Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-08-03
DARING AWAT0RS
HARRASS|NG HUNS
Thrilling Air Battles Feature
of Great Struggle Along
Western Front.
BRITON DEMORALIzES ENEMY
Bombs Aerodrome, Silences
Guns, Shoots Up Train and
Riddles Infantry.
BRITISH HEADQUARTERS IN

BRITISH HEADQUARTERS IN
FRANCE AND BELGIUM, Aug. =
The work done by the British air SER
vice in Tuesdays offensive has not
been surpassed in efficiency and spec
tacuiar features since the war began.
More unfaVorable weather for aerial
operations could hardly have been Sc
iected At dawn when the infantry
advance began the whole country was
blanketed by thick. low-lying clouds
and by afternoon rain had began to
fall.
Despite these tremendous disad-
VantaSes huge squadrons of British
planes led the advance into the enemy
territory and not only maintained
constant contact with their infantry,
but flying at such a low altitude that
they often We're only few feet from
the ground, they carried on destruc-
tive warfare of their own with their
machine guns. Many fights occurred
between rival pilots, but the Teutons
were completely outclassed both In
numbers and skill ana were forced
to retire at most points after losing
six machines.
Fight Near Ground.
The majority of these air battles
were at a height Of two hundred feet
or less and in at least one instance
the two opposing pilots battled to
within fifty feet of the ground, at
which height the German side slipped
and crashed to the earth.
The British planes were under con-
slant and heavy fire, particularly
IRON, rifles and machine guns. owing
TO the low altitude at which they
were flying, but thru all this hurri-
cane of lead and steel all but three
came back safely. They are reported
missing and there is no indication of
what befel them.
Makes Daring Flight.
Wonderful heroism was displayed
by the British air men who performed
remarkable deeds. One typical in
stance will indicate the nature of the
important work they carried out. A
British aviator crossed the Ypres sa-
lient just as the infantry attacks be-
gan at dawn. For a time he patrolled
the roads and canals, now and then
running the gauntlet of enemy fire
at a height OF thirty feet in order 10
OBTAIN Information for the guidance of
the infantry In their advance.
During this patrol work he came to
German airdrome. Owing to the
early hour only one enemy was stir
ring outside the shed and he paused
In MS abiutions only long enough TO
satisfy himself that the plane above
evidently was one of his own.
The British airmen circled and
dropped bomb squarely on one of
the sheds. This brought numbers Of
Germans tunDling in a panic from
the buildings. He turned his ma
chine gnn on them and, circling
about the field. bombed two other
sheds with disastrous effect. All the
time he kept UP a steady stream of
machine gun fire at he Germans, a
number Of whom were killed or
wounded.
Silcnccs Machine Gun.
The Germans finally got a machine
gun into action against him, but he
diNed at twenty feet, slenced it with
his own gun. Having put this gun
our OF action, he circled the field,
firing with his machine gun thru the
doors of buildings at the enemy with
IN. At one time his machine actually
touched the ground.
Leaving the airdrome, the British
aviator attacked two German
mounted officers and put them to
flight. little later he encountered
column of two hundred troops and
swept along the line with his gun
working steadily. The entire column
was dispersed and fled by devious
ways to cover, leaving numbers of
their comrades lying in the road.
WO trtIIldu DUltie DldneS un-
poared on the scene and the British
engaged them both, sending one to
earth and putting the other to flight.
He pursued the fleeing plane, but 1t
was soon lost in the clouds.
In the meantime. q large body OF
German soldiers had gathered around
the machine which had been brought
down. The British flying man came
sweeping back from the mists in
which he had hidden and accounted
for several Of their number with his
machine gun.
Riddles Troop Train.
His next objective was troop
train He travelled along its entire
length, putting bullets into the
crowded cars. This completes the
story of one aviator's fight for the
day, but he later did valuable scout
ing work over the enemy lines.
Numerous incidents are related of
pilots charging the antiaircraft gun
ners and the machine gunners at
heights OF thirty or forty feet and
silencing the guns. Pistol duels be-
tween the British aviators and the
Geyman infantry were not uncommon
occurrences In one instance a young
aviator ir burst of chivalry delib-
eratey stopped his machine gun
when Il German officer drew his pis-
tol and began shooting at him and
engaged the enemy with his pistol,
apparently feeling that he had no
right To- take an unfair advantage OF