Great air raid

British attack on Belgian coast

34 aircraft engaged

Bombs on submarine bases

Yesterday saw enacted the prologue to the tragi-comedy or would it be more correctly termed farce? of the German blockade of Great Britain.

As this ‘blockade’ is to be underwater it was but fitting that the prologue should be played out in the air, both over sea and over land.

It was a brilliant performance and the highest praise is due to the clever and daring actors in it.

For their threatened blockade the Germans have relied much upon establishments and bases in Belgium. Bruges, which a splendid canal connects with the sea at Zeebrugge, was selected as a second classmate both for submarines and torpedo craft.

With its lochs and harbour works it is admirably adapted to the use to which the enemy has put it. The port is extensively used by the submarines which have been preying on our shipping in the North Sea and the Channel. It has been strongly fortified as have other parts of the coast.

As a consequence the whole area has received the delicate attention of our airmen from time to time whilst warships have heavily shelled the coast. But the foe never anticipated such a visit as was paid him yesterday when 34 naval aeroplanes and seaplanes swept across the sea from England and wrought havoc by bombs in all the places mentioned.

The object in view was, preventing the development of submarine bases and establishments, and judging by the Admiralty message this object was attained.

Two facts of no little significance should be mentioned – no hostile submarines were to be seen, and despite heavy gunfire only two machines were damaged, all the pilots being safe.

As regards the former it is uncertain whether the submarines imitating Brer Rabbit were lying low or whether they had engagements elsewhere.

Can it be that they were in any way connected with the ten German submarines reported to have put into Norwegian ports, ‘terribly battered’ by North Sea gales, and that these crafts were repairing elsewhere or seeking prey that they may safely destroy.

Sensational flight Safe return of all the pilots The latest exploit of the naval airmen exceeds in magnitude anything of the kind that has been attempted before. Never until this week had so large a force of aircraft been used in combination. It must be more satisfactory to the Admiralty to be able to report the success of the achievement and the safe return of all the pilots.

In daring, initiative and skill, says the naval correspondent of The Times, the British airmen have time and again proved themselves superior to the enemy. What they have now shown is that they are not only capable of carrying out raids but can successfully plan and execute combined operations of a much larger character.

The country may well be proud of her airmen. From the very first days of the war they have been continually demonstrating their capacity to handle their machines, their courage and their dexterity and their readiness of resource in all sorts of trying conditions.