The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-02-22
u, s. Guns DRIVE
OFF HUN RAID
American Soldiers at Mercy
Of German Airmen.
COME AND GO At WILL
Control of Air in American Sector
Lies With Enemy-Need of Planes
Great, Says Pershing's Officers.

Control of Air in American Sector
Lies With Enemy-Need of Planes
Great, Says Pershing's Officers.
With the American Army in France,
Feb. 22.-Germans again attempted a
raid against the American lines Tues
day night.
The raiders were discovered. The
artillery, responding to rocket signals,
laid down a heavy barrage almost in
stantly. The Germans path back to
their line was marked by red lines.
During the night a machine gun
bullet killed an American private.
Enemy planes flew over the entire
position repeatedly. One American
machine, in a dash over an enemy
trench. sprayed it with machine gun
bullets.
For several days the Germans have
been concentrating artillery of vari-
Gus calibres opposite the American
positions. They now have twice the
number of guns as when the AmeTi-
cans first took over the sector. Be.
tween 500 and 1000 shells a day are
being fired at the American positions.
At first there were hardly $50.
American artillerymen continue
their practice of sending the enemy
at least two or three shells for one.
Enemy artillery, in the last twenty
four hours, has paid particular atten-
ton to towns and battery positions.
Thav bava frad bupdrode ~ cboI1s On
them. Three soldiers wounded were
the only casualties from shell fire.
American shells have been dropped
on enemy works. They have cut the
enemy wire to pieces in many places.
Control of the air in the American
sector belongs to the enemy. Any Of
ficer at the front will make this decla-
airplanes come and go over the Amer
lean lines almost at will.
Every time the Germans come over
their path in the sky is specked by
f1eecy shrapnel puffs. But the chances
of hitting an airplane with anti-air-
craft shells is so remote the enemy
aviators calmly fly along as if on
pleasure tour.
Every now and then airplnes on
this side attack the enemy. They al
ways do when they get chance. But
the Boche is clever while flying, and,
Ine images to- come oyer and take pic
lures, make observations and do vir-
tually whatever he pleases. He then
calmly sails home without interrupt
ion. Nearly always he is at an alti.
tude of about 5000 metres (3250
yards). He Is comparatively safe
from anti-aircraft fire and knows it.
It is not permitted to name officers
Of the American expeditionary force.
It is not permitted to quote them. If
it were allowed, it would be possible
to quote virtually every officer at the
front urging speedy appearance OF
large numbers of American airplanes
with American pilots.
There is only one way to wrest con-
troll of the air from the enemy. That
is to fight him for it in the sky and
take it from him by force of over
whelming numbers.
If the Germans knew American air
planes were waiting for them every
time they came over the line, their
trips would be less frequent. Ntither
would they dare to attempt such
bold piece of work as when they re-
Gently flew over the line in an air
plane disguised with the allied red,
white and blue bulls eye marking,
and cut loose with a machine gun on
American soldiers in the trenches.