The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-08-01
A|RSH|P DUELS BY NO MEANS COMMON Have Presented Spectacular
 Feature of War
A VIVID DESCRIPTION
Of How Lone German Aviator Drove Off Two French Machines and Brought Down Third, an
 English Flyer

Berlin, July 15.-(Correspondence of the Associated Press )-With the few rare cases of duels between alrshps and sub marines as the only exceptions air battles between flying machines have furnished the suprenely spectacular and dramatic features of the present war. They have been by no means common-which per haps increases the spectacular feature and they have invariably demanded Of the participants degree of iron nerve that the average man can hardly con- ceive of.
 Such an air battle took place recently on the west front. Two French and one English aeroplane were pitted against one German flying machine. The French men soon withdrew, leaving the German and the Engishman 10 match their skill and nerve against each other. The for tunes of war were against the Englishman, and he was killed but not before he had given an exhibition of nerve that com pelled the admiration of the Germans who witnessed the battle.
 Thrilling Contest
 How thrilling the contest was may be Judged from the following account writ ten by Berlin officer:
 "Our airship building possesses, very
 
 ponents, the French and the English. We have to be constantly on our guard, and the sentries dare not take moments rest lest they fail to give us warning of the approach of the enemy at the earliest possible moment
 Recently the building has been visited repeat ediy by the French, who have tried to hit with bombs. Thus far they have had no luck in that direction. and our artillery has been able in one week to bring down two Frenchmen who relied too confidently on the speed of their ma chimes and who accordingly displayed an altogether too great carelessness, one might almost say imprudence,
 yesterday afternoon three biplanes were signalled, and at the signal Lieu tenant c rose to meet them and tc prevent their coming if possible. As a matter of fact two of the bipianes, which got into the cross fire of our guns, turned and went back. The third flyer, however. who was about 27O0 meters up, continued onward and steered for his goal with the utmost persistence.
 About 15O yards in front of the airship building two bombs were thrown, one of which did not explode at all and the other went off harmlessly. In the mean time our flyer, who had first satisfied himself that the other two bplanes had left turned toward the third enemy and
 
 Attempt to Get Higher
 "Our biplane, it could be plainly seen, was not as fast as the other-which later proved to be English-but the aviator at tempted nevertheless to get into the same altitude At first the maneuver was not clear to us then realized that Lieu tenant G--'s tactics were right. From guns in the rear of the building the Eng iishman received a couple of shrapnels that burst uncomfortably near to him.
 Nevertheless he made short curve and steered toward the building again xHe was again taken under heavy fire and one shrapne struck his machine The Englishman, however, wanted to dc what he had come for, and in spite of the quickfiring guns dropped from 3oc to 400 yards lower to be able to aim the better.
 This maneuver was his undoing. Lieu tenant G., who now was at least 50o meters higher up, decided to overcome the Inequality in speed in the two machines by dangerously steep plane and shot down to point about 30 meters above the Englshman. The observer in our machine at once began to fire upon the enemy
 The English aerOplane reared suddenly toppled over to the right. and then fell sharply As We found later, the propeller had been torn away by several bullets and the side sleerer was badly damaged. When about POO yards above the ground the machine turned twice over and plunged to the ground. As it struck the benzine tank exploded and we. hurrying up from al sides, found nothing but remnants. The two occupants were uoad.