The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-05-24
Huns Bomb Hospita|s-Ki|I and
Injure Hundreds of Men
and Nurses.
allies HURL DEATH ON FOE
Factories and Railways Back Of the
German Lines Bombarded Day and
Night by British AIrmen-New
Raid on Paris Falls-Luil
Continues on Battle
Front

London, May 24.-The fighting in the
air in the last two or three days is un-
precedented in savage fury and wide
extent in the great war, so far as un-
official records go to show.
Combat sQuadrons, reconnaissance
expeditions and bombing fleets have
left wake of blasted hospitals, with
helpless men and Sisters of Mercy
slain, Of crushed airplanes, Of cities
aflame, of billets shattered and Of rail-
ways torn and paralyzed. In this great
warfare of the skies are British,
French, Italian and American airmen,
always on the aggressive, and the Ger
mans, whose military goals have been
hospital group back Of the British
lines and the civilians Of Paris.
Hundreds of Combats.
1t is impossible to record the exact
number Of engagements between avia-
tors, but in the last few days the
planes and balloons destroyed reach q
hundred, in round numbers, while in
decisive encounters run into the hun
dreds.
The latest British statement on aero
nautic operations announces that tons
of explosives have been dropped on
railway points, on chloride factory at
Mannheim on the Rhine, on the fort
ress town of Metz and Thionville In
Lorraine, on enemy airdrOmes at Ghent
and TOurnai, and on billets near Ar
mentieres, Bapaume and Bray. Great
fires were caused at Liege and at
Mannheim.
British Bag Sixteen.
The British report destroying 16
German airplanes and two Observa-
tion balloons and driving down two
other hostile machines out Of control.
Three British machines are missing.
Thirty-seven enemy airplanes have
been destroyed, 60 forced down out OF
control, and eight captive balloons de-
molished since the weather became
favorable, Paris reports. During the
night Of May 10 12O machines were in
the air at one time. Hundreds of
bombs have been dropped.
Paris Raid Thwarted.
For the second time within the week
the Germans have attempted to raid
Paris. Some thirty enemy machines
were driven off Wednesday night by
the terrific barrage Of defense guns
and by the 81 French flyers who took
the air as soon as the "alerte" was
sounded. Only one enemy machine
was able to reach the city, but many
bombs were dropped on the suburbs.
The casualties 50 far reported are one
woman killed and about dozen hurt.
The German bombing attack against
a hospital colony back Of the British
lines caused the death or injury "of
hundreds" according to dispatches.
Wounded men, sisters and women
workers were murdered or MANNED by
this attack One German plane here
was shot down. and the three occu-
pants made prisoner.
Fighting on Ground.
The official reports on ground fight.
ing show continuation Of brisk raid.
ing operations The British repulsed
small patrol attacks in the Aveluy
wood and south Of Hebuterne. In the
Aveluy wood General Haig's troops
cleared out a hostile machine gun
post. Other small operations were re.
ported, In one Of which the French
took prisoners and machine gun near
Bailleul and east Of Locre.
Increased gunfire in the KENNEL re.
gion is announced In the German state
ment. Berlin also claims French at.
tacks on the western bank of the Avre
were repulsed.
Yankee Airmen Busy.
With the American Army In France.
May 24.-There was a great aerial &C.
tivity northwest of Toul. American
aviators participated in more than halt
a dozen combats, but up to an early
hour tonight they had not been able to
bring down an enemy machine.
One American aviator engaged three
different Boche machines, one after the
other within 20 minutes.
Two other American pilots fought
for half an hour with two German ma.
chimes at an altitude Of $500 meters,
but failed to get telling shots home.
Socialist Papers Suspend.