The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1918-06-10
BY WALTER DURANTY.

Copyright. 1913, by the New York Times.
tho Chicago Tribune ana the QklAhomA
CITY Tlmes)
WITH THE FRENCH ARMIES,
June S--"ln the valley of Sayiere our
bombardment squadron threw more
than seventeen tons OF bombs on en-
emy troops and concentrations" says
last nights eommunique Your cor
respondent today visited one OF the
finest aviation grounds in the French
army and learned ut first hand the
story OF that exploit In the early
afternoon, the airmen were informed
that large number OF Germans were
assembling in the valley Of the Saviere,
a little affluent of the Ourcq. whose
course is almost parallel with the front
between Troesnes and Corey.
Germans Run to Cover.
Owing to the coniigmation OF the
ground they were sheltered from the
fire OF the artillery and it was evident
that they intended to reinforce the
German move westwards into the
forest of Villers- Cotterets. Bomb
planes were sent out The din Of
bombs was terrific. The German SOL
diers broke headlong and ran for
cover abandoning all thought OF fight.
Ten minutes later bOmb-plane group
Of the same strength arrived on the
Scene. At first no Germans were Wis
ible. Then circling low the airmcn dis
covered the enemy hiding in the horse
shoe wood OF Mautwlson on the east
ern side OF the valley. Again the de-
pleted battalions were subjected to a
terrible bombardment amidst trees
which gave no protection.
Second Load Dropped.
Before the decmated units could re-
form the first squadron had returned
with new load and once more the
wood was filled with the roar cf ex-
plosions. No human mortal could
stand such a terrible strain In vain
the German officers tried to reform their
panic stricken men When the French
infantry counter attacked they had an
easy victory over the weakened forces
that has made the advance. The air
mems stand against the reserves had
nullified a advance that might have
been dangerous ny reunting practic-
ally their available air force in the
sector Of attack the enemy were short
lived in superiority Tuesday there
was a good deal of air fig, ting turning
more steadily in odr favor.
Planes Go to ST. Quentin.
By Wednesday we had ru, the bOche
back where he belonged. The planes
went right TO St. Quentin, On the way
they fell in with a flotilla of thirty
Fokkers who instead Of attacking fol-
lowed them at great height Cur
formation was. so good and solid that
the enemy would not take the risk. At
the moment when the bombs were actu-
ally falling on the objective the lurking
boches assailed our rear 'oSt plane. The
others, perceiving this slowed down
md the advancing Fokkers met the
full blast OF the two rear machine guns
from each of our planes. They simply
turned tail and bolted and the bombers
returned without further interference.
Fly Like Cavalry Charge.
On one occasion a French escadrille
spotted large force of boche infantry
resting on the ground at a farm. Fly
ing fifty feet high in spir'l formation
like a cavalry charge we swept them
with bullets. The bochNs sought refuge
under shelter OF great wall on lie op-
posite side from whi-h the attack was
coming II was an unfortunate idea
as, swinging swiftly around the planes
concentrated their fire on the huddled
mob and literally moved them down.
The airmen said afterward the Germans
had simply asked to be executed I'D
placed themselves all ready in position.
Again scouts and artillery observers
who were forced to fly fairly low had
the same success as again the German
fighters refused 10 attemnt a rcscne.