Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-23
Story of Duel in Air.

can incident which occurred some lit
tie time ago during our retirement is
also worthy of record. August %, dur
ing the battle fought by the French
along the Disc, between La Fere and
Guise. one of the French commanders
desired to make an air reconnaissance.
1t was found, however, that no observ-
ers were available.
wishing to help our allies as much
as possible. British officer attached
TO this particular French army. yolun-
teered to go up with the pilot to OBJ
serve. he had never been in an aero
piane, but he made the ascent and nro-
uuceo valuable reconnaissance re-
incidentally. he had a duel in the air
at an altitude of 5000 feet with the oh
server OF German Taube mononIane
Mnich approached. He fired several
shoss and drove off the hostile aero
ciatad ms action was much appre-
In view of the many statements
maze IN the press as to the use of
Aeppelins against us, it is interesting
70 note tnat the Royal Flying Corps, who
da au n Deen out on "Reminiscences every
Jay since their arrival in France, have
never seen a Zeppelin, though airships
OF non-rfgid type have been seen on
Two occasions near Marine.
Late one evening two such were OBJ
served over the German forces. Aero
planes were dispatched against them.
but In the darkness our pilots were
uncertain OF the airship's nationality
and did not attack. 1t was afterward
mace clear that they could not have
been French.
"A week later an officer reconnoiter-
ing to the flank saw an airship over
the German forces and opposite the
french. 1t had no Distinguishing mark
ana was assumed to belong to the lat
ter, though 1t is now known that it
also must have been a German craft.
The orders of the Royal Flying Corps
are to attack Zeppelins at once, and
there Is some disappointment at the
absence of those targets
Special Order to Troops.
'The following special order has
been issued today to the troops:
Special order of the day, by Field
Marshal Sir John French, G. C. B., G.
c. v. o., K. c. NJ. G., commander-in-
chief Of the British army in the field
18th September. 1914:
once more 1 have to express my
deep appreciation of the splendid be-
havior of the officers, non-commis-
stoned officers and men of the army
under my command throughout the
great oattie OF the Afsne. which has
been in progress since the evening OF
the 18th instant, and the battle of the
Marine, which lasted from the 9Th in
slant to the evening of the 10th. and
finally ended in the precipitate flight
of the enemy.
when we were brought face to face
with a position of extraordinary
strength. carefully intrenched and pre-.
pared for defense by an army and star
which are thorough adopts in such
work. throughout the 18th and 14tt
that position was most CALAMITY at.
tackled by the British forces and the
passage of the Aisne effected.
This is the third day the troops have
been CALAMITY holding the position
they have gained against most des.
perate counter attacks and the hail OF
heavy artillery.
81 am unable to find ADEQUATE
words in which to express the adj
miration 1 feel for their magnificen,
conduct.
| 1.-The French armies on our RICH,
and left are making good progress
and / feel sure that we have only te
hold on with tenacity to the grount
we have won for a very short time
longer, when the allies will be AGAR
in full pursuit of beaten enemy. The
self-sacrificing devotion and splendid