The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-05-11
TWENTY-SEvEN
HUN PLANES
ARE DOWNED
IN one DAY
British Fliers Sustain Great
Reputation Made in Early
Part of War-Four Bal
looms Destroyed.
BRITISH LOSE SIX
(By Associated Press.)

LONDON May 11.--Cloudless
weather on Thursday favored the
British aviators. according to an Of
fetal statement issued today dealing
with air activities. and twenty-seven
German machines, were downed ana
twelve driven down out OF control.
The statement follows:
THE cloudless weather on Thurs
day enabled our airplanes to carry
out a full days work. More than
twenty-four tons of bombs were
dropped on different targets, includ.
ing important railway stations at
Tourney, Marcoing, Chaulnes ana
Cambria, and billets at Carvin, Pc
rome and Chipilly and the docks at
Zeeburgge.
Fighting in the air was more or
less continuous and it was particular
ly fierce towards dusk.
"Twenty.seven German machines
were downed, twelve were driven
down out of control and four hostile
observation balloons were destroyed.
Six of our machines are missing.
During the night four and one-half
tons of bombs were dropped on the
docks and at the entrance Of the canal
at Ostend and three and one-half tons
on Peronne, Chaulnes and Bapaume.
All of the machines returned"
Sustain Early Reputation.
WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN
FRANCE, May 11-There has been
much air fighting during the last few
DAYS, and the British airmen have
fully sustained the great reputation
they established early in the war.
stories of battles might be recounted
in which the British triumphed over
the greater numbers of the adversary.
All of these stories vary only as to
details.
Several days ago, near Ypres one
British machines attacked five Ger
mans single handed. The Britsher en-
gagged one enemy and fought him un-
til he turned tail and fed. The Eng
lish pilot then went after another
German and pressed the attack 50
hard that the enemy was forced into
nose spin in an attempt 70 escape.
The ruse was futile, however, Tor the
Britsher followed him down, hr1ng
steadily into the helpless German ma
chine, until the latter finally turned
on its back and fell plummet-llke.
Another British plane was attacked
by six enemy machines which came
at 1t from below and behind Tne
British observer opened fire at close
range riddling the leading German
machine which dived and then burst
into flames This finished the work
Of the British pilot, who got away
safely.
But fighting planes are not the only
ones that have been busy. The Brit
ish bombing squadrons have been do
ing wonderful work destroying rail-
boards ,billets, ammunition dumps and
bombing eremy troops and transports.
Tons OF high explosives have been
dropped among masses of the enemy
at night. causing heavy casualties.
The British machines also have been
employed constantly in attacking the
infantry from low attitudes with ma
chine guns and in many cases VERT
able slaughter has resulted The ar
tillery planes also have been doing
invaluable service directing the fire
OF British guns and this represents
one of the most important phases OF
the duties of the aero corps, for the
nilots are tie ewes of the gunners.