Catoctin clarion., 1918-11-14

Pairs, SingIy and IN erouPs '"ey
FOUGHT and Vanqulshed German
Formations Of From Nine to TWEEN.
ty-Three Planes.
Low-fylng airplanes have been used
by the Americans in the advance now
in progress to cover the forward moye'
ment of the infantry by laying down
what amounted to a barrage. OFTEN
the aviators have flown as low as lou
feet.
There has been some notable air
fighting, with numbers OF victories
scored by the Americans. Among these
may be mentioned one by Lieutenant
Hoover. who brought down a mono
plane near Sivry, while Lieutenant
White attacked two FOkkers in quick
succession, bringing down one at
Montfaucon and the other to the east
Of that place.
Lieutenant Buckley and Lieutenant
Curtis got Rumpler biplane near
Brieulles, and Lieutenants Buckley
and Butt and Houston Woodward OF
Philadelphia drove down another
Rumpler out of control near Fleville.
A total Of seven tons Of bombs was
dropped upon LOnguyon, Audun,
Trieux. Gouraincourt and Stenay by
French and Italian aviators, while the
British bombed Audun, Metz-Sablons,
Mezieres, Ars, Thionville and Frescaty.
American aviators dropped quantity
OF bombs on Etain.
Airmen Attack at Night.
In no previous engagement have the
pursuit machines displayed greater In
difference to weather conditions.
airmen starting off in the darkness and
landing by the light Of flares. Their
course is determined by flash signals.
Raids by the airmen heretofore
have been confined almost wholly to
the daylight hours in operations OF this
character but the Germans have been
forced in this engagement to combat
swift attacks upon their balloons by
airplanes appearing out Of the dark
ness and clouds and opening on their
troops with machine-gun fire while
the men We're trying to get period of
rest.
American pursuit aviatOrs have
played their part fully In the offensive,
and, despite greater activity than US
ual, have come through as undisputed
masters of the air in this region. They
went out In pairs, singly, and in small
groups. They fought and vanquished
enemy formations ranging from seven
and nine to twenty-three machines and
rendered great aid in the advance.
Aerial patrols left their airdromes
Thursday before dawn and We're over
the sector Of attack by sunrise. They
began their operations by launching a
successful raid against the German bal.
looms, six Of which were brought down
during the day. Other aviators direct
ed continuous barrage throughout
the day all the way from Chatillon-
sous.les- Cotes to lie Manesel at an al
titude never exceeding 1000 yards.
Flying at this low height, these patrols
We're able to protect the observation
airplanes which were doing work for
the infantry.
One pursuit group engaged in %
combats with enemy airmen, destroy
ing two enemy machines and bringing
down out Of control number of 9th.
ers. Other Americans flew over the
German lines as far as the Moselle,
southwest Of Metz. They found few
German machines, but drove back all
they CHANGED to find. The work Of the
observation airplanes was virtually un-
disturbed by the enemy machines.
A series OF deep raids into enemy ter
ritory was made during the day. The
first of these resulted in 13 combats, in
which ten German airplanes were de-
strOyed. The second was made at q
low altitude to bomb concentrations OF
enemy troops and conveys.
Three German airplanes were en-.
gagged and one was probably destroyed.
A third raid was made in conjunc-
tion with bombing group against the
railroad junction at Etain, and re-
suited in the successful bombardment
of the objective.
The Americans met German f1iers
during the bombing operation and are
believed to have destroyed three of
them.
LOng-distance recOnnOitering flights
also were carried out and valuable In.
formation concerning German troop
movements was obtained.
Observation Machines Busy.
American observation aviators
played their customary important,
though little spectacular, part In the
advance of General Pershings forces.
They carried out rs missions on Thurs
day, starting from their bases before
daylight and working until long after
dark. They cane in contact with Ger
man infantry on 80 occasions
The aviators were divided into
groups. The first section was assigned
to an infantry unit to report its prog.
ress. The second did observation work,
watching the general advance, the 10,
cation of the enemy troops and the
ve,a-nts Of his batteries. The third
section was attached to the corps for
general scouting and observation work.
The American machines not only
carried out this work, but themselves
went over to the offensive repeatedly
and spent much time in attacking enc
my formations.
The aviatOrs returned to their ham
gars at night with the wings of their
machines often riddled with bullets. A