MASTERY OF THE AIR

Otago Witness, Issue 3331, 16 January 1918, Page 39

MASTERY OF THE AIR

VAST GERMAN EFFORTS. Tho vital importance of tho question of air supremacy lor the Aliiod nations could not be more effectively illustrated than by tho following facts, which have recently conio to tho knowledgo of tho French General Staff. The Germans are well aware that soma time next year tho new American air squadrons will oomo into action on the western front, and they are already strain-' in- every nerve in order to be able tq meet the allied air offensive next spring. Tho number of German battle phunes is toj bo doubled during the coming winter, and] the aeroplane and motor-building factories 1 throughout Germany are enlarging their; plant and obtaining reinforcements of labour! to enable them to cope with the sudden; influx of orders. ✓

Switzerland is being laid under- eon* tribution. Two hundred and fifty Argus motors have been ordered from a firm in tho Zurich district. The Fokkcr firm, whielf, is building fighting biplanes in great num.* bers, as well as a triplano remarkable for its speed and climbing powers, has taken,' over the great Berzina piano factories ins Schwerin. For bombing formations heavy? threc-seator machines are being built which' can carry between 17001 b and 18001 b weight of bombs. They have Mercedes 260 horse*! power motors and, when loaded, can elhnb 12,000 ft in 35 minutes.

In every type of flying machine the*Ger«i. mans are feverishly producing new models for long-distance scouting expeditions. The 1917 Rumpler, with 260 horse-power Mer* cedes motor, is said to be the best machine* They arc also building a machine entirely of metal to. operate in conjunction with in- j fantrv on the battlefield. It has no groati' speed, and is a notably slow climber, and does not seem to be able to rise much' i above 10,000 ft The enemy is also using A) new six-cylinder Maybach motor, deveiqrjfe ing 240 horse-power, which is lighter thaS the ordinary Mercedes and gives greatcif speed in climbing.. , ■''■ A big German bombing- machine which; lately landed in Holland was fitted with an electric installation driven by motor for tha I purpose of warming the aviator. ) During the six months from Fobmarji to August 29 important industrial estate j lishments were added to (he number ol j factories making aeroplanes or their accost sories in Germany. Simultaneouslv with I this great increase in the output of mail chines tho Germans are looking evervwhora'! for _ recruits for the flying service. Appll* cations for transfer to tho air service ara j now received fom both infantry and engif neera, instead of being restricted to cavalry'-' as was the ease not long ago. Applications are now dealt with in a month, instead of two months, and there is no doubt thai in the course of the present year the pr-p*) sonnel of the German air service has been largely reinforced. Volunteers are wanted chiefly for the fighting planes, because is chiefly among the fighting squadrons on-* j gaged on the battlefields that casualties occur, but a large number of officers ar€f being trained as observe re for' observation planes. } -j It is interesting to note that, while thi, . enemy is making all these efforts in orderf at least to *be able to hold his own in thai ait; next spring, German commanders aril bein<r recommended to use their airmen and; machines for the moment a« economically: . as possible. An order, signed by Genera* j von Ludendorff, dated June, which has 1 fallen into our hands, says' that the Allies! are employing their aeroplanes econornMcally, with a view to the great battles olj the future. It adds; 4

" We should be wrong to overwork ami wear out our air formations, which tiri inferior in numbers, by sending them ou'S several times every day. Consequently thS infantry and artillery must be told th.it iff is impossible to prevent the. enemy's planes flying over cur linos, and they must noS get nervous ■when they see- thorn ovcay, head. Airmen are to ba osed Sparingly in •calm timef, in order that Germany may have as many of them ae possible for gTcaa emergencies." ]