Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-09-14

this white background. Being some
1000 meters higher and too far away
to tell what kind of a plane it was,
decided to have a look and make
sure. From where was at the time
I felt quite sure it was the same
! plane had chased into a cloud some
time before. Probably a French
plane out taking pictures. for the
German shrapnel had been very
thick around it, and now on his re-
turn journey
Discovers New Hun Plane
But there was no shrapnel burst
ing around this particular plane,
which in itself was suspicious, be-
cause although the clouds were
plentiful there were holes enough
for the sharp eyes of anti-aircraft
batteries to see one. Such being the
case, I opened the cover on my
sight, got a light grip on my trig-
gers, took q look at my numerous
dials to be sure the motor was work.
ing perfectly and headed full speed
for that lone bird on the other side
of the line. I oveI<auled him very
quickly and although l had the sun
at my back and was coming up be-
hind him, he must have seen me. be-
cause he veered slowly around and
L
was a French plane and was looking
all over it's wings and tail for the
red, white and blue insignia. But in
vain. There was none, and l could
see no black cross either. And then
suddenly l recognized it as the new
est type combat plane of the Huns
the biplane Fokker, said to be su-
perior to the Spad in both speed and
climbing ability-and l was riding
in one of those Spads. 1 made a
mental remark at the instant that
here was where we proved some of
the statements.
SEirmish in the Clouds
Seeing the small black crosses
about this time, / promptly dove and
opened fire, but the Boche shot by
underneath and 1 missed. Making a
quick turn I was on his tail. but no
sooner had I began firing than he
started to do one ''reversement" aft
er another. This is done by standing
up on one wing, and by kicking the
rudder, come out in the opposite di-
rection after a vertical dive which
can be heightened or shortened at
will. Only he made them short,
making one right after the other.
with me following down the same
way, shooting whenever in position,
which was not often, for he was
nervous target indeed. Finally he
dove vertically for the ground. I did
likewise. but this time got the sight
on him before shooting, not watch
ing the tracer bullets as before. I
surely thought 1 had him then for
the bullets were getting pleasantly
close to him when suddenly my mo-
tor stopped. 1 knew instantly what
was the matter. I had forgotten to
switch onto my gravity feed tank be-
fore diving.
Three Miles in Germany
You see our principal tank sends
its gasoline to the engine by air
pressure and owing to some arrange
ment of valves when diving very
steeply all this pressure is lost and
then no more air comes to the mo-
tor. Not in all machines, however,
as motors have their whims as we'll
as women, for 1 used number of
planes where any amount of diving
would not knock the pressure down.
But this was not one OF those ma
chimes, which fact was being very
firmly Impressed on me just then,
and when you consider I had come
down some 5000 feet, in no time at
all, the pressure tumble was not to
be wondered at. Believe me, I lost
no time in turning on the gravity
feed, for the propeller Sas turning
slower and slower and I feared it
would stop, which was not at all
pleasant thought, for I was some
three miles in Germany. So I gave
up chasing the Boche to the all i'm
portant task of getting that motor
going again. The lever was stiff
- al a.
turn it the required distance; so Il
let go the cotrols and used both
hands.
The Battle Renewed
Fortunately the plane did not go
into "vrille" when left to itself. but
kept on diving. Believe me, I sure
felt relieved to hear that motor burst
into a hearty roar again, and pulling
out of the dive began looking around
to see where that Boche had gone.
He seemed to have disappeared as
completely as the one chased down
near Rheims some time ago. New
ertheless, holding my plane in a
close circle so that I could look
down along the angle of the lower
wing as 1 turned, 1 searched dill
gently for that lost Boche. Three
complete circles I made before I
discovered him, and then in the
most unexpected place for he was
coming right towards me. on little
lower level tbs true, but coming
nevertheless-and shooting as he
came. My motor was working again,
however, and so were my guns. At
least I thought they were until 1
dove for the Boche and no shots re-
warded my pressure on the triggers.
Both james were the kind that can
not be fixed in the air, so there was
nothing left to do but run for it.
The Boche was very kind about help
ing me, too, for he kept up a steady
fire with his two guns, and I was
only wishing I had some more pow
er so I could go faster. And he
seemed to have no trouble with his
guns jamming either. for they kept
up a steady rat-at-tat-tat all the
time. Having a grandstand seat, so
to speak, can vouch for that being
the target as we'll as score keeper.
Boche Was Poor Shot
incidentally, as a marksman, al
low me to remark that he was con-
siderably worse than I. Out of 100
shots I know I at least hit his wings.
but he must have thrown away all
of 600 to celebrate my homecoming
and never touched me. At least 1
proved one thing, that this much
vaunted plane was not faster than
the Spad, although he could out
climb me, for with the 150-meter
lead I had he never overhauled me,
although I did considerable lodging
to boot. We have heard considerable
of this plane of late. and one having
been captured intact have many pic