Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-12-01
THRILLING AIR FLIGHT
Eyewitness Describes Battle Between
French and German Airmen.

Eye Witness Describes Battle Between
French and German Airmen.
Gabrielle Delagarde, correspondent Of
the New York Globe. cables from
Amiens, France an interesting account
Of the battle between aeroplanes over
that city, hitherto but briefly mention
ed. The dispatch follows:
/ have witnessed what Is probably the
most stirring spectacle in modern war
fare-a combat in the air. 1t was about
10 o'clock in the morning, and / was
talking with some officers in cafe on
the principal street Of Amiens, when l
saw people crowding to the sidewalk
before our door, with noses in the air.
Aeroplanes often fly over Amiens, but
as we heard the people repeating the
word "Taube,' we decided to go out
and see.
High above us, like a hawk in the
sunny blue sky, sailed the enemy-not
one but two, and presently three. The
crowd became restless, and most OF the
women disappeared. The entire city
became hushed.
Clear, loud explosions of bombs be-
gan to succeed one another as we
watched, fascinated. Then a newsboy
shouted, There's another" A flash Of
pale yellow wings appeared in the sun.
1t was French biplane. 1t rose and
rose, while the crowd gasped. Officers
stood staring through their glasses.
Still the biplane climbed upward.
One Taube, probably unarmored, flew
toward the north. Another plane moved
slowly just above us, while still an
other sailed southwark. We heard the
explosions Of the bombs which this last
Taube dropped on the gas tanks. The
biplane now was quite near the second
Taube. and the faint rattling sound Of
mitrailleuses descended from the sky.
The colonel beside me shook the
shoulder Of captain, shouting, Give
me your glass, quick"
The captain, trembling with excite
ment, contended himself with exclaim-
ing: It's marvellous marvellous, brave.
He is going to get it-he is hit. No, he
is keeping on"
The crowd yelled. Some Of the people
applauded and others had tears in their
eyes. All traffic stopped.
Back came the other Taube from the
attack upon the gas tanks. The French
biplane caught between two foes, turn
ed, all gilded with the sunlight, and
charged toward the new enemy. They
were very close to one another, when
the swift French machine leaped above
the German. still firing. We heard the
mitrailleuseS distinctly. In the mean
time the other Taube had come above
and was rushing to the aid Of it's COM
rade.
Then the French machine dropped
like wounded bird, and we experience
ed a moment heavy with anguish. But
the biplane had not been hit. A thou
sand yards above the earth 1t caught
itself and began to rise again. But now
a French monoplane was seen coming
to the rescue, and Immediately the
Taubes turned and disappeared.
The street was wild with emotion,
and every one talked with every one
else The news spread like lightning
that two workmen in the gas factory
had been killed and two wounded. that
fourteen horses were killed in stable
and two wounded and that people had
found French bullets lying in the street
near the station. Pursuit Of the Ger
mans was quickly ordered but it was
too late.
In the afternoon counted six French
biplanes sailing over the city toward
the north, perhaps for new aerial bat
ties somewhere behind the German
lines.