The Keota news., 1915-02-05
German Journalist Describes
Thrilling Fight IN France.
kaIsse's Airssips 0ssest French All
Fleet In 8piritsd Engagement
vietoss Thsn Throw Bombs
caussns Crest Damage.

lux III kU0 AA1OCb - 0pso0 WY
the battlehelds OF France. SENDS
vivid description Of . spirited battle
in the nj. in which he participated. He
was decorated with the Iron Cross for
tho bravery he displayed In this spec
tacular conflict
The weather was miserable during
the last week." he writes. We had
rain. snow and fog. The air was very
unfavorable for aviation. Gusts OF
wind made It dimcult TO navigate and
gave one 4 feeling similar to seasick-
ness.
"HowevAs, We kept mp Our practice
aud tried % % ~ much damage ~
p6ssibls TO the eaemy. Our opponents
were very daring and / must give them
credit for the bravery shown In their
nights above our ranks. They were
not afraid Of onr batteries and man
aged to escape the hail OF shots d.
rected at them.
80 We decided We would have to
Tight them In the air. We organized
system Of espionage and one day We
received word that five machines Of
the enemy had arisen In the neighbor.
hood Of A. and were coming our way.
At momeat's notice we got our ma
chimes In positions. the motors were
whirring and in intervals OF one-half
minute each We rose In the ai1.
"Immediately We took our course in
the direction Of A. and tried to reach
\ greater height than the French. de-
termined to send them to the ground.
We were armed to the teeth. 20 TO
say. We not only carried bombs. but
also machine guns.
In the neighborhood Of A. ne saw
the French machines cruising. Ma
chimes OF the single and double decker
type were flying around In open for
nation taking observations Of our po-
sitions. Az we were nytng In close
formation it seems they did not recog-
nixe how many we were. So they went
for our nrst ''taube" In . body.
But this little 'dovey' ducked and
rising again sent shot at one Of the
French double deckers which seemed
to put its propeller out Of commission.
At least, we saw the ship gliding
gracefully down to the earth.
I'm the meantime We had made
ready for business and now began 4
Tight Of one machine against the other.
The French tried their best to get
above m. In order to drop bombs upon
us. But we frustrated their game by
following them up higher and higher.
Il saw my colleague Lieutenant n.
about 600 yards to my left. finish his
adversary. He must have received
serious injury. for he went down like
IN arrow. The second ono was also
put out Of business very soon.
Then came my own and my com
panion's turn. A powerful double
decker ws9 flrinE furiously at NJ. A
great number Of bullets cut holes in
our canvas wings. when my companion
siEnAled to me with his arms to make
\ sharp turn to the left.
Our apparatus came to an almost
perpendicular position sideways and
then our machine gun began its dead
~ work. Within two seconds the en-.
emy's machine began to shake and
7shiver. then IL rose like . horse on
his hind legs and finally It turned 4
somessault. going down very fast. head
ars& When We looked around again
the. rest Of the enemy, two machines,
were In full night
I'm the meantime We had been dis
covered from below. They opeaed lire
upon us and We had to rise higher In
order to get out Of their range Still
ws were determined to reply to their