Evening star., 1918-06-04
DESPERATE FIGHT
BETWEEN YANKEE
ANDFOE
Almost Surrounded, After At
tack, Americans Battle
Their Way Out.
MORE AIR VICTORIES
WON BY U. S. LADS
Pilots in Toul Sector Have Shot
Down 80 Enemy Machines
Since April IA.
Rx the Associated Press.

6AANV 11P4 Al
By the Associated Press
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE. Monday, June 3.-An Amer
lean combat patrol engaged in a des-
perate fight with a larger enemy pa
troll near Ancerviller. in the Luneville
sector. early today. The American
losses were slight. The German cas-
ualties are not known.
The Americans discovered the Ger
man patrol and endeavored to sur
round and capture the enemy. During
the fight the Americans found them
selves being surrounded by over
whelming numbers, but managed to
extricate themselves and retire fight
ing all the while. 1t is believed GER
tain that punishment was inflicted
upon the enemy by the grenades and
rifle fire of the Americans.
Guns Active in Toul Sector.
After long inactivity, an artillery
duel broke out this morning north
west OF Toul. 1t lasted several hours,
both American and German batteries
letting loose everything they had.
The Germans used much gas and high
explosives. The terrific roar of the
explosions gradually diminished until
noon. then quiet reigned again.
No infantry action developed.
Thrilling Air Fight.
Lieut.. Summer Sewall of Bath. Me-.
today shot down an enemy two-seated
aty 1law H.. An
northwest of Toul, after thrilling
fight, in which six German and three
American planes participated.
One Of the American patrol flights
was intercepted and attacked. For
fifteen minutes the machine guns rat
stood and watched the maneuvers of
the aircraft. They saw one enemy
leave the formation. and an American
chaser. pounce upon it. Both aviators
were firing. The American machine
was hit twice, but was not damaged.
hit the German, which then started to
retreat.
1t was here that Lieut. Sewall
dashed into the fray. He fought down
the German from 5000 meters to 200
meters and finally brought it down in
a field.
What remained of the enemy plane
was taken to Toul and set UP in the
square of the town on exhibition.
In three other fights today German n
machines were driven off, In this
fighting the American pilots believe
they got at least one enemy biplane.
Aid French In Defense.
The Americans last night aided the
anti-aircraft guns in villages in Pic
ardy and kept up a terrific barrage
when enemy aircraft again attempted
to bomb hospitals and peaceful homes
Of civilians. One German airplane is
reported to have been brought down
in the rear Of the American lines.
Bombs were dropped again near sew
eral hospitals. The enemy also con-
tinued to shell villages in which
american sick and wounded were
lying.
The enemy artillery and machine
guns are active around Cantigny. but
all efforts to capture the village have
been frustrated.
An enemy patrol was fired on early
this morning by an American patrol
One German was killed and the body
brought in. The American artillery
continued to harass the enemy; a fire
was observed In Montdidier.
Enemy aircraft have been particu-
larly active in this sector. They have
done no military damage, but con-
tinue nightly raids on villages behind
the lines. bombing promiscuously.
Fortunately. most of the bombs have
dropped in fields.
Fliers Make Env1able Record.
By the Associated Press
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE, Sunday. June 2.-Compi-
Iations which the Associated Press
obtained today show that the Ameri-
can aviators flying over the Toul
American pursuit units since April
IA, when they started operations,
have shot down at least thirty-two
enemy airplanes. Seventeen of this
number were seen and officially con-
firmed by the French. while during
the same period and counting the
pilot who fell in flames today, only
seven Of our chaser fiiers have been
lost.
OF these four were killed, one by
accident. two are prisoners in the
bands of the Germans and the fate of
tcday's aviator is not known for GER
tainty.
The victories gained by the Ameri-
cans are all the more important when
enemy machines shot down have been
biplanes, SO that the loss in these
cases has been doubly great for the
Germans All the American machines
lost were monoplanes.
Beats Hasty Retreat.
Late this evening. for the first time
in nearly a month, a German plane
was so bold as TO venture more than
a few kilometers over the line. and II
did NOT afay lop9 after discoyar,, h,,,