Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-12
BIG AMMUNITION
: DUMP BLOWN UP
Exploits of Captain McCudden,
V. c., and Comrades in De-
stroying Two Trains.
HUNDRED MACHINES IN FIGHT
Work Of British Airmen Partly
Responsible for Failure of
German Drive.
HUNDRED MACHINES IN FIGHT
international News Bureau.1

U.l
GLASGOW, MAJ 1.-THE compare
tive failure OF the German offensive
on tho western front is due in great
measure to the brilliant work OF tho
British airmcn. One OF the most brill
Liant Of the air fighters was Captain
McCuddcn. the young Scotch-Irish pilot.
who has just been awarded the VIC
toria Cross AS a lifting finish TO over
100 fights with enemy airmen. In this
article some of the exploits of Cap
tain. McCuddcn and his brilliant as
sociutcs are described By an aviator
who took part in the fighting.
When the Germans opened their big
offensive, we were over their lines AT
the time fixed for the beginning of this
latest ITO Calais" stunt. Just beneath
US we saw the great clouds OF srnokc
and gas rising. the sure herald Of the
attack.
Through breaks in these clouds we
could sec the enemy Infantry leap
from their trenches and dash acros,
the ground.
was just over the moving mass. y
signal came ! was waiting for it. ana
SO were other machines OF ours We
came lower. and dropped bombs in the
ranks of the nasscd enemy. The effect
was instantaneous. Tho German at
lacking machine was knocked out or
gear, and the rush towards our lines
came to dead stop. More bombs fell
among the enemy. Hundreds OF them
were killed. for it was impossible 10
miss them.
While confusion rclgncd In their
ranks VIC descended low and opened
fire with machine guns. The enemy
broke and fed back to their trenches
We were. however, ncrccly assailed
by enemy machines They came at us
with great dash. and tried TO over
whclm us. There were about three
machines OF theirs to every one or ours.
In one fight there were eight Ger
mans against ome British. The hga;
lasted ten minutes, and ended Win
the Britshcr bringing down three or
his opponents and driving the rest 1T
Antiaircraft guns took a hand in
the game. They shclled both sides In
discriminatory. but only secured hits
at the expense of their own machines
Our next fight was two days later.
during one of the most critical stages
OF the German offensive. We were
astride OF the Bapaume Cambria ROAD.
which was the main artery of ,be r-.r
man army oner,tirr a,,tr., 80
Tho road was aliv. VII, ,,o,.;,
and carpc,ed with dead .mona ,,,a
living and over Tho don, .,dIas, IT,,
OF wagons wcr' moving with supplies
OF all kinds rhe rai,w,v ,in..
covered with moving train.
In the wake Of This no,,
stream of mon ana ,,.,ou,o,
countless enemy airo,ancs .ot,,
scouts and escorts m Tho s.,,,o -,
At Intervals along the ROAD voro
in which weary men wore r.s,,na
Vile new no,d.s wer. .akin. ,ha,
D,ac. in III, tcj,;.rr liz.
Tier. wcrr ,l.n rro,,
covered ;,ear. A. W ,ns, ~,
b.c, ean.oi.t,cci ~, ,ror
mistakinr ,bcm Tboy 80
dunns ana ill., ,,,.. "
adding to the size and pumhnr ~ ,nes
dumps.
Over This scc,o q, ,,s,,
ono r. our .ariaI .,s. a.u ieposr
Jnrcd;a.e,r :, u..s "'pea' GU
s,ronc ono, a- "" ny
above tho f.s,,,,.i,, "s"
pre.t sch, v.as '.oop'
O'her
reared and IN ong... ,h>,,, -,
more enemy souadrons
While this series Of ha,,los r. g.,
fun swing. vet other Rritisb s,u,,.
made their way over ,hn ROAD n,na
had no time for 6rbtinr ono,,, 49,
chimes. Their mission vas ~ a.,ao,.
the moving troops. the SUNNY tr.in.
by rail and road. and tho camDs ana
the dumps by the roadside.
Regardless Of the fierce sbr,,no,
barragc circiing about them. our hon,h-
Ing; machines continued on their way
Their first objective was reached 7,
was gigantic munition dunn. contain
ing the Accommodations OF bnrdroh.
!orrics arG many trains Two machines
stopped over it, circling around with.
cut fear or enemy fire. for the enemy
dare not risk their barragc at that