The copper era and Morenci leader., 1915-11-05
DARING AIR FIGHT
British AeropIane Eiudes Six
 German Machines.
Where Seconds Spell Difference Be. tween Success and Failure-Thrill- ing Episode Related by an Aero
 plane Observer in France.

London-This is an account of how a British aeroplane fought and eluded six German machines. It is. taken from the journal of an aeroplane ob- server at the front. The Ripper and the Mound, pilot and observer of the old cow," caused some anxiety at the aerodrome by being late in re- turning from reconnaissance.
 Here is the account of what actu- ally happened, extracted from the Mound with considerable difficulty:
 By the time we had gone ten miles into the hostile country three German machines began following us at almost our own height. We were not worried, because they had good four miles to make up.
 ''In a few minutes the Ripper shout ed down the phone: Look out on your left. They are trying to head US off Far below us, but not far in front, two more machines were climb ing towards us.
 q watched the machines below while the Ripper kept those behind in the corner of his eye. In about twenty minutes we had reached the end of our course and had completed our observations. All five enemy machines were now fairly close together in rectangular formation, but had not gained on us.
 How we were to get back and out wit the enemy was now our problem. The Ripper swung the old cow about twice to glve the impression of hesi- tation. The enemy, although still about two or three miles astern, turned north on the assumption that we must return the way we came. Having di- ! verted their course, we bore east again and gained a couple of miles while the enemy was determining what to do next. Keeping to their mass formation, they bore southeast, thinking they had us sure.
 Things happen quickly in the air. ! A few seconds mean hundreds of yards and the difference between sue 1 cess and failure. The Ripper tilted the old cows horns in the line the Germans were following. This lost us 1 some ground. The Germans were so | interested in this that they did not notice that we were edging off to the l north, just enough to insure their crossing us on our flank. In about two minutes they were almost level, but i well to the right.
 "The moment had come for a bold i stroke. The Ripper leveled the ma chine. poised her at terrific angle and made in straight line for the 1 yuh ped in unison. We knew that they would take good twenty seconds to get under way again. Like flash the Ripper circled outwards and made of l for the lines on a straight course. There was no one to bar the way for the moment The Germans were out witted, but started in pursuit. That twenty seconds meant half a mile to ! us.
 Suddenly above the roar of the en- zine there was the rattle of machine gun close up, and dull thudding tear as some shots found the planes. It was so misty it took us a few seconds to spot the new danger. It was an Albatross crossing us about 300 yards above The Ripper aeeled the old cow out in an instant and we were soon on level with the new enemy, who was laboring to pass our front again. We swung towards him and charged The pilot, who thought he had us on the run, lost his nerve and went into a spinning dive and only came out 5000 feet below.
 We resumed our homeward course without further incident"