The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-04-25

It was the finest day for war
flying that the young khaki pilots
ever had. and to-day they have
been at it again since sunrise. but
the full reports of their exploits
are not yet in.
1t is known, however, that one
intrepid young hier. failing to find
a single German observation bal
loon aloft, sought out one in is
hangar on the ground. diyed at it
and set the big gas bag ablaze
from stem to stern.
Not a cloud was in the sky to-
day behind which 4 German could
find shelter. Deprived Of that
means of digging themselves in."
the German tlierS were far scare
er than usual and very difficult TO
find. British machines were ev-
erywhere along the battlefront
and far behind the German lines.
Bombing raids were carried out IS
miles back. the machines deliber-
ately flying over ground where
battles were raging with the great
est fury.
German trains rushing reinforce
mentS to the front were attacked.
and transport columns on the
roads were bombed and complete
ly disorganized. In several in
stances the British machines came
low over the fighting lines and
poured machine gun fire into the
German ranks. In doing this. ma
chimes have deliberately crossed
the enemy'S guns.
Yesterday one British pilot, af-
ter bringing down two Germans,
and with all his ammunition gone.
descended. reloaded. filled up his
again. Within half an hour he had
brought down his third machine
for that day. Another pilot felled
two machines, while the other 80
were divided among a similar
number of British pilots.
The greatest fight yesterday,
oddly enough. was Il drawn battle.
One of the British pilots met
brilliant German flier. and for
full hour they maneurered in a
most marvellous manner without
eiSher being able to bring his gun
10 bear on the other. They rolled,
looped. twisted. deliberately
stalled their machines. and stand
ing the machines on their tails.
slid backwards through the air,
but all to no avail. 1t probably
was the most wonderful air duel
the war has yet seen.
The British pilot reported to-day
that several times he felt sure he
would get his adversary between
his sights. but the latter invari-
ably wriggled out of the line of
flier. The British flier himself was
kept busy avoiding the German.
and once he had to dive amost
perpendicularly. The combat did
not break off until both pilots had
fairly exhausted themselves and
their petrol.
Strangely enough, later in the
day another British pilot cncoun-
tered the same German machine.
The Britisher was winging his
way home after. 4 hard days s>work.
but he jockeyed with the German
for nearly a quarter Of an hour be-
fore flying on.
In strange contrast to this was
the experience of one British pi-
lot, who somewhat peerishly COM
planned last night that "I only got
a rabbit" He explained this by
saying that while his opponent
had a good machine. he was a
clumsy fellow and couldn't fight ar
all. and was, sent spinning with
the first burst of gunfire.
SUI another pilot mounted
fast new machine and deliberately
allowed 4 German TO get on his
trail. Then he suddenly looped
behind his adversary and caught
him just between the sights. the
burst of fire killing the German in
Stant1S