The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-16
AVIATORS BATTLE
HIGH IN THE AIR
BritOn Puts German to Flight
After Exciting EncOun-
ter in Clouds.
FRENCHMEN DROP BOMBS

IoSpoS. Oct. 15--The account by an
eyewitness at the British headquarters In
France. recently identified as Col. Swim
ton. OF the operations at the front. the
last instalment OF which brought tho
narrative IN to October IL, is continued
IN the following statement BY the same
observer under date OF Octoner IL anu
issued to-day by the official news bureau
From Friday. the 9th OF october. un'l
Monday. the 18th. 50 little occurred mat
A narrative OF the events can be given
in a few words. There has been tho usual
sporadic Smelling OF our trenches which
has resulted in but little harm. 30 well
dug in are our men. and on tine night OF
the 10th the Germans made yet fresh
assault, supported by artillery hr"' "ga'hs,
the point which has all along attracted
most OF their attention
The attempt was again a costly falldre'
toward which our guns were aple 10
contribute with great enect.
"Details have now been received OF an
citing encounter In mirair. ono OIL
our aviators on fast scouting monoplano
sighted a hostile machine. de had two
r,aes axed. one on either eide OF his
sight OF his opponent among some r'ouos'
soon. however. another machine hove INT"
view, which turned out to be German
Otto biplane. n type OF machine "n'e"
ia not nearly 40 fast as our scouts
Empties Magazine at Foe
"Our officer once again started pur'
suit lie knew that owing 10 the pos'uof
of the propeller OF the hostile mach'h'
lao could not be- fred at when astern OF
his opponent A. sixty yards range ~
nred one rife without apparent result
Then. as his pace was carrying MN ahea'
az his quarry, he turned round ana agar
! o,n,ry 10 about the same distance nc
hind. emptied his magazine AT the Ger
man. ,..,.,d
, THE latter began at once TO descenu
, us II either he or his machine were III
/, and shutting of hts engine and No'pIan
, ing to free his hands the pursuer re
charged his magazine. Unfortunately
y t.p,ned but ne managed to insert lou
1 cartridges and to fre them at his descend
z INC onponent who disappeared INTO
I clnud bank with dramatic suddenhe'
when the British officer emerged belo
the clouds he could see no sign OF VI
: other. lie therefore climbed 10 an al,
rnde Of some :. 900 feet and came 10 "
,,r,e 10 earth In the French lines.
The French Rirmen TOO nave oe'
r, vary successful during the last three daN
having dropped several bombs among u
German cavalry and caused cohs'derap
toss and disorder, and having ny sluhi'
means slenced a battery OF field nov
=. tiers, -,
: .The German aut,-aircraft guns !
certly have been unusually active. FRO
thoir rate OF Are they seem to DC near
,utomatic. but SO far they have not n
much effect IN reducing the AIR Teo"
ualssance carried out by US.
-. s,riL,rg feature OF our line--to
N, conventional term which so seldom g
~ presses accurately the position taken
n by an aruy--is that IL consists really OF
u series OF trenches not all placed alongs'
~, .,rh other hut some more advanced IN
ntbsrs and many facing In different dir
Is lions Al one place they run east a
- vest along one side OF valley
sh another almost north and south up sol
ell subsidiary valley Here they I'm"
H. edge Of woods, and there they are on
-, rsverse slope OF a hill. or possibly alonl
sunken road. and at different points D.
VI the German and British trenches Jet
ike promontories into what might DE
Of garded as the opponents territory
.'rhough both sides have moved forw'
ny AZ certain points and withdrawn NJ oth'
"a no very important change mas %
zen erected in their dispositions In spite ot
~, eneny's repeated counter ATTACKS In
~" have been directed principally against
~ norton Of the position won by US, pu'
,.E spite ~ the lavish expenditure OF IRE
le ha not so far succeeded In driving
'ha back. -
WI c.-m.n. Select Positions.