Arizona republican., 1918-05-17
AMERICAN GUNNERS
 PRAISED; STORY IF
 AID F|GHT GIVEN
Republican 4. p. Leased Wirel

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN FRANCE, May 16.-(By the Associated Press)-Several fires were set in Montdidier and behind the German lines by the American batteries last night. Enemy communications are continually battered by the American heavy artillery and the aerial services on both sides are active. The infantry, however has not been engaged,
 The Germans are using searchlights every night. French officers give high praise to the American artillery units for their accurate work.
 Two German airplHaes were brought down yesterday by French avlators in this sector.
 Tell of Air Battle
 Captain David Peterson of Hones- dale, Pa and Captain Kenneth Marr, California. the heroes m the aerial bat tie Wednesday in which Captain Pet erson brought down two German mono planes and Captain Marr destroyed an enemy biplane in the Foul sector, re- lated their stories of the battle today.
 T was flying near Thiacourt at an altitude of 5000 metres" said Captain Peterson, when I saw two German Albatross scouts going away at right angles in the distance. One was ahead of the other I ascended 200 metres higher. circled and stopped my engine and darted after them. I finally got close to the last plane. At a distance of 100 yards I opened fire with in- cendiary bullets and the German ma chine almost immediately burst into flames and fell. I continued straight on my course" he continued, "and within two minutes had the other enemy machine before me. He started a quick dive but am certain that some of the bullets went home. One of the wings of his machine crumpled up al the same moment. As I circled about saw one machine burning on the ground and the other, smoking in its downward plunge, crash to the earth That is all there is to it. It was 6 cinch.'
 Way Up In the Air
 Captain Marr was flying at an alti tude of 2,000 metres when he saw al enemy machine over the American lines.
 As I sailed out I saw him far away circling out from our line amid a clouC of puff balls from our 'Archies, h, said. T circled out wider and finall, passed the German and turned agail down our line, between the enemy an, the sun. Both of us had the sun a
 our backs.
 AS I opened up my motor and ap : preached nearer" he said, T saw tha 1 had a two-seater to deal with.
 thought that the German might see m or hear my motor so went hundre
 metres lower until right under the ta ' of his machine. Then I pointed tn nose of my airplane upward and wen
 on level with the enemy, and opene fire at him at point blank range. Tn
 German never knew 1 was there unt incendiary bullets, alternating with or dinary missiles, began pattering throug
 his machine. After 20 shots his ma z chine toppled, I must have got luck ' shot home on the pilot. for the machin I went down, Wavering through the ai l liNC tb lcdL HUH d tree. | saw the O1
 server standing up in the machine try
 ing to get his machine gun to bear O f me, first from one side and then froi
 the other.
 I Enemy Game Bird
 T certainly felt sorry for the helI r less beggar. There he was dashin ;. to a certain death but to the last game V ly trying to give me a fight" = Captain Peterson and Captain Maj r. were standing on their flying field t daybreak this morning as they spok t It was a perfect day for flying and the e were about to leave for a patrol ov, q the enemy lines. As they stepped in
 their machines, Captain Marr said:
 Well, we're off again. Maybe V IS will get some more. Maybe they W l. get us. Anyway it's a fine day for 70 So-long" al The motors started and the two ali
 machines took the air and disappear, le toward the front.
 KS DEVTT,TSH DIAN nr