AIR SUPERIORITY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14647, 3 July 1918, Page 3

AIR SUPERIORITY.

WII.iL DEVELOP STJHADILY

GREAT STEP TOWARDS FINAL

VICTORY.

{Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

(Received July 3, 8.50 a.m.)

LONDON, July 2

General Maurice says : It Appears that the Air Ministry has created' ani independent air force, primarily for attacking-. Germany. German communiques show that the enemy has been forced to send back more aaid more guns and aeroplanes m response to the population's persistent demands for protection. We, felierci'ove, j are forcing upon the- enemy the same measures as he compelled us to adopt. We thereby have obtained a. military advantage, .apart- from, the actual damage to Rhine towns.

General Maurice admits that the 'br.-'u'b-ing of German towns will produce a great moral effect when the people r<ee that military success is impossible. l>ut raids, howevor numerous and oil'eitive, will riot convert defeat on the. brtltlHio!<l into victory. i-

The prime duty of the air forces m France is to co-operate with tlie troops ; therefore until we are uaiquestiena''lY supreme m other departments of aerial warfare we cannot divert our strength m ordtir to carry the -air war into C-ev-rrianv. «

Our greatest air superiority was m 1916, during the Sonune battle, and we have never since re-establislied such mastery. Although wo hnvc now hel<> * ! k> superiority for a. long time past, wo have never had a- greater super iority. but h ive always had to fight hard for it.

It is certain as anything «w.n be i» war that Allied gupen'ority will develop steadily. Our inni output of aircraft Las not ron,clied its maximum, ai«dAmerica, lias <lvardlv begun to make itself felt. When the full output take? eft'-ct to slia.ll have such a superiority thai- it will be one of the first great step* towards final <md complete victory.