Daily Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1918-191?, 1918-03-14

A stirring story Of how one daring
British aviator. like q guardian an
gel. held up for a whole day repeated
enemy attacks upon a weak and crum-
bling British line at Cambria In the
height OF the desperate struggle there
by using four airplanes. one after an
other, as they were torn and crippled
by enemy fire. has just come TO light.
II shows that some OF the most daring
and dangerous airplane work OF the
last year has been In the new field
Of attacking enemy infantry from the
air.
The Germans were trying 10 recov-
err q portion OF the lost Hindenburg
line, pushing with q great weight OF
men and guns at a point where II was
very difficult for the British to bring
up reserves. The British battalion op-
posing the attack had gone 10 earth In
little isolated spots among the shell
holes. grimly determined to hang on
TO the end.
The German masses had already
moved across No Mans Land into the
battered earthworks that once formed
the British firing line. Other masses
were moving up In support, and al
ready the nearest shell holes were
heaving and boiling over with rest
less heads and shoulders OF men about
20 renew the advance. The barrage
OF the British guns was heavy. but
at close quarters only infantry can stop
the progress OF infantry. and the nre
from the British shell holes had grown
weak and struggling. II looked as II
the scanty British lines would be over
whelmed by sheer weight Of numbers.
Air Alive With Bullets.
The FIRE from the Germans increased
until the air was alive with their bull
lets. II was the concentrated nre
which always precedes tho rush to
close quarters. The blue-gray figures
were already beginning to appear
above the shell holes. their loose flap
ping uniforms and hldeous gas masks
giving them the appearance Of de-
mons. when suddenly into the smoke
and murk OF battle there Owed Brit
lsh airplane.
Fifty feet from the ground u fat
tened out and skidded along the line.
dropping Its bombs among the bewil-
dered Germans. Wheeling swiftly at
the flank OF the attack. Il came skim
ming back like n swallow charging a
swarm OF flies. It's machine guns en-
filadlng the advancing foe and driv-
ing him back 10 his burrows.
A storm OF German bullets swept
through the planes. and a black fame
conferred burst OF enemy shrapnel
smothered the airplane In vapor. The
watching infantry saw spllnters fall
from its quivering frame and the sill
very fabric OF the underwings was torn
In several places by shell spllnters.
But the daring pilot finished his course
and vanished into the smoke clouds,
leaving the panlc-stricken enemy cling
ing TO his shell holes too shaken and
thlnned TO press the attack further.
Little by little. however, the German
supports came up. advancing by short
rushes over the open. reinforcing their
comrades In twos and threes. In spite
OF British FIRE. Scores and scores Of
their dead'llttered No Mans Land. but
gradually the strength OF the attacking
line was made good. and the shell holes
again began TO heave and boil. as men
rose from the lower cover and laid
hold OF the rims 10 assist them over
the top.
outweluhed the British.
Then, suddenly. they were over and
away. little spurts OF humanity belched
out OF the crater field. coalesclng into
seething blue-gny. rushing mass.
hopelessly outwelghing the handful Of
British defenders. but before the
mass could gain full momentum. q IA
mLiar snorting hum sounded above
the din OF battle. and out OF the low
lying haze swept the covering nlrplane.
a new machine. but with the snme pi-
lot as before. His bombs dropping
among the advancing Germans. dis
persing those who escaped the flying
fragments. and his machine guns swept
them out Of sight into the shell holes.
A half hour passed. and again the
enemy attempted TO attack. this time
hesltntingly and with diminished
spirit. Again the airplane appeared.
and the first rattle OF his guns sent
the Germans Into cover again. A Ger
man alrplane dashed down 20 drive
him away. but another British machLne
from the protecting patrol came down |
on the Germans tail and sent him cart
wheeling behind his own lines. There
were other German machines IN the |
Ofllng. but the watchful British fight
ers made the enemy airmen shy OF los
ing their altitude. and the dashlng
British pilot kept his guard over the
threatened line without further inter
ference.
Mnny times he swept down on the
Germans that day. crumpling up every
attempted attack with his fire. rem
derlng portions ~ their positions UNI