With the bayonet

Brilliant French success

Another German raid

British apology to Chile

One Zeppelin does not make a raid, at all events a raid worthy of the name but these repeated visits to our easterly shores suggest that a real effort in this direction may be made before long.

Last night again a dirigible dropped bombs on English soil, Suffolk experiencing the attack this time, and the question uppermost in our minds is, ‘what are our coast patrols doing?’

It has been generally understood that our airmen were on the lookout for enemy craft and fully prepared to give them a warm reception at almost any section of our shore line, but events suggest that this is not so or in the alternative that the enemy are sufficiently well informed to know exactly where they may fly with impunity.

It may be well to keep our dispositions as secret as possible but the public would certainly appreciate some assurances on this point. It is neither filling nor satisfying to suggest that our aerial strength is concentrated at certain points in the hope that the invaders will come just where they are wanted and awaited – in the sure and speedy hope of a glorious battle which shall end in their annihilation.

This, will you step into my parlour game, may have much to commend it, but to leave too many other open doors unguarded is to invite disaster.

Wednesday and Thursday nights excursions failed to achieve anything for the Germans to shout about but if they come often enough they may succeed in securing direct hits in places where immense damage may be done.

Their present policy is apparently to terrorise in which of course they fail and it is really surprising that they should display such ignorance of the British character.

The aggressiveness of British and French aviators is on quite another plane. The French report of last night shows that airmen dropped bombs on Mezieres on the buildings occupied by General Von Falkenhyne and the German Imperial staff, the station at Freilburg while a flying squadron of 15 machines dropped bombs with complete success on the German military positions at Ostend.

All the French aeroplanes, despite the violent cannonade to which they were subjected, returned unscathed.

Last night’s French communique was indeed in its entirety, an exhilarating document. To the North of Arras our allies gained what is legitimately described as a brilliant success, completing that of the previous month.

The whole spur south east of Notre Dame de Lorette was carried with the bayonet and the French now hold all the south eastern slopes as far as the wooded fringe.

There was fighting also at other portions of the long line and further successes are reported on both sides of the St Mihiel wedge.

The Dresden it appears was sunk in Chilean territorial waters. No British gun ought to have been fired in Cumberland Bay and though it is extremely doubtful that the Germans would have submitted to internment a minute longer than suited them, Sir Edward Grey has very properly sent an apology to the Chilean government.