The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1917-11-30
THRILLING FACTS ON
THE Battle FRONTS.
BRITISH AIRMEN DO REMARK
AsLE STUNTS IN THE FIGHT
ING IN EUROPE.


over a front OF 30 miles. mentioned In
the NEWS last week has been extend
"a somewhat since that by very Bit
ter and bloody fighting. The Germans
rushed troops from ether places 10 this
front and resisted atubbornly. but have
not yet entirely stopped the British.
II IL said 10 be this greatest victory yet
achieved for the ellies
The tanks the cavalry and the In
fnntry played strong parts.
TIE work OF British airplanes dur
Ing the present offensive forms 3.
graphic chapter IN itself. Despite th9
vllo weather. which compelled them tc
operate within few feet OF the ground
thoy kept steadily at their task and
rendered invaluable assistance both In
reconnaissance and offenslye opera
tionf.
There have been almost continual
battles between Germrn infantry and
British nirmen. flying MS low as 80 feet
above the ground. Never before ans
this kind OF warfare been carried out
on such large scale. Pilots have at
tackled infantry and gun crews indis
crimlnnteiy wherever thoy encounter
ed them and have inflicted heavy casu
altiea on the eneray with bombs and
machine guns.
The nature OF the figh,ing can lie
seen from the experiences Of British
pilot whose machine was literally shot
20 pieces by rifle and machine 'guu
flre and who finally crashed down be-
hind his own iines. with 10 bullet holes
through his clothing. although he him
self was unhurt
Another young airman Slturda, pre-
ncnted himself af headquarters afte-
having been shot down sor the third
time within two dayb. He was delight
"a over his experience and immediate
" applied for another machine ~ that
he might 90 cut sgAin. 1901
one aviator attacked a column OF
German infantry marching In close
formation and hurled two hieh-power
bombs directly among them. Th4
troops scattered and ~ the airusaL
whlrled away he saw two heaps Of
d. nd about 1ugo craters which tho
bombs had torn IN the road. There
were innumsrablc cases OF airTnen uiy :
bombing aeiodromes. troop transports
and gun crews. A large number or ar
tlIlery crews have been obllteratcd eth
cr BY machine gun IRE at close range
or b. bombs.
Naturally many OF the airJnen had
narrow escape from death and some of
course paid the full price and have
gone 10 swell the toll of bravo men
who, kave given their lives for their
King and country.
AmonE the hairbreadth escapes re-
ported IL that Of an aviator whose ma
chine was torn TO pieces while he was
nehfing German infantry with his ma
chino gun. He was caught In tho shell
nre and al the wings OF his machine
were shot away.
Fortunately he was flying only 20 o.
30 feet above tho ground and close 10
his own lines. He crashed IN No Mans
Land and found himself unhurt. He
Immediately caine under rifle and ma
chine gun IRE. but he found German
rlne with. some ammunition and en-
rAgcd the enemy single handed. As ne
fred he worked his way back until he
reached ore OF his own patrols.
There is OF much humor in fiyhting
af thI nature. but one incident occur
red which Is making the whole British
air service laugh to-day.
One OF IT,, youngest British sirrnen
was flying I low altitude. when four
Aacnlv macdlne-guns opened or him.
He swooped down and shot three OF his
opponents as he swept by. The fourth
nmchine gun Kept aring and .he avin :
tor. IN a spi.it OF boyisb mischief lean
ed over tlse side OF his car aid wrig-
glen his rngers In joyous deri-ion at
she C,qninn. lust as he was In tNr
midst or his interesting performanc'f
HIS ol,pns.ant nut bull, II square, y
tcrough tie palm Of thy air,aan's oi.'i
hand
Tho aviator presented himself at a
drpssfne station and when queried ad-
mittcd the truth with crestfaller face.
HIS consolation for his wound w1J
runrs or laughter and advice to be
more polite 10 a Boche In the future.