Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-02-22
HUNS CONTROL AIR
OVER j. s. FRONT.
OFFICERS ADMIT
Thirty-Fiye German AirpIaneS
Destroyed in Past Three
Days and Nineteen Driven
Down-Bombing Operations

WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE Feb. -2o.-CBy the Associated
Prsss)-controI OF the air in the Amer
lean sector belongs to the enemy. Army
officers At the front will make this de-
clzrztion-all have made It. The con-
troll is obvious. German sirplanes come
and go over the American lines almost
at will. Every time the Germans come
over their path the sky is speck-
ed by fleecy shrapnel puffs. but the
chances OF hitting an airplane with an
ti-aircraft shells is so remote that the
enemy aviators calmly fly along ss X
on a pleasure tour Every now and
then air7Ianes on this side attack the
enemy. always when they get a chance.
But the Boche IS clever while flying and
manages to come over and take pictures.
make observations and do virtually
whatever else he desires and sail home
without interruption Nearly always
he IS at an altitude Of about 5000 me
tiers where he is comparatively safe
from anti-aircrsft fire and knows it.
Il is not permitted to name any off
GERS OF the American expeditionary
force. 1t is not permitted TO quote
them II both were allowed IL would
be possible TO carry quotations from
virtually every officer at thu front UrE-
ing a speedy appearance OF large num-
hers of airplanes with American pilots.
For there is only one way to wrcst
control of the air from the enemy, that
s 10 fight him for IL in the sky and
relieve him OF IL by force OF over
Enelming numbers.
Right now. IL the Germans knew
American airplanes were waiting for
them every time they came over the
line their trips would be less frequent.
Neither would they dare TO attempt
such bold piece OF work as when they
recently flew over the line with an air
plane disguised with the allied red. white
and blue bulls eye marking and cut
loose with machine gun on American
soldiers in the trenches.
II there had been American plane
nearby the chances of the Germans get
ting hack home after such trick wouI,l
De small. And IL is extremely doubt
full. officers say, II they ever would
have tried it
An officer also viii say that the safe
~ Of individual soldiers depends upon
4S@p3nE Nne enemy from OOAlE as ne
plezses overhead. For days the Ger
nGns have been flying over certain towns
where American troops have been rest
ing after periods in the trenches. once
or twice these daylight observation
tours have been followed the same night
by visits by enemy bombing planes.
So free and unrestricted are the Ger
man aiTmen that in some towns the
commands are under strict orders to
disappear under cover the moment a
German airplane is sighted.
Moreover. officers say. moro and more
German planes are appearing in the sky
and in various quarters there is a grow
ing belief that these are the first of the
machines which the Germans have been
building feverishIy to offset the large
number of expected American airplanes
in accordance with plans announced in
the United States
Whether this belief is true or not the
fact remains that American troops are
holding the sector and arc endangered
daily because there arc no American air
planes with them. The question most
asked from one end Of the American
front to the other Is:
When are some American planes