South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-30
ALLIES ARE SUPREME
IN THE WAR IN THE AIR

Supremacy of the allies in the air
cannot he doubted. The much
heraided German Zeppelin, if pre-
viously believed questionable as an
offensive weapon, is proved by the
events of 1917 to be an absolute
failure. The actually effective war
fare of the air is conducted with
| the aeroplane, and in this branch
of military service the allies are
far superior.
Most of the German air raids on
| the English coast and on allied lines
and supply depots in France have
been conducted by squadrOns Of
aeroplanes. In some instances
Zeppelins have been used, but the
allies managed TO bring down
several of these costly machines,
and the Germans evidently con-
sidered the cost too great
Details regarding aerial opera
tons at the battle fronts are not
! obtainable. except in a general
sense. Aeroplanes have come more
| into use as direct weapons against
! troops in trenches, English and
French aviatOrs flying close 10 earth
and using their machine guns eff
fectively. AS scouts, Of course. their
value is already we'll understood.
one of the most intelligent de-
! tails Of the aerial warfare Of 1917
J was the flight of scores of allied
aviators from the battle lines in
France to the fighting front in
! Italy, when the Austro-G ermans
were threatening the safety of Cen.
, CadOrna's forces
Most of the known details of
( 1917 aerial warfare deal with GER
man aerial attacks on English and
+ French cities, resulting mainly in
I the death of non-combatants and
women and children
March IL.
The Zeppelin L-39 is brought
/ down in flames near Paris.
May 90.
Sixteen German aerOplanes raid
towns of the English southeast
coast. killing &c persons, of whom
/ % are women and % children.
June ).
Sixteen German aerOplanes raid
down by anti-aircraft guns. TWO
/ persons are killed and 29 injured.
June 16.
one Zeppelin is brought down in
flames in an air raid on the Ems
lish coast.
July 4.
Eleven persons are killed and
many injured when a squadron OF
| German aeroplanes raids Harwick
on the British coast.
July =.
/ In one of the greatest aerial raids
yet made on London 81 persons, in
Guiding many children. are killed
and hundreds injured. Twenty
aeroplanes take part in the attack.
July -.
British avistors in the most Sc
rious aerial fighting Of the war
bring down 80 German machines in
one day on the French coast.
August II.
Twenty-six persons, including
nine women and six children. are
/ killed when a squadron Of German
: aeroplanes raids the English coast.
/ August IS.
French aviators in one OF the
/ most extensive aerial raids Of the
war. drop $4,000 pounds Of eXplO-
sives on German military bases. one
hundred and eleven machines take
/ part.
August IS.
Two separate air raids by Yep
pelins and then by aeroplanes. on
the English coast, kill eleven per
sons and injure many. Eight Ger
! mar aeroplanes are brought down.
September 4.
German Zeppelins and aeroplanes
raid London and the English coast
| killing 1O7 persons.
September II.
German Zeppelins and aerOplanes
| raid London and English coast
\ cities. killing six persons.
Capt. Iaureati OF the Italian
army flies from Turin. italy. TO Lon
don without a stop