Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-10-19
l4OU.S.PLANES
BOMB FOE'SLINE
American Machines All Re-
turn Safely After Hurting
Destruction on Enemy
DOWN. TWELVE FLlERS
Raid Above Nerdun Most Sue.
cessful in History of Amer
lean Aviation

with the American Army. Northwest ot
Nerdun. oct. 10.
All the aviators who took part IN
the all-American day bombing expedi-
ton behind the German lines north
west Of Nerdun Friday have been ac-
counted for one OF the li0 airplanes
taking part IN the raid had. been re-
ported missing. but it returned during
the light.
Latest reports from the different
sauadrons show that the scout planes
in protecting the bombers brought down
twelve enemy machines.
Observers report that excellent re-
suits were obtained at the various points
bombed by the expedition While the
bombing squadrons attacked the towns
and villages. two sduadrous of pursu'
airpanes. flying at low attitudes az
tucked enemy troops along the roadways
with small bombs and machine-gun hre
The ayiators attacked Bayonville, Bu-
Fancy and other towns north OF the
American line at Grand-Pre.
This is said to he the largest enter
prise yet carried out by an all Ameri-
can flying force.
The Americans also bombed Remon-
vile. Briquienay Nerpcl. Ilery-le-
Grand. Aiucrevile and Imecour'. each
Of these towns being either German
supply point or an army unit head
quarters Observers reported expo
sions with great clouds of smoke III
Bavonville, Remonville and lmecourt.
In the region of Buzancy sixteen FOX
kcrs tried to head off the Americans
but scouts drove them off, permitting
the bonbers TO accomplish their mis-
sion. In the region of Nerpel nerVy
boche single-handed attempted TO at
tack the bombes, but was qulckI!
downed.
At various points German airmen az
tempted To hinder the Americans, VIII
the results that at least ten OF tneu
We're sent down crashing, two OF theli
behind the American lines. Sevcra
American pursuit planes escorting I'M
bombing machines blocked one Ger
man from returning to his own line
and drove him ia the direction Of st
Nih,cl One Of the American aviator
sent a Gcrman down near BayonNile
The expedition consisted OF foui
souadrons of bombers, two squadrons o
pursuit planes which attacked German
infantry, two squadrons OF scouts ny
ing at an altitude of 1000 meters u
protect the bombers, two squadrons o
scouts flying at from 2oOO 10 doO'
meters and three squadrons hying
$500 meters to protect the bombers
The bombing machines few at 1OO'
meters. one American plane, damaged
during the flight. landed north o
/ Brieulles, which was a No Mans Land
I The aviator was injured. but American
infantry rescued him despite German
machine-gun fire. The aviator is in
field hospital, but his wound Is no
serious.
The afternoon was somewhat cloud!
The expedition apparently was ~
surprise To the Germans, for Fokkers oil
not appear until bombers in som" II
| stances had accomplished their tdHf
and started back. The scouting lhi
? chimes were at the Fukkers and shcotin
! as soon as they hove into s!Slt. TT
! day Is considered 10 have been tie no'
. successful in the history Of America
aviation
simultaneously with the bombing eN
peditlon two squadrons with small bomt
and machine guns attacked the Gcrma
infantry along the roadways leading I'M
Landreville and Landres-et-St. Georg'
and harassed the infantry along Il
{ frontlines AT various points. In u
: region Of Landreville the aviators r
: ported that their bombs caused muC
/ damage and great CONSERVATION amor
= the troops Lines marching southwal
! were broken up by the missiles, the &c
= mans scattering in a bewildered sta
and seeking whatever cover it was po
sible TO find.