The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1918-10-15
|RAIDINC PLANES /
Terribly ENEMY
Germans Thrown Into Pania by
Daring Tactics of Allied
Flyers.
MACHINES SKIM THE Earth
Low-FIying AirpIanes Disorganize ?oes
by Sudden Burst of Fire at Close
Range-Break Up Transport
Columns.

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ton Of airplanes and in the air f yht-
ing, has never before been more GEAR
ly proved than in the recent operations
on the western front. In last. MOI this
offensive the marrying Of German cav
airy, marching infantry and transport
by low-fying airplanes was the frst
example Of a really large scale coun-
ter-offensive from the air.
Ff6m r. A. F. officer of Ions
perience it was learned that it IS
deliberate method Of air fighting
conducted on the tip and run prinsi
of one swooping dive to earth, bringing
the airplane into close rifle range only
at the lowest point Of the dive, bit by
machines which fly audaciOusly low
until their ammunition is exhausted, so
low that pilots have identified the
regimental insignia of the troops at
tackled, SO low that the airplane wAeels
have been known to skim the earth.
Transport Columns Broken Up.
The object Of these low-fying pilots
has been to disorganize. the Germans
by sudden burst of fire at close range,
and very successfully they have done
1t, especially when breaking up trans
port columns and causing stampedeS
of frightened horses. But the method
has developed until now British air.
plane will fly along-not merely across
Ia trench, Notwithstanding 1t, and
such a thing may happen, as at Hamel,
where airplanes and tanks co-Operated
to such purpose that the infantry adj
vanced upon an already quite disor-
ganized enemy.
1t is routine work for the low-nying
airplane to interrupt German working
parties far behind the lines with ma
chine gun fire, and when one femem-
bers that the same parties are likely to
be bombed in their billets from the air
by night, their heart for work may be.
imagined, for both day and night the
bombing Of railways airdromes, camps.
and dumps goes on with it's simultane-
Gus effect upon supply, communication
and morale, and far behind the lines
the sources Of supply on the Rhine are
being persistently devastated.
And this Is almost by the way. The
the soldier who is the objective OF the
Eow-fying airplane, the soldier who
suffers In person and morale by the
,easeless bombing of billets. It Is the
aggressive air war Of the entente which
steadily and accumulatively depreci-
ties the morale Of the German soldier.
"And an ammunition dump was
blown up" What thrilling stories may
lie behind many of these brief stereo-
yped phrases In the official commune
.atioHl can ammunition dump was
,lown up,"-and much else besides.
Sprays Them With Bullets.
Here is just one little incident told
y Lieut.. L. Walmsley of the r. A. F.,
which may serve by way of illustra-
ion:
The Germans were reported to be
at the village of x. A
title chaser was run out, and the pilot
rdered to confirm the report, to harass
he enemy as much as possible with
machine gun fire; also to use his
rkcteus light bombs on the best avail
bic target. e.
Ten minutes flying brings him to
he trench lines, and the deafening
Disc OF battle browns even the sound
the engine.
The Germans are attacking and
ing, ragged, gray line of piled up
Orpses, which the airman at first mis-
akes for sandbags, shows the terrible
rice they are paying.
But sheltering behind this CHASTITY
ampart Of human flesh are living
[uns, and the pilot dives down until
e is only so feet above them. Then
8 he skins over the line, he opens fire
18th both guns, pouring out a hail Of
cath that soon visibly thickens the in
inmate gray masses.
But there is even more important
ork at hand. The village Of K is
lfckly reached. The market square
crowded with artillery and ammu-
ton carts. Diving to a height OF less
ian 800 feet, the airman drops q
)mb, and turns, just in time to avoid
e force of the conclusion caused by
he tremendous explosion that fol-
WIS. A direct hit has been made on
q dulluuHltIOu cart, anu the havoc
rOught In that market square battles
.scription.
The roads leading backward from
e village are now carefully recon-
Uttered. There is no sign of life
It'll a large wood is reached. Here
uadron Of Uhlans is found. A Sec
ID bomb is landed right in the midst
them, and in a few seconds the adj
ming fields are brown with stam-
ding horses.