The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1918-12-19

y-Thres PIaneas
Low-hytng airplanes have been uset
by the Americans Ia the advance nov
In progress TO cover the forward move
msnt OF the infantry by laying down
what amounted to q bsrrage. Otter
the aviators have flown as low as 10l
feet.
There has been some notable air
fightine, with numbers Of victories
scored by the Americans. Among these
may be mentioned one by Lieutenant
Hoover. who brought down a mono
plane near HIvry. while Lieutenant
White STACKED two Fokkers In quick
succession. bringing down one at
Montfauc0n and the other to the east
OF that place.
Lieutenant Buckley and Lieutenant
Curtis got a Rumpler bipIane near
Brieulles. and Lieutenants Buckley
and Buts and Houston Woodward OF
Philadelphia drove down another
Rumplcr out of control near Fleville.
A total Of seven tons OF bombs was
dropped upon Longuyon. Audun.
Trieux. Gouraincourt snd Stenay by
French and Italian aviators, while the
British bombed Audun. Metz-Sablons,
Mexieres. AIRS. Thionville and Frescaty.
American svlators dropped quantity
Of bombs on Etain.
Airmsn Attack at Night
In no previous engagement have the
pursuit machines Displayed greater In
difference 10 weather conditions.
Night flying has become common. the
nirrnen starting on In the darkness and
landing by the light OF flares. Their
course Is determined by flash signals.
Raids by the alrmcn heretofore
have been confined almost wholly to
the daylight hours In operations Of this
character, but the Germans have been
forced In this engagement TO combat
swift attacks upon their balloons by |
airplanes appearing out OF the dark
ness and clouds and opening on their
troops with machine-gun fire while |
the men were trying 10 get a period OF |
rest
American pursuit aviators have
played their part fully In the offensive,
and. despite greater activity than us
ual, have come through as undlsputed
masters OF the air In this region. They
went out In pnlrs. singly. and In small
groups. They fought and vanquished
enemy formations ranging from seven
md nine to twenty-three machines and
great aid In the advance.
Aerial patrols left their airdromes
before dawn and were over
he sector OF attack by sunrise. They
raid against the German bal
oons, six OF which were brought down
Turing the day. Other aviators direct
d continuous barrage throughout
he day all the way from Chatillon-
Cotcs to lie Mnnesel at an al
ltude never exceeding 1000 yards.
flying al this low height. these patrols
we're able TO protect the observation
irplanes which were doing work for
he infantry.
One pursuit group engaged in %
ombats with enemy airmen. destroy
ng two enemy machines and bringing
own out OF control number of 9TH
RS. Other Americans flew over the
'erman lines as far as the Moselle.
outhwest OF Metz. They found few
herman machines. but drove back all
hey CHANGED To find. The work of the
observation alrplanes was virtually I'M
isturbed by the enemy machines.
series OF deep raids into enemy ter
tory was made during the day. The
rst OF these resulted In 10 combats, In
'hlch ten German airplanes were de-
troyed. The second was made at
wv altitude TO bomb concentrationsso d
lemy troops and conveys. II
Three German airpanes were en- G
aged and one was probably destroyed. e
A third raid was made In conjunc- q
on with bombing group against the a
abroad junction at Etain, and re- a
nlted in the successful bombardment IL
the objective. p
The Americans met German fliers
uring the bombing operation and are
elieved to have destroyed three of
lem. l
Long-distance accommodating flights s,
lso were carried out and valuable in Il
concerning German troop a
lovements was obtained. el
Observation Machines Busy. "
American observation aviators q
layed their customary important. "
hough little spectacular, part in the cl
dvance of General Pershings forces. L
hey carried out Is missions on Thurs
ny, starting from their bases before
aylight and working until long after
ark. They came in contact with Ger Y
ian infantry on 80 occasions. t.
The aviators We're divided into S.
roups. The first section was assigned Il
, an infantry unit to report its prog n
ess. The second did observation work, c,
atching the general advance, the To- :"
alton Of the enemy troops and the e,
Of his batteries Tho third Z,