The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-01-14
BERLIN CLAIMS ROUY'
OF BRITISH AIRMEN
Four Filters Brought Down,
Six Of Eight Men Killed,
Says German Report.
FRENCH IN NEW ATTACK
Special Cable Despatch to Tns s,S.

SpSCtdt t0Oie bSsputcH ~ S"N
LONDON. Jan. 13.-Four British aero
planes have been brought down bv
the Germans while on reconnaissance
duty at various points of the line
In France. according to the Ger
man oficial statement, which says
that six OF the eight aviators were killed
and two wounded. The fact that the
four machines. absent since yesterday
have not returned to their stations was
announced by the official press Dureai
here to-day.
The Daily Man draws attention &c
German announcements that ten British
aeroplanes have been downed and eight
airmen killed on the western front In
the past month. and asks what the rea-
son Is. In this connection 1t ~speculates
on whether the new battle plane. known
as the Fokker, with a reputed speed OF
1l2 miles an hour and the ability 10
climb 5000 feet in ten minutes. Is estab-
fishing its superiority.
1t remarks further on tho possibility
Of daytime %aeroplane raids on England,
such as the French and British have
instituted at times against Germany. and
wonders whether the Government Is pre-
pared for such a contingency. Gunfrc.
1t contends. IL practically useless. the
only method OF combating an aeroplane
aid OF the kind being with swifter and
more heavily armed planes than the
enemy's.
Attacks by both sides are reported
to-day from the region Of lie Mesnil In
Champagne. which has been the secene
OF almost continual fighting for the last
week,
The Germans attempted a surprise at
tack with grenades northeast OF the
Butte du Mesnil and another in the dis
t,tgt ~ tI, Nl..x. Il. Il. 49,. va hAtI
of which were checked by the French
fire curtain. The French War Office
also reports the dispersal OF "A German
convoy near Grateful. northeast OF
Tahure.
The German official statement says
that the French. renewing their attacks
In this sector. attempted an advanC
northeast of lie Mesnil out We're re-
pulsed. and adtis that the French also
failed in an attack against the portion
of trenche captured by the Germans
last Sunday near the Maisons de Cham
payne.
The official communicate issued by the
War Office tonight follows:
In Artois We executed on the po-
sitions on the Lille road a violent
bombardment which destroyed at sew
eral points enemy trenches and shell
tiers.
Between the Somme and the Disc n
German column estimated at a regi-
ment was brought under our fire at
the m when IL was entering
Roye.
To the north of the Aisne our ar
tillery damaged an observation post
and mitrallleuse shelters and reduced
to silence an enemy battery OF lO5s
on the plateau OF Nauclerc.
In Champagne we dispersed IN I'M
portant CONVOY In the region OF Graz
teuil.
In the Argonne we exploded "A mine
At La File Morte and two mines at
Nauquois.
The following report from British
Headquarters IN France was issued to-
night ny the official press bureau
Last night the enemy exploded u
mine near Givenchy. followed by an
attack with bombs. which was re.
pulsed.
To-day was quiet.
Four OF our aeroplanes. absent since
yesterday. have not returned.
Tn afternoon French communicate i.
As follows
Between the Somme and the A,rc
last night the enemy attempted u sur
prise attack against one of our small
positions. The attack was a complete
failure.
In Champagne the enemy made two
surprise attacks with hand %grensdcs.
one to the northeast of Butte de Mes
nil. the other In the district OF tho
Maisosls de Champagne farm They
were checked al once 10y our curtain
OF Are.
Further Information regarding tho
attack attempted Yesterday by the
Germans. with tho us Of ~sufocatiug
gases. In tho rcgIou OF FORCES shows
TIM, IN ~. -nnr.. - Tho nnnr4t-nn