New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-19

1
scene which but few months ago be-
loneed wholly in the realm OF dreams.
It was the worlds biggest battle in the
air. fought over London almost at mid
day on July 7, 1917. 1t would be vain
to attempt a description which would
enable the average person to under
stand in any adequate degree It's
grandeur. or the awe and wonder with
which one beheld IT, To see almost a
hundred great battieships engaged in
mortal battle high in the air. to watch
them in their maneuvring for posi-
ton, to observe the onslaughts of the
defending force against the battle ar
ray Of the invading enemy. to hear the
whirr of the engines mingled with the
constant roar of machine gun fire, and
both being overwhelmed ever and anon
in the giant roar of bursting bombs. to
see the Keeling Of an airplane as 1t
was struck by the fire of the enemy,
and 10 watch its plunge downward.
turning over and over. perhaps right
! ing itself and advancing again to the
| attack or perhaps crashing to the
earth in a ruined nasal this is i'm
possible of description. | thought 1t
exciting to be chased by submarine
intent upon sending my ship to the
bottom of the sea; never expect to
see a more thrilling sight than the one
| witnessed when the British dying
corps met and defeated the Ksiser's
Air Huns"
The Engines Are Heard
| was in a taxicab being driven 10 a
railway station when my attention was
! first attracted by the sound of the en-
gines and the intermittent fire of the
anti-aircrsft defence guns. Suddenly
my automobile was shaken by the
( shock Of great bomb explosion. The
sound seemed remarkably close to me
and felt the shock distinctly. The
tsxieab Immediately drew up. and when
/ had alighted the German air fotilla
plainly could be seen.
] They were advancing in battle array,
spread out like g great fan, or like a
/ flock Of geese flying South in the au-
tumn time. led by great plane, evil
IDENTIFY occupied by the commander OF
the expedition. They were flying very
! low and their speed seemed leisurely,
although It must have been at the rate
Of at least fifty miles an hour. Their
| lines were straight and it was apparent
/ that they were under strict discipline
in anticipation Of the attack from the
British machines. At irregular inter-
walls machine gun could be heard
then the roar of the defence guns. and
then the swiftly falling bomb could be
seen for a moment before the noise OF
it's mighty crash reached the ear. For
what seemed three or four minutes, but
which in reality could not have been
so long, | gazed at the approaching
! instrument of German ruthlesSness.
/ The Official figures have placed the
number of hostile machines at twenty
two. but | am confident that | counted
! over thirty and I mentally estimated
/ the number of machines in the fleet as
above forty.
British Planes Attack
Suddenly the British fiers went up
ward to the attack, but in much smaller
numbers, With a marvellous daring
/ they SCARED directly in the path OF the
enemy and drove straight at him. Clear
! vision now somewhat was obscured by
the smoke from the guns as the TWO
souadrons opened q terrific fire up0h
each other, while din that was pierre
ingly sharp and clear rang IN my ears
At the first onslaught the British
/ broke the Huns formation completely,
/ and the machines became so mingled
/ that | could no longer distinguish be-
/ tween them. II now was simply noat-
/ ing and whirling mass Of demons fight
! inc furiously as they dashed madly
| through the air. The bomb carrying
machines continued to discharge their
/ missiles, however, and it was possible
/ TO hear them plainly as they struck
/ the earth.
| distinctly saw two of the enemy
/ machines swerve to one side, reel un-
steadily for moment, ana tnen go
plunging madly downward. | do not
/ know whether the pilots regained con-
troll and saved themselves or whether
thew were actually brought down, but
the official reports declare that at least
! five were destroyed. -
| was quickly aroused from the spell
which the battle had cast over me when
! the feet turned sharply and came
/ speeding in my direction. l leaped
/ into nv autom obile and ordered the
driver TO proceed to the nearest tube
entrance; / had determined to seek
! refuge underground from any bombs
, which might fall near me. This en-
trance was, fortunately, but few blocks
away and was soon reached. When
! I looked upward again, however, dis
covered that the enemy had made an
other turn and were speeding away 70
the sea, with the British air fleet IN
full pursuit and still raining their fire
upon the invaders.
One Hundred Bombs Dropped
was quite sure that at least lot
bombs must have been dropped, but the
exact number has never been officially
stated. Several unexpected missiles
were found. and they were closely
guarded by the police until carried
away by the military authorities. Wher
an explosion occurred the damage done
in the immediate vicinity was, to me
I remarkably small. | was quite sure
that any of the explosions ! heard were
sufficient to wreck an entire BLOCK Of
houses, and it was q matter Of great
surprise to find that most Of the dam
age was but broken glass and grea
holes in the street. Some OF the
bombs, however, struck prominent
buildings with disastrous effect. One
fell on a church and killed CIR