Reprisals

Daring British airmen

Land camapign

Progress slow but sure

If the visit of German aviators to Dover and Sheerness revealed our perfect readiness to deal with such attacks, the returning of the compliment with interest has enabled us to make an equally important discovery.

This is that the Zeppelins and Parsevals are not the formidable craft they are made out to be and that the really dangerous aerial arm is the aeroplane.

Another lesson to be derived from this so far most daring aerial attack of the war, is one which the Germans may well take to heart.

To any step that they may take it is always within our power to provide effective rejoinder.

The Germans are very proud of their air fleet and there can be no doubt the nation has been led to believe that they would be able to go anywhere and do anything to destroy the British fleet, blow up and burn London, and paralyse the whole of Britain.

That faith has now had a severe shaking.

An attack on the important German harbour of Cuxhaven at the mouth of the Elbe was participated in by seven naval aeroplanes escorted by a light cruiser and destroyer force.

As soon as the squadron was observed from Heligoland, two Zeppelins, three or four aircraft and a number of submarines came out to the attack.

Anti aerial guns on the cruiser speedily put the Zeppelins to flight and the bombs of their seaplanes dropped harmlessly into the sea while the efforts of the submarines were defeated by skilful manoeuvre.

Meanwhile, the British seaplanes continued their journey and dropped a number of bombs on planes of military significance though with what result is of course not known.

Six of the seven returned to safety but the fate of the seventh is at present not known.

The enemy’s loss, there is reason to believe, has been considerable.

For, despite the German efforts to minimise matters, it is clear that the airmen went right through the programme they had mapped out.

As the affair was apparently of three hours duration it is easy to understand that when the full story is told it will provide thrilling reading.

Germans chased away

What a contrast between our methods and those of the enemy, the German attacks are little better than reconnaissance.

They visit us merely to be chased away and the total loss at Dover, it will be recalled, consisted of a few broken windows and the death of a dozen or so worms.

The enemy have practically nothing to shout about if the records of the past few days are compared.

Our flying corps has indeed been active and their energy has been well directed.

We have great reason to be proud of our airmen and to feel confident for the future.