AERIAL FIGHTING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3337, 27 February 1918, Page 15

AERIAL FIGHTING.

Sir D. Haig reports:—Our aeroplanes en Sunday (the 17tn) dropped six tons of bombs on various targets, including aerodromes at Tournai and Lille, and a dump near Courtrai. There was also air fighting, in which wo brought down 16 machines, while threo of ours are missing. Our airmen further raided aerodromes at Ghent and Tournai and the railway station and sidings at Conflans. Bursts were observed, and a largo fire started. Our squadrons on the 18th raided by daylight, with excellent results, the barracks and railway station a;t Treves, and steel works and railway station at Thionville, causing two large fires at Treves. These raids were carried out despite the heaviest anti-aircraft gunfire. We bombed an aerodrome northward of Douai and a dump north-eastward of Lille, and dropped 50 bombs on billets. One hundred and fifty bombs were dropped at night on an important railway centre south-eastwara of Cambrai. Wo successfully attacked Thionville, where 26 heavy bombs were dropped on a railway station. A large explosion and two tires resulted. Despite considerable gunfire all our machines returned. Our aeroplanes dropped a ton of bombs on factories and the station of Pirmasens, in Germany. Hits were obtained near the station, gasworks, and factories, where a large fire resulted. All our machines returned Our aviators bombed an aerodrome northward of Douai, a large dump at Courtrai, and a railway station southwestward of Douai. Continuous air fighting is proceeding. Wo brought down 11 and drove down six enemy machines. Two of ours are missing. We bombed Treves and Thionville (Lorraine) from low altitudes, with good results. Five bursts were observed at Treves station, which was set aflame, and three other buildings were ignited. Bursts were observed at Thionville railway and gasworks, and a large fire was caused. Ono of our machines is missing. We dropped a ton of bombs on Treves during . a daylight raid, securing 11 bursts at the railway station and six on some neighbouring buildings, and threo fires were started. ' We repeatedly drove off hostile scouts, and the anti-aircraft fire was considerable. One of our machines has not returned. Our aeroplanes dropped bombs on billets and railway sidings at Courtrai, Ludeghem, and Douai. We brought down nine hostile machines, and three of ours are missing. Six hundred and seventy-eight bombs were dropped last night, including 300 on an aerodrome southeast of Lb Gateau, used by the enemy night fliers. There were 19 direct hits on the hangar, and the remainder on aerodromes at Ghent and Tournai. The British Admiralty reports: Our aircraft dropped many bombs on the Uijtkerke aerodrome at noon on Sunday, the 17th. One enemy aircraft was driven down. All our machines returned. Our aircraft during the same night dropped several tons of explosives on the Zecbrugge mole and docks and on the Bruges docks. Bombs were observed to fall alongside a. submarine shelter and in the vicinity of the lock gates and quays. Our aircraft on the forenoon of the 18th attacked an aerodrome at Varssenaere, several hits being secured on the hangars and sheds. Three enemy aircraft were destroyed in patrol encounters. All our machines returned. Our naval aircraft at night dropped many tons of explosives on St. Denis Westrem, also on the Bruges docks. Wo drove down an attacking hostile scout. We dropped largo quantities of explosives on the Acrtryike aerodrome and the Engil dump, with good results. During patrol encounters we drove down a seaplane in flames, brought down a scout in our lines, and drovo another down. All our machines returned. , . . French communiques state : —Air activity continues. Wo dropped 13 tons of explosives in tho Metz region, causing several fires and explosions. Threo German aeroplanes were/ brought down and two were forced down behind their own lines seriously damaged. • From February 16-18 the French brought down 18 enemy machines. Tho railway stations at Metz-Sablons, Forbacs, and Bcnsdorf (Lorraine) were bombed; also tho depots at Ensiesvoim, where a big tiro broke out. Italian official reports state:—An enemy aerodrome at Casarsa and an aviation camp at Lacomin were successfully bombed. Anglo-Italian aeroplanes attacked the aviation camps at Lacomia, Visnadello, and Motta de Ilvenza, and dropped two tons of high explosives on the last-named. Enemy aeroplanes bombed Vicenza, Mestre, TrebaSeleghe, and also Padova thrice. _ There were a few victims, and considerable damage was done. Wc effectively bombed the railway station at Innsbruck. During the past week wo have made successful raids across tho Piave, and our aeroplanes havo mado several successful bombing raids. W 9 also dcstioyed a dirigible shed. Since wo arrived in Italy we have destroyed 58 hostile aeroplanes, and have lost eight. Tho famous French airman, Gerroa Mar.dial, has escaped from Germany. MarchaJ flew over Berlin, and just failed to reach the Russian lines. An analysis of the air reports shows that the Germans on the British, French, and Italian fronts lost 127 machines in four days, tho British accounting for 70 of them. •Twelve British are missing. COURAGEOUS BRITISH AIRMEN. In the Houso of Commons Major Baird (Parliamentary Secretary to tho Air Board), in Introducing the Air Board's estimates, praised our courageous boyish aviators, who were constantly exposed to attacks by enemy

—.— T aircraft and anti-aircraft guns. Ho paid $ special tributo to the oversea aviators for their loyal and bravo services on all fronts. In one day, ho stated, owing to our aerial observation, tho British artillery silenced 127 enemy batteries, destroyed 28 gun-pits, and damaged 80 others; while they also exploded 60 ammunition dumps. Balloon observations tho same day resulted in our guns silencing 34 batteries. Tho work of our righting squadrons was glorious and invaluable. During September they destroyed 139 enemy machines, and shot down 122. In the same month 15.837 photographs of enemy -positions were XutLoa, and 7886 bombs were dropped. AIR RAIDS ON ENGLAND. Official i Thirteen men and throe women wore killed and 27 men and 10 women were injured in Sunday's air raid. Six or eoven aeroplanes carried out the raid, but only one penetrated to London. It passed tho Islo of Thanet at 9.45 p.m., and followed up the course of the Thames, crossing ever London from south-east to northwest. Bombs were drooped in various districts between 10.40 p.m. and 10.55 p.m. The remaining raiders attempted to reach London from, the north-east across Essex, and one from the oast along tho Thames; but all were turned back. The casualties in Saturday's raid were: Killed, three men, five women, and three children; injured, one man and three children. Aeroplanes raided London for the third night in succession. Thrilling duels occurred on the 18th with the air raiders in the Thames < district. Tho raiders on arriving found tho sky fulf of bursting shells. London residents were surprised at hearing no bombs—only shrapnel bursts from the defensive barrage. ■ The Press Bureau reports: Hostile aircraft crossed tho Essex coast at 9 o'clock on Monday night, and proceeded to London, but failed to penetrate the defence.. No damage was done and no casualties have been reported. A Berlin official report states that German forces raided the eastern part of the" s English Channel on the night of the 15th inst., and sank an outpost steamer off Dover. Airmen attacked on tho 16th inst., British seaplanes accompanying a convoy from' England to Rotterdam, and brought down one seaplane. Tho British Admiralty contradicts the report, and states that no 6hip was even fired at. • New lamp signals are now provided for guiding pedestrians to air-raid shelters in London, many of which are provided with gramophones, and there are also facilities for dancing and other amusements. A high military authority states that, though there is much talk of the coming offensive, no definite indications bring it any nearer. The most satisfactory feature on the west front is our continued success in the air, which is of the utmost importance as preliminary to any battle. Referring to air raids on London, ho says: "Since the beginning of the year we have carried out 15 into Germany, all with definite results, as against Germany's five on England, two of which were abortive.' FROM LONDON TO ROME. A British military aeroplane flew from London to Rome. It descended at Paris, Lyons, Marseilles, and Pisa.