New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-28

From a STAFF correspondent OF inc
Associated Press. with the British
Armios in France. via London, April
27.-Thc German airmen had one OF
the greatest surprises Of their lives
late Yesterday The day had been
heavily overcast until nearly o'clock
in the evening. when the clouds sud
denly thinncd and the sun broke
through. A few German machines had
been sighted well back of their lines
during the obscurcd period, but when
the sun shone cut several enemy squad
rone which had been housed all day
came out to stretch their wings in the
slanting afternoons rays.
They had scarcely taken the air wheh
the British nachines pounccd upon
them. and in Che after-tea time lighting
that ensued fifteen German machines
vorc seen % crash down, and elgn'
were driven to the ground completely
ont Of control. and arc believed to nave
been destroyed.
Running Fights and Melees
Rctween 6 and o'clock the air was
cu., nth deeds of daring. Tfcre
raro running fights and general
.,oi5os One distinguished young
mN..;.tor who but. recently returned
bI' a., flor several months resi-
too,;t|rotolv sat over an enemy a'i
49,, and watched six enemy ma
ulo..e - lesvc the ground and begin 10
cnI't .n,.ard him. He was sitting at
T g. nno toct and calmly remained thCie
Io'uTJ0 ~ leader Of the challenging
, uI',' had attained about 6,OOo iect'
pm pa ,,o meantime he had noticed tnaI
=" tbr hostile birds was somethihS
os'' I.ranoer. It had a very long ''li
oL ,.or,, sbort nose. The BritisIer'
anu , q AZ not stop 10 worry aDou'
ia dived at the highest OF inc
ni;r,bcrs and gave him two hurS,s
-, lie machine gun. Down Wc"'
IL carran in crash just OUTSIDE
hit Of wood. oo;,o, ~,
Ublo tbis little action was gong on
49,. - IL Germans had formed between
~ pr;,;sb 'plane and his home inc;
- 90 he came, the Britlsner trleu
broat through the formation, ous
SSroJ Thou he turned away, as u
- N attempt an escape toward the
9th All the Germans started IN Pu'I
80. ono Of them soon outdiS'ahcsu
~" o.,ors and was approaching lhe
pS:.ioto- when the latter whlrled ABOUT
pI ell INTO the German at point
GIort range, and saw him burst INTO
Gop1o .l.I
na Ne in line was the long-tailed'
S" 81 drove him down. too, said inc
.;1o4,s rencrt "but after falling gIeA'
5S i.J he fattened out and was APP
parently all right.
Out Again by Starlight
NJ. content with telling fifteen hos
~ ocbines during their BRIEF hyihg
;nto,n,oI yesterday, the British alrnen
l Ite 'Hi one observation balloon
alST .aIliod forth under the stars last
nicbt in a bombing eXpeoltlon, tra;ns
which they upset three HeI f ina,. T,yo
br;neinr troops toward the iront, ~
p f .ia tHyains were completed y derailed,
and the engine OF the lh'iu oPP'"'N
to explode. 49,, .lo+. during the
raid temporarily lost ms Deaj' o,,,o of
was fired Ct from the grouhu, In IN 81
the proiectiles being IN inc Ha.utJ re-
e-.oonisb colored rockets. In lhe SIaIe
~ fV thoso he happily saw supply depot
" ny Soneatb him. whereupon he let go
JuS' 81 his bombs and obtained dlrect
ny ~ Tho depot disappearing IN a great
nv, ~" All the British machines re.
turned safely, despite the uaiN"e0' -
the night. Liza rocortlv have
taken on variegated hues. 80 ~ bro,yn
80 oncountering them IN whlte' prov u
and red. and sometimes SIIlPeu "'''''''
like Zebras.
Crack German AviatOrs
Tho Germans have evidently brought
moro If their best pilots opposite thS
Rritisb front to meet the determined
Ill III, offensive which has been IN
go aronross since early in April. Most
Pf Tho ,nachires met nowadays are
Ia,dlod in manner far above the
cnrTnsn average. 1t is seldom, now
over that the Germans ever attack the
pr;t;sb unless they outnumber them at
Ono of the most thrilling OF recenii
adventures was that OF Young haEai
airman who is now attached 10 tn'
army service. With several other ma :,
chimes he was escorting some bompihg
'nlanes over the German lines, when
sPe 'arfin Iva a flock Of Germans dashed
at them from the clouds. For five MIN,
utes there was very hot lighting; I'll. IN
the general melee the naval man sc,
lected one particular opponent, ana
after a brilliant duel he drove MIN
down in flames. D..-L
During this fighting the Britishers
had become entirely detached from the
rest Of the formation. Seeing TINS,
three Of the hostile machines made for
him. He bravely attacked and drove
the German leader tumbling out of CON
troll. but the other two Germans kept
up the battle. In few minutes, how
ever. one Of these suddenly flew away
and the combat again became a duel
with the machines wing to wing
Finally the naval fier man@uvred into
. position which gave him the vital OPP
portunity. There was another burst OF