The Dolores star., 1917-05-18
Like Hornets. They Attack En-
emy Formations, and Drive
Survivors Home.
FOE UNWILLING TO FIGHT
From the Front Come Wondrous Stoe
les Of Dauntiess Deeds and Eeats
Of Aerial Tiiting-eritain Now
Commands the Air.

Out of the high, thin air. where the
fighting birdmen fly In a sort of dream
world OF adventure. have come within
the last few days still more wondrous
stories of dauntIess deeds and feats OF
aerial tilting to spread the welcome
glamour of romance over the more sOr'
did side of the war. Above the British
lines and far within the enemy terri
tory the blue spring skies have been
filled with daring planes that seem to
flash In and out among the bits OF
floating cloud with the speed Of the
very sunbeams that sparkle and play
upon their silver sides and all but
transparent wings.
Virtually all the visible machines
bear the red, white and blue markings
of the allies. 1t is seldom that hostile
battle birds with the Maltese cross up
on their spreading wings venture
across the fighting lines.
The British aviators report that II
Is difficult just now to get the Ger
man nviators into close fighting. They
say that the Germans appear unwilling
to engage in that sort of warfare and
continually attempt to break Off the
combnts.
Two fast British machines far in
the enemy's domain saw what ap-
peared to be great flock of German
planes headed toward the British lines.
The two British airmen climbed a cou-
look at the strangers. They then saw
that 1t was a formation Of IA machines
composed of fighting scouts and heav-
Ter two-seaters, probably intent upon q
bombing raid. The odds were rather
heavy against them, but the British
fliers decided to have u go at the hos
tile airmen.
Two Britons Rout II Germans.
Having faster and better maneuver-
ing machines than anything in the Ger
man formation, the young Britons
played about their IA enemies like a
pair Of giant hornets. They dived at
them time and time again. firing bursts
Of machne-gun bullets as they passed.
With superior speed and climb. the
British machines were able TO adopt
such tactics as suited their purpose.
and from the moment Of the first at
tack the formation Of the German ma
chimes began to break up.
After two Of their machines had
been set on fire and destroyed and a
third sent spinning down to an un-
dOubtedly fatal crash. the hostile
squadron was completely disorganized.
the surviving machines turning about
and making for home.
Another story has to do with the
narrow escape Of a young British naval
airman who sailed on a recent bright
afternoon to "strafe" German balloon
that he saw in the air some distance
back Of the enemy's fighting lines
Nowadays whenever British plane
crosses the lines within mile or two
of German balloon station rs. o. s."
signs ascend and the balloon ID hauled
down as fast as motor-driven winches
can drag 1t. The pilot was not to be
thus foiled, however. When he arrived
near the balloon it was only 20 feet
from the ground, but he dived for 1t.
Notwithstanding. the protecting ma.
chine guns that were sending up literal
fountains of steel-jacketed bullets.
The balloon began to smoke In sew
eral places. and the British airman was
diving at it again when his engine was
hit. The navy chap managed to get
himself home. like a wounded pigeon,
nevertheless. crossing the fighting lines
at less than so feet. Being a naval
man, he officially described his home
coming as 'limping into port"
Several other aviators recently at
tackled German balloons on the
ground The correspondent spent most
of Sunday on the battle front, but saw
no German balloons up after British
airmen had destroyed two early in the
morning.
Attacks Howitzer Crew.
On Saturday afternoon British
fighting scout was just taking the air
when he saw an "archie" battery fir
ing at a German machine high in tho
clouds. The BritOn deliberately began
to climb through this fire to engage the
enemy, but the latter saw him coming
and streaked for home. The Britisher
followed him for several miles. firing
all the while. but finally ran out Of
ammunition.
One pilot described the sensation of
passing through firing zone as similar
to that received in q small boat rock
ing upon the swell of a fast-passing
steamer.
Often the pilots Of artillery observ-
ing machines have been able to catch
pIfmpses of the Slow-moving, heavy
howitzer shells. 1t is related of one
British pilot that some time ago he
saw a big German howitzer shell COM
ing apparently direct for him. 1t
whizzed by harmlessly. however. but
the pilot was so angry THAT he spotted
that particular gun. dived ut II and
fired an entire drum Of machine-gun
bullets at the crew. He had not time
to stop to see what damage. II any.