The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-07-10
NINERAIDERSLOST,
SAYS LLOYD GEORGE
Says Germans Are Seeking to
Force Withdrawal of
Planes From Front.

LONDON, July 3.-Twenty-two air
planes Of the Gotha bombing type took
part In the raid on London last Sat-
urday. Premier Lloyd George announced
at secret session of the House of
Commons this evening. Three OF the
raiders and six machines OF the German
protecting squadrons were destroyed.
Following Is the Official account of the
secret session:
THE Premier opened the proceedings
by giving briefly an account Of the raid.
He said twenty-five airplanes Of the
Gotha bombing type. carrying about 500
pounds Of explosives apiece. came over
London. OF the three DESTROYED one
was by the machines actually protecting
London. Besides this, out of the pro-
tecting squadrons which the Germans
organized to assist the return Of the
raiding. squadron six machines were de-
stroyed and one damaged.
The attack, in fact, had not been made
with impunity. He wished to point out
that the FIRST fact the House should get
into its mind was that complete protec-
tion in the air could never be secured.
AT the front our machines daily are
crossing over the German lines, and
despite the most terrible anti-aircraft
fire and very powerful German air
squadrons they are able regularly to
bomb stations and headquarters behind
the German lines. That is possible daily
in a region where German airplanes and
anti-aircraft strength Is concentrated
most closely.
THE House should realize that no
measure would give complete immunity.
The nearest approach to immunity lay
In making their visits 80 costly that they
would not become worth the Germans
while
THE first consideration before the
Government was to insure that the
army in France was supplied sufficiently
with airplanes. They were the armys
eyes. without which 1t was impossible
to advance. To photograph the enemy s
works required air supremacy, and with
out that supremacy 1t was sheer murder
to allow troops to advance.
THE twenty-eight fatal casualties suf-
fered by the civilian population In the
last raid were very regrettable. but un-
less the troops at the front were sup
piled with sufficient airplAnes to secure
proper knowledge Of the German
trenches and positions and TO guide the
artillery barrage, their losses might
easily be not 2S. but $4,000.
THE slightest deficiency in atrplane
work and a single machine gun en-
placement overlooked might in a few
minutes mean the loss OF a thousan nd
lives. The country's first duty was 70
protect these men.
IF the Germans realize the impor-
tance OF this question quite as much as
we, and they were trying TO diminish
our superiority by attempting to force
us to withdraw machines from France in
order to protect our home towns IL the
Germans knew by bombing English
towns they could compel us to with
draw fighting squadrons from France,
nothing would encourage them more.
Nothing could be more disastrous to
military operations than TO encourage
the Germans to believe that they could
by these raids excite such a clamor IN
this country that the Government would
be unable to resist the demand for the
withdrawal OF airplanes from the front"