AERIAL WARFARE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3330, 9 January 1918, Page 15

AERIAL WARFARE.

There has been great aerial activity on the western front during the week, bombs 'being dropped on aerodromes, factories, railway comunications, ammunition depots, and other targets of military importance. British aeroplanes dropped half a ton of explosives on the Ramegnicechin aerodrome, obtaining direct hits. They also dropped a ton on Oonflans station, causing a big explosion and a fire. They also dropped a further half-ton on Courcelles station. Thirty-four enemy machines were brought down, and 11. British machines are missing. The French brought down three German aeroplanes. A German official message states: The enemy have lost 23 aeroplanes since January 1. The British Admiralty reports: Naval aircraft raided the Ghistelles aerodrome. Numerous bombs were dropped upon tho sheds and . buildings. All the machines returned. Tho British Air Council has been establ:shcd as from January 3. It includes Lord Rothermere (younger brother of Lord Northcliffe!, president; Major-general Trenchard, Chief of the Air Staff; Rear-admiral Lord Mark Kerr, Deputy-chief of the Air Staff; and Sir William Weir, Director-general of Aircraft Production. AIR RAIDS IN ITALY!. Italian official: Enemy airmen bombed the open cities of Treviso, Monte Bulluno, Oastelfranco, and Padua. There were 73 casualties at Padua. The enemy bombed Padua on three occasions. Scores of bombs were dropped, and artistic monuments severely suffered. The cathedral facade was blown down. An. Italian semi-official message states that in the air raids on Padua the enemy were deliberately seeking to wreck precious treasures of religious art. Bombs were dropped on the cathedral, tho Church of St. Anthony, and tho Church of Hermits. Bomb splinters struck the archbishop's palace. In numbers of cases tho explosions damaged tho old bronze doors, priceless paintings, and statues. In the Chapel of St. George the celebrated Titian frescoes were damaged, and parts of the paintings were torn down by explosions. The Germans aro transporting Italian art treasures from public and private buildings and churches to Berlin. The Osservatore Romano states that the Pope has called the Central Powers' attention to tho uselessncss of the aerial bombardments on Padua and similar massacres, and he urges them to abandon such methods. The Daily Chronicle's Milan correspondent gives a fuller account of the great air raid on Treviso. Twenty-five tombing machines, supported by 50 chasers, swooped down and began throwing bombs on tho hangars and machines, and machine gunning the airmen on the ground from a height of 60ft. Forty big bombs were thrown at tho Italian airmen, who mounted, and the enemy fled; but, when noaring tho Piavo, four British naval aeroplanes barred the way, and, with the Italians pressing in tho rear, the enemy wero forced into many thrilling fights. Eleven of the citemy's craft wero brought down. Italian airmen dropped 1200 kilogrammes of bombs on Levieo station and tho adjacent explosive magazines. WRECKED ZEPPELINS. A Zeppelin aflame fell into the sea wesi of Jutland, and two hydroplanes accompanied ono that wa3 partly wrecked.