Evening star., 1918-05-25
SECTOR NEAR TOUL
NOW ALL AMERICAN
Aerial Pursuit Squadron Add
ed to United States War
Effort in France.

American airmen now patrol the Sec
tor northwest of Toul and a squadron
is acting as the eyes for and protector
Of the American troops on this front.
The recent activity Of American air
men in the region Of st. Mihiel was
carried on by this squadron, which also
is aided by other American aviators.
Two American machines have fallen,
while at least six Germans have been
brought down by the, Americans. The
sector northwesf4sf Tout now is an
American. The eunAtrs are American,
as are the men in the trenches, while
over their heads fly other Americans
with a distinctive insignia on their
n.achines.
Has Special Insignia.
By the Associated Press.
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE, Friday. May 24.-An Ameri-
can aerial pursuit squadron; is now
operating over the American sector
northwest of Toul. it is now per-
mitted to announce. All the pilots
whose air exploits have been record
ed up to this time belong to this
squadron. which has a special in
sigma. The squadron is flying in
Nieuport chasing machines.
The first victories. In which the
two German machines, were gained
the day after they took UP flying on
this sector. The occupants of the
German machines were made prisoner.
Other machines. aside from those in
ton. also are flying on the Toul front.
The fact that an American squadron
was there could not be mentioned
previously because 1t was not desired
that the Germans should know the fact.
fact.
American Official Report.
American aviators shot down two
German airplanes last Tuesday, says
the official statement from American
headquarters tonight. The text reads:
report. It is established our aviators
shot down two hostile airships on May
Except for artillery activity the
American front in Picardy has been
signs behind the German lines Of
slight movements, but nothing fur
ther to indicate that the enemy is
preparing to launch an attack here.
German Claim Not Confirmed.
NO confirmation is obtainable con-
cern1ng the German report that three
American alrplanes have been shot
down In the Lys region"
(The official statement from German
general headquarters Thursday re.
ported that on the previous day three
american airplanes had been brought
down on the Lys battlefield.)
Lieut.. Buford's Victory.
Lieut.. Edward Buford. jr., Of Nash.
vile. Tenn. today was officially cred
lied with shooting down q German
airplane over st. Mihie1 on May 20.
Buford, while patrolling, encounter
ed two German pursuit planes. He at
tackled one of the German planes.
which tried to lead him into the fire
from the other. Suddenly Buford
looked overhead and saw two more
Germans coming down for him.
He took a dive. all Of the Germans
dfVlng at the same time. and when he
came up he had one of the enemy
planes In front of him. Buford began
firing with his machine gun, causing
his adversary to disappear in a nose
dive. Although he was sure he had
hit the German. 1t was not until to-
day that the victory was confirmed.
A rev minutes later Lieut.. Buford,
by maneuvering. managed to get be-
hind two Of the remaining three ma
CHIMES and opened fire, but his ma
chine gun jammed. AS he was un-
able to use his weapon. he started q
series OF skillful dives and turns and
was successful in shaking OF the
three enemy planea