InterAllied Council on War Purchases has been finally established. The council will sit alternately in Ldßdon and Paris. The primary object will be the consideration of the needs of the Allies for purchase in the United States. The councill will indicate priorities; but tho final decision ihereanent will, be made at Washington.