The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-12-26

BRITISH AlRmEn
ARE DAREDEvILS
Richtofen, German Air Star
Comments on Enerny's
Fighting Spirit.
TAKE LONG CHANCES
Declares Some Feats Are
ool-Hardy, but Foes
to Be Respected.
TAKE LONG CHANCES

London, England.-Maj6f Baron
Richthofen, the German air star"
who up to September was credited
with 81 enemy machines brought to
earth. has been discussing British air.
men and their fighting tactics with
Baron Ompteda, popular German
novelist. Their conversations are re-
ported at length in the illustrated
branch of the Lokal- AnZeiger.
Major Richthofen, who is described
as "air champion of the world" has
now far outstripped the records of the
late Captain Boelcke, who had brought
down 40 airplanes, and Lieutenant
Immelmann, who was looked upon as
a wonder when he had accounted for
his fifteenth victim.
The champions" brother, Lieuten-
ant Richthofen, had "a enemy ma
chimes to hisc redit up to the first of
November.
According to the description of his
private headquarters on the western
front, Richthofen concentrates most of
his thought and energies on the Brit
ish flying corps. The walls of his lair
ish planes, such as propeller parts. the
emblematic red, white and blue circles
cut from wings, remains OF machine
guns wrecked when his victims
crashed to earth, and other tokens Of
the conquerors prowess. Richthofen
is filled with lively respect for British
antagonists.
II am great believer" he said lin
taking and retaining the offensive.
Airmen must attack. Once we are
jockeyed into the defense 1t is devilish
difficult to turn the tables. Above all
else w ehave to outwit the English in
this respect. Their airmen are simply
da re -deviltry personified. They hardly
ever take time to study the situation,
but are always ready. even under most
unfavorable conditions, to attack. This
often results in their coming woefully
to grief, but their intrepidity makes
them foes to be respected.
"Their battle tactics differ conspic-
uously from the French. who adhere
to the more conservative rule of at
lacking only when in superior force
or when conditions are unusually fav-
orable. 1t has been my experience
that the English are not attacking now
with as much vim as hitherto. / at
| tribute that to the circumstance that
their experienced flyers. their best
| men, have been lost and the newer
and younger airmen have not yet had
sufficient practice In actual fighting.
There is no room for soft methods
| in air fighting. / often attack at 800
wards but can of course achieve bet
ter results at $50. Airmen cannot be
| governed by regard for anything but
| victory Above all, we must not in
dulge in any sentimentalty. That's
something entirely unknown in an
English antagonist Indeed, he would
laugh at such a thing. To give way
to wishy -washy thoughts with an
enemy's machine gun blazing away at
YOU at close range can easily cost you
your life."
Richthofen is % years old, of med
| ium height and muscular build. He
has blue eyes and fair hair. and is
described as being so shy that he Gre
ates the impression of being able to
. blush easily. His pictures make him
an uncommonly good looking German
A lieutenant of uhlans in 1912, he has
risen in rank with unusual rapidity
having become a major at 25, or al
least ten years before their rank Il
l ordinarily achieved in the German ar
, my.
: Richthofen's battle plane is said t.
: bear many scars inflicted by enemy
bullets.