South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-04-28
BRITISH AIRNfEN GIVE GER
MANS JOLLY AFTERNOON


WITH THE BRITISH ARMIES IN
FRANCE (via LondOn), April a.
The German airmen had one Of the
greatest surprises of their lives late
Thursday. The day had been heav-
lily overcast until nearly 6 o'clock in
the evening when the clouds sud
denly thinned and the sun broke
through. A few German machines
had been sighted well back of their
lines, during the obscured period,
but when the sun shone out sew
eral enemy squadrOns which had
been housed all day came out to
stretch their wings in the slanting
afternoons rays.
They had scarcely taken the air
when the British machines bounced
upon them and in the after-tea time
fighting that ensued several German
machines were seen TO crash and
eight others TO be driven down COM
pletely out of control, which are be-
lieved to have been destroyed.
Calmly Await Attack.
Between and o'clock the air
was filled with wonderful incidents
of daring. There were running
fights and general melees. one dis
tinguished young Britisher, who
only recently returned to the air
after several months of rest, DELHI
erately sat over an enemy air.
drome and watched six enemy ma
chimes leave the ground and begin to
climb toward him. He was sitting
at 1900 feet, and calmly remained
there until the leader of the chal-
longing planes had attained about
5000 feet.
In the meantime he had noticed
that one of the hostile craft was
something Of a stranger. It had a
very long tail and a very short nose.
The Britisher, however. did not stop
to worry about il. He dived at the
highest of the climbers and gave
him two bursts from his machine
gun. Down went the German in a
crash just outside of a bit of wood.
While this little action was go
ing on five other Germans had
formed between the British plans
and his home line. Firing as he
came, the Britisher tried to break
through the formation but failed.
Then he turned away as if about
70 attempt to escape toward the
south. All the Germans started in
pursuit. one of them soon outdis-
tanced the others and was approach
ing the BritOn when the latter
whirled about and fired into the Ger
man at point blank range and saw
him burst into flame.
Next in line was the long-tailed,
shOrt-nosed stranger. L drove him
down, too" said the pilots report,
but after falling a great distance,
he fatted out and was apparently
all right"
A young khaki-clad pilot was car
ried far from his own airdrome. but
managed to cross the British line
safely Just before nightfall. His ma
chine was absolutely riddled with
bullets, but he was unhurt. Asked
10 tell about his adventure the air
man merely shrugged his shoulders
and said: "Oh, / just had a bit Of
luck, that's all This young flyer,
according 70 his companions. holds
the absolute belief that he will never
be killed while flying and with that
fatalistic assistance takes the most
desperate chances. the result that he
is rolling up one of the most bril-
liant records Of the war.
Not content with telling 3 hostile
machines during their brief flying
interval yesterday the British air
men also downed one observation
balloon and sailed forth under the
stars last night on a great bomb
ing expedition. during which they
upset three German trains bringing
troops toward the front. Two Of
the trains were completely derailed
and the engine Of the third appeared
10 explode.