The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-09-30
DOING A WONDERFUL WORK
In the Face of Constant Firing,
They Fly Over There.
One Group Downed 35 Boches
in Three Days.

With the America ms West of YER
dun, Sept. 30.-A group Of IA Amer
lean airplanes has flown 44,510 miles
equal to travelling almost twice
around the earth. In the aggregate,
371 flying hours have been crowded
into two days.
Such flying in the face of constant
firing is an indication of the wonder
full fighting. observing and bombing
work the Americans are doing.
Drop Tons. of Bombs.
Tons of explosives are being dropped
on Mezeries, the key to the whole
German communication system in
this region, as well as Charlville,
Grandpre and Etain. All hangers
and supply centers are being showered
with bombs. Enemy troops on the
road and machine gun nests are
bombed. Observation balloons arc
harassed and shot down. The air has
been swept practically clean of boche
planes. Pursuit planes. working in
big groups, participated in shock ac-
ton" fights in which twenty thirty
planes are involved. Near Charpen-
try eight boche planes were brought
down in a single fight Saturday. In
boches were sent whirling to the
ground.
One group of American aviators
has thirty-five victories to its credi;
in three days work. -s
A group of fifteen bombing planes
enroute to the rear of the German
lines in broad daylight, encountered
superior enemy force. Flying in
close formation, the Americans i'm
mediately dropped all their bombs
to tighten their machines and make
them maneuver more rapidly Then
Oh cd a. ha IL,
down two and driving off the re-
mainder They returned for new
load of bombs and flew back over the
same course they had first taken.
Another group of bombers sighted
some enemy troops marching along a
road to reinforce the line where the
French. were attacking on the Ameri-
can left. They used up all their bombs
on the column. then flew low and
poured machine gun fire into the sur
vivors. They killed and wounded a
great many, scattering the others. A
flotilla of pursuit planes drove some
German artillery men from their bat
teries with machine gun fire.
One American plane took fire. The
observer crawled out on the wing. The
pilot brought the machine safely to
the. ground.
Enemy balloons are Owed on with
out shot being fired until the Ameri-
his target.
- Down Fourteen Balloons. ~
Lieutenant Luke has fourteen bal
looms to his credit since the start of
the st. Mihiel attack. Eleven of these
are officially confirmed. The others
have been accredited to him.
The fighting starts at dawn every
day and does not end until after dark
The machines leave and land with the
aid of flares and searchlights.
Night balloon shooting is the new
est sport. Our men always get two or
three. Observers have been flying as
low as fifty meters. working in con-
junction with the infantry. This work
is being carried out by the greatest
American air force yet concentrated.
In the beginning the boche outnum-
ness has Ike the enemy constantly on
bered us three to five. but aggressive
the defensive behind his own lines His
losses have been so heavy and the
Americans SO slight that even his
original numerical superiority is now
practically Wiped ont