Evening star., 1918-07-19
ALLIED AIR FORCES
IN SHARP TKRUSTS
French Fliers' Attacks on
Bridges Used by Enemy
at Marne Effective.
BOMB MACHINES ACTIVE
Rr the Associated Pre.s.

FAhlS, July l6.-Inc "Ork Oh thc
French air forces in the operations
is described in an Official commune
cation issued tonight as follows:
"Our aerial forces have continued to
play brilliant part in the battle. On
July 16 and IT our bombing esca-
drilles attacked without cessation the
bridges over the Marine, obstructing
the passage Of enemy troops. These
troops. attacked by machine gun and
bombs at the moment of debouching
on the north and south banks Of the
river. suffered serious losses and
were obliged to disperse several
times.
"a bridge thrown across the river
by the enemy in front of Dormans
was copiously sprinkled with pro-
was crossing 1t was ingulfed In the
river.
Our combing machines likewise car
ried out expeditions against can
tonments, railway stations. NUM-
tion, de pots and concentration places
in the enemy rear areas.
Drop Tons Of Explosives.
'Twenty-one tons of explosives were
dropped during. the day and fourteen
during the night. doing much dam
age. A violent explosion occurred in
the station at Maison Bleue. Fires
broke out in the stations at Coucy.
Les Etapes and Bazoches.
Our airplanes. with their usual
dash, have engaged in numerous COM
oats over the enemy lines. Twenty
nine German machines were brought
down or put out of action and i've
captive balloons were set afre. Yes
~ L.. -
torrenttal rains. our sQuadrons took
the air and obtained good results.
Twelve German airplanes were
brought down and four captive ball
looms were destroyed.
I'm the attacks on the Marne Cross
ings $500 kilos Of explosives were
used"
British Bombing Raids.
official Communication was issued by
the admiralty tonight dealing with
the navy's aerial activities:
During the period from the 11th to
the 18th of July. inclusive, royal air
force units. working with the navy
in homo waters, have maintained the
anti-submarine and escort patrolA
Bombing raids have been carried out
when the weather was favorable, with
good results.
Enemy destroyers have been sight
ed on the Flanders coast on several
occasions, and attacked with bombs. A
direct hit was obtained on one large
destroyer.
''Our formations also have attacked
destroyers with machine gun ire. On
one of these occasions nve enemy sea-
planes approached at the beginning Of
the action. but Immediately withdrew.
Enemy aircraft have been active
and have attacked our bombing and
patrol formation Three hostile ma
chimes have been destroyed or driven
down out Of control. Two Of our ma
chimes are missing. One of our anti
submarine patrol machines observed
an enemy seaplane upside down in
the sea- There were no occppants
OF it
Attempt to salvs Destroyer.
Enemy attempts to salvs the tor
pedo boat destroyer recently sunk
close to Zebrugge by a bomb from
one Of our machines have been great
iy hindsred by our bombing forms
tons"
The oficial statement on aerial
operations issued tonight says:
~On July II the weather was cloudy
at nrst, but improved later. allowing
q considerable amount Of aerial recon
naissance. photography and artillery
Eleven and a half tons OF bombs
were dropped during the day on en-
emy dumps and railways and on the
Brungeoise works.
Comparatively few enemy machines
were encountered. We shot down
three and drove one down out Of con-
troll. We lost one machine. We also
shot down six hostile balloons in
flames
Severe thunderstorms prevented
our machines from carrying out night
bombing"