New-York tribune., 1914-11-29
Destroyed German AerOs
i'm SkirmiSh Costly
TO Both Sides.
HID THREE DAYS
IN ENEMY'S LINES
Hostile AviatOrS OutmanGuvred
In a Sharp Engagement Aloft
In Amiens Vicinity.


fee supplemented it's official statement
to-day with an account Of the exploits
of squadron Of Dragons in the early
part Of September.
During the night Of September .,
the account reads, "a Lieutenant Oh
dragons, who had become isolated
with his squadron in the midst of the
German lines and had taken refuge
at farm. learned of the presence OF
park Of German aeroplanes on the road
leading from Niviers TO a factory be-
tween scissors and Compiegne. Ac-
cording 10 the gossip of peasants, the
aeropanes had landed about Z o'clock
In the evening and had been Joined
about 10 o'clock by an automobile con-
voy, consisting of from seven to nine
machines which had kept company
with them during their flight.
"The lieutenant decided upon an i'm
mediate attack. IL was then 2:3O In
the morning It was proposed that two
platoons on foot should approach as
near as possible to the convoy, fire
three shots and no more. A mounted
platoon, profting by the consequent
disorder, would hurl itself upon the
automobiles and charge with their
lanCe5 those who sought TO escape An
other mounted platoon was to remain
in reserve at the factory.
Battle in the Dark.
"The two platoons on foot succeeded
in approaching TO within forty metres
of the automobiles, and the challenge
Of the German sentinel was the signal
for opening fire. Scarcely had the fire
ceased, in conformity with orders re-
ceiyed. than the lieutenant in command
Of the mounted platoon charged at
Callop at the head OF his men, shouting
'Nive la France!'
Unfortunately. the Germans were
only partially surprised, and a rapid
fire gun stationed al the head OF the
automobile convoy opened fire. The
French officers were killed and the pla-
toon literally aunihilated. Not one OF
the troops re he'd the automobile. See
ing this. the Lieutenant in co.Lmand OF
the two dismounted platoons also at
tempted an assault The German ma
chine gun was silent. the gunners hav-
ing been killed at their positi. 5. The
French troopers hurled themselves
upon the aviators. They were IN small
CrOl and at once began a fierce IN
terchange Of shots at a distance OF ilt-
teen yards. The German, who were
Gro ching along the edge of the road,
replied to this fire with great courage.
"While this was going on detat
ment of engineers, armed with their
tools and having been previously in
structed as to what TO DO, threw them
selves on the aeroplanes. With sure
blows from their pickaxes they de-
s.royed the motors, the gasolene reser-
voirs and the running gear Of the Ger
man machines. Furthermore, three au-
tomobiles which contained a supply
Of gasolene caught fire and threw q
glare Of light over the scene.
Before closing the enlargement for
the French losses had been great, the
courageous commanding officer wanted
20 engage the automobile IN the centre
Of the group from which the orders 70
the Germans had been issued and
which seemed to be occupied by the
German commander While the re
serve platoon was drawing back with
the comparatively few men remaining
in it the French lieutenant, followed
by only three cavalrymcn, made his
way up 90 this automobile and found
himself face 20 face with two men,
one of whom was an Of'lcer.
The officer. perceiviug his assallants.
Immediately opered fire on the group
cf four men with an automatic pistol.
The three cavalrymen fell. The lieu
tenant received a bullet through the
arm. but not before he had been able %
discharge his revolver at a distance OF
few inches against the chest of his
adversary, who sank TO the ground.
In Enemys Lines Three Days.
"The German who was in the auto
mobile with this officer succeeded in
landing on the French lieutenant hetv-
ily with the butt end Of a musket, and
the blow sent him spinning into the
gutter Of the roadway. Here he say
semi-uncOnscious for a few minutes.
but recovering himself and with the
assistance Of another wounded man
the lieutenant succeeded in dragging
himself 10 the shelter Of a field OF
beetS
Our losses were numerous. In the
three platoons engaged only ten men
came out of this engagement un-
scathed. They lid in a VILLAGE, and for
three days lived within the German
lines. Their dcliyerance came only on
September 13, when a division of
French infantry, victorious over the
enemy. marched into the town.
Another recital, this time of an aerial
engagement, also was given out Off
cially this afternoon. IL follows:
Toward 6:3O o'clock on the morning
of November Is q sergeant of one Of
our air squadrons, having on board his
aeroplane a Lieutenant observer. was
returning from reconnaissance along
the front He was about over the
French lines, when he perceived a Ger
man flying machine going in the direc-
tion of Amiens. He at once started 4
pursuit of the enemy, but the speed {
his machine was slightly inferior to
that OF the German, and IL was mpos-
Slble for him to overtake the enemy
In front o. Amiens the German exc
cuted series of evolutions TO make
possible the throwing of bombs, some
on the aviation field and others on the
village Of Cailly. These evOlutions en-
abled the Frenc,. machine to come up
The lieutenant opened fire on the Ger
mans and discharged about one hun
dred bullets from his machine gun
This fire damaged slightly the German
machine, but the lieutenant was not
successful in striking either the pilot
or any vital part of the mechanism.
Dodged Air Collision.
Nevertheless this machine descend
ed to the ground The French SER
Peant then approached another German
aeroplanc, this one of the Albatross
type, which was flying over Cailly.
end prepared to attack il. The pilot
Of the Aibatross, in skilful and des-
pCrate manHuvre. made a rapid haA-
turn and precipitated his machine ~
full speed on the French aeroplane.
The French sergeant, TO avoid colli-
sion, threw his machine back to such
an angle that the rapid-hre gun was
dl4acbod from, its faetapi,rs - faU