Arizona republican., 1918-05-03
Protects Photographic Plane

Protects Photographic Plane
 While he was protecting a photo graphing plane, German machine came in view. The day was brilliant with sunshine. A French plane start ed for the German, but Meissner, who was flying high nearby in speedy Newport chaser, made a dive for the Germans tail. When within range he opened fire with his machine gun and the German started a spiral nose dip. but after few seconds strengthened out and started back for Germany.
 Lower Wings Torn Off
 Meissner followed so closely when the German strengthened out that the latter's wing tore both of the under wings of Meissner's machine, but at the same time the young American poured a deadly stream of bullets into the enemy plane, which started smok- ing. Meissner kept up the fire until the German machine burst into flames and crashed to earth.
 American Lands Safely
 The American pilot landed safely on his own side of the lines, but the Ger man fell about a mile inside the Ger man lines to the south of Thiaucourt. The American infantrymen in the front
 
 cheered loudly another American vic tory.
 Associated Press War Review)
 America is stripping for the decisive battle on the battle front of Europe. In an executive session of the military committee of the lower house of con- gress, Secretary of War Baker, Major March. chief of staff. and Provost Mar shal General Crowder have asked con- gross to give the president blanket au- thority to increase the United States army to whatever size may be neces- sary to win the war.
 This country now has nearly 2,000,- 900 men under arms and the army ap- propriation bill for this year would pro- vide for an increase of this number to 3,000,000.
 Battle LulI Continues
 While Americas plans for throwing against Prussianism are maturing, the lull which has brooded over the west ern lines continues.
 Expected German attacks on the Ypres and Amiens fronts have not been launched. Here and there the oppos- ing artilleries have broken forth into wild bombardments, such as usually are preludes to massed attacks on the | allied lines, but they have died out after few hours. Here and there | local operations have been carried out | for the purpose of strengthening lines and raiding the enemy's positions, but they have not developed into anything unusual.
 Attack or Admit Defeat | The Germans must attack soon or l olr -1Alr zatr laf1 bilious attempt utterly to crush the all lied armies.
 The present phase of the battle is not unlike that before Verdun, two years ago, after the first German rush had been stopped and even attempts to carry local objectives had met with defeat.
 Germany has lost heavily, but the emperor still has reserves to throw into the fighting. The defeat Monday on the Meteren-V Voormezeele line south west of Ypres has taught the Germans that the allies are prepared to stand their ground and there seems little in clination at the present moment to re- new conflict which threatens to be disastrous.
 Rumanians with Italians
 The report that Czech soldiers, de- | SeIllnS ITOIu the Austrian army, now are fighting with the Italians has been followed by a dispatch saying that Rumanians who had been captured by the Italians have asked permission to fight against the Austrians and that they are now on the firing line.
 The British forces in Palestine have re-captured Es-Salt, village from which they retired three weeks ago under pressure from a superior force of Turks and Germans.
 Sebastopol is Occupied
 A Berlin report says that the for tress of Sebastopol has been occupied by the Germans. This fhs expected after the capture of Simferopol last week.
 Ukrainian peasant deputies are re- ported to have overthrown the govern ment of that republic. This report fol- lows closely a dispatch saying that many Ukrainian officials had been imprisoned by the German for con- spring against the military authorities of the central powers. The new regime has announced that it will carry out the provisions of the Brest- -Litovsk treaty.
 AVIATOR IS DEAD Republican A. P. Leased Wlre1 LONG BEACH, Calif., May 2.-Good 1 Sa1I Chrictoffareon pilof of ap a;r