The sun., 1916-11-13
AMERICAN filters
IN Big AIR BATTLE
Seven Took Part in General
Attack on Germans on
SOmme Front.

w.
PARIS. Nov. I2.-During two days
spent on the French front this week the
correspondent Of The Sun passed Thurs-
day afternoon with the American esca-
drille al the aviation centre. which II has
recently Joined. With several French
escadrilles IL forms one OF the most I'M
portant aviation groups at the front.
After several days of rain Thursday
was g%loriously fine. with "A blue sky and
little wind. although II may be said mat
this group hardly allows the wind to
interfere with its activities. Hence II
was not surprising to ind In the next
days French communiuue that there had
been seventy-seven air engag ements dur
ing the day on the Somme front.
When | reached the American esca-
diille Thursday. l found almost every
one Of them had been over the lines
during the morning. Several reported
they had "a fights. but were unable
to state the results until the official OBJ
servers reports were received.
big Drop ON Foe.
Paul pavelka dived from a height OF
1000 feet to $500 feet upon his adver.
sary. and fired. The German dropped
as IL hit. but avelka thought he might
have recovered.
Raoul Lufb-ry returned from a flight
he had volunteered to make during thu
afternoon with IA bullet hole through
his machine. saying he believed he had
forced his enemy TO descend,
Bert Hall. who has now exchanged
into a French ~escadrille forming a par
OF the same group. visited the Ameri
cans quarters and reported he hat
downed one.
Dudley hin OF Peekskill. y. Y. for
merry u student at New York cn!yer'
sity: Ralph Soubiran, Willis Iiavilanc
and Didier Mason all reported tina
scraps were plenty. as the German avi
ators were out. YOU have To go I,
Germany to find them. however" thel
said.
The only inactive members were Nc
Conn-ll. who IL rejoining on Saturda,
after having been on sick leave becaus
OF rheumatism. and Lawrence Rumsey
who has been laid on by an attack o
bat. an Egyptian plague OF boils. viii
lam Thaw and Cho'eau Johnson are alb
sent ON cave. on their way 10 New York
Fred Prince sails on sunday for a fort
nights leave.
JOY Depends On weather.
The American machines now bear a
the escadrille's mark the profile OF
North American Indian with wa
feathers. The escadrille's mascot is
lion cub called "Whiskey," II has nc
c-pted its changed quarters with equa
nimity. eats everything aud growls wit
all the power Of "A full grown nina ],
presence has conferred ON the escadril
q notorlety rivalling hat gained b
the members exploits.
The Americans live in a wooden la,
ia'k built In the forest around the av
ation field. Each man has his ow
cubicle. with "A common living room
ne end Of the building. Their EMO.
ment Of life II greatly dependent upC
the weather conditions. The escadrilie
photograph seemed to he doing duty 60
tinuouslS. The electricity * shut of
10 o'clock At night, and that closes Il
day.
A plaster cast has been taken OF q
face OF Norman Prince. who was kill,
recently. To enable a sculptor TO make
bust for the family. The Governme
placed nj the sculptor's disposal its q
ficial cinema pictures in which the Anne
= lean aviator appeared. These gave I
T. artist such assistance that IA llf.like :
suit was obtained.