Evening journal., 1918-08-17
FIRST ALL u. S.
AIR FLEET Wins
I8 De Havilands Fly Miles
Back of German Lines
and Return Unharmed
THE RESULTS
ARE IMPORTANT

WASHINGTON. Aug. i7-secretary
Baker has announced that the FIRST all
American air squadron. composed oil
American built De Hayiland airplanes'
equipped with Liberty motors and pl-
loted bv American svlalors, had been
sent into action against the enemy on
the western front.
In command Of Brig-Gen. B. f.
Foulols who was in the 1ist plane OF
the lead flight, this American squadron
Of eighteen De Havllands crossed over
the Germsn lines, penetrated for miles
hack Of the German positions ana re-
turned without a single casualty or mis-.
han OF any description. The efforts OF
Germany's crack aviators TO down OF
dlsperse the squadron or the attempts
70 break I'D the flight with anti-aircraft
guns sre not yet reported by Gen.
Pershing, whose cable TO Secretary
psker merely announces the successful
result.
II is assumed. however, that the Ger
mans undoubtedly made desperate ef-
fo-ls TO prevent the carrying out Of this
important reconnaissance flight, for 1t
Is known That Gen. Foul0is led the V
shaped American squadron OF SIX ma
chimes each over a part OF the German
line, where the battle has been surgins
and where It wss OF extreme import
ance to the Germans 20 prevent their
enemies from pscertaining what was go
ing on behind their lines.
Gen. F0ulois's squadron formed part
Of a wing OF one Of Gen. Pershing's d.
visions now doing conspicuous work.
Each + achlnt was equipped with a pilot
and an observer. Two guns are Install
ed to sheet through the propellers, and
two more are In position TO fire abaft.
Lieut.. Blair Tllqw, brother OF William
1haw. was IN command OF one or the
machines, but the rest Of the personnel
Is not given in lhe despatch.
The formation rsed called for three /
crOurs Of six planes each. The altitude /
OF approximately 10000 feet made II
possible for the De IIavilands to be at
their best for information from Per-
shing's headquarters shows that the De
IIavlland. at 10000 feet "plays all
The Spad, the NleupOrt and the
1ther machines.
The duration OF the flight behind the
snemy lines was probably about fifteen
according TO the aeronautical
s1perts here in close touch with condi-
lions abroad. This was quite sufficient
time for the observers to bring back in
formation Of distinct value concerning |
The movements behind the German lines. |
Troop formations, indications OF further |
retreat or attempts by the enemy TO Sc
oil al eala nH nv
these reconnaissance flights which have
now become an important factor in the
war.
Gen. Foulols's hight marks the first
instance where an all American squad
on has been in action against the
enemy but IL is fully expected now that
this and other squadrons will be heard
from frequently. There are several all
American squadrons formed now and
still others are in the process OF forma-
tion. A wing, as il is called. is generally
composed Of about six squadrons.
The news OF Gen. Foulois's successful
flight was received with undlsgused |
elation by aeronautical officers here. To |
them It marks the beginning Of Amer
ica's active part iu the aerial war, in
fhe sense that 1t mas put TO the test the
American built planes operated by
american trained avlatOrs. As one OF
lcer stated tonight:
We've now got all American planes,
With all American motors and all Amer
can pilots and we have reached the
stage where this all American combina-
lion has been sent out against the
enemy. All that remains now is TO in
crease numbers all along the line"
Secretary Baker has ordered that
changes in the machines desired by
Gen. Pershing be made before the craft
leave the factory and this is being done.