New-York tribune., 1918-06-12
(By The Associated press)


WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN
FRANCE, June 11.--Ths is the story
of a battle royal waged in the air be-
tween two flights of German planes.
1t was an unintentional, but DISASTROUS
fight between brother aviators, during
which British pilots joyfully and i'm
partially rendered assistance first to
the one side, then to the other, until
so many of the Emperor's fliers had
been destroyed or damaged that the
conflict could not continue.
1t was on June s that this cxtraor
binary engagement occurred, and it be-
gan thus:
Two British officers in fighting
machine were leading patrol along
the lines when they sighted a German
Halberstadt two-seater which upon
their appearance fired a green signal
light. The British leaders expected a
trap and waited to see what this un-
usual performance meant.
Six Scouts Come to Rescue
In short time six German scouts
came wheeling out of the sky and
joined the Halberstadt. Almost at
once six other enemy scouts dived out
ef the sun on to their comrades. whom
they apparently mistook for q British
patrol about to attack the Halberstadt.
What happened was this: The Hal
hcrstadt had been acting as decoy
and the green light had been meant as
signal for assistance, but there had
been no expectation that two flights
Of German planes would respond at
the same time.
Not being able to distinguish the
markings of their frends-and this
has happened rot infreauently before
The newcomers mediately began a
furious attack upon them. The British
this mad melee and took hand
The Halberstadt was the first victim.
end this was shot down by British
commanding machine. Another British
fighter in the meantime had accounted
fer two more enemy scouts, whic!a
were sent swirling to destruction
below.
All the time the German aircraft
were continuing their bitter battle
among themselves and several of them
were seen to go down out of control
before the engagement finally ended.
The British leaders, by their good
Judgment had led the Huns into their
own trap.
This, undoubtedly, was unique
occurrence, but there are always plenty
of thrilling incidents happening in the
air these days. Take, for instance. the
case Of British patrol of about eight
battleplanes, which fought and van
quished some forty enemy craft few
command of a captain, was cscorting
bombing squadron when two-score
enemy machines were encountered. The
British fighters and the enemy imme
diately raced for the attack.
Within few seconds fierce fight
was in progress and the great fleet of
nearly half hundred airships were
swirling and diving madly against one
another, while their machine guns
Joined in the vicious chorus that swept
down to the troops on the ground like
hammers.
British Outmannuvre Foe
The British outmaneuvred and out
fought the enemy, and many of the
Germans were sent spinning away.
Whether they were merely frightened
or were out of control it is impossible
| fight four German machines lay in
crumpled masses on the earth and an
other had gone down in flames.
The other night British fier
brought down an enemy bombing ma
chine by the aid of searchlights oper-
ating from the ground. Night fighting
is supremely dangerous thing which
is seldom practised, and the CORE
spondent can recall no other case of an
enemy plane being shot down along
the front under similar conditions
since the war began. although the de-
tenders of London have accomplished
this.
The British aviator in question was
a member of patrol and saw a Hun
plane which had been picked up by a
searchlight The Briton climbed tow
ard the enemy, the operators of the
seachlight meanwhile keeping the Ger
man carefully covered, while the Brit
ish machine was left in darkness.
The German was blinded by the bril-
liant glare, and the attacking plane
got within twenty-five yards before it