Evening star., 1918-07-14
BRITISH WIN IN NA|R
AGAINST BIG ODDS
Repeatedly Show Superior
Fighting Ability When Large
Patrols Meet.
HEAVY GERMAN LOSSES

Cablegram to The Sunday Star and
Chicago Daily News. Copyright. 1918.
ON THE BRITISH FRONT IN
FRANCE. July S.-During the hours
when the visibility brought out num-
bers Of enemy airplanes last week the
British air force repeatedly showed its
superiority. This was particularly no.
ticeable In sky battles between large
patrols of twenty-five to forty ma
chimes. Even when the Germans were
superior in numbers they suffered de-
feat with heavy losses.
A British patrol of fast two-seaters
attacked an enemy formation Of nine
scouts. While the combat was being
waged seven other enemy airplanes
arrived. as a reinforcement. Despite
the superiority of the Germans in
numbers. one British team in a one
seat machine destroyed two of the en-
emy. while four others brought down
one German each-a total of six.
Germans Attack in Vain. :
On the same day one British squad
ron Of single-seater scouts brought
down nine foes. Three of them were
defeated by one man and four by an
other pilot of the same squadron Two
artillery observation machines were
attacked by twelve Germans mount
ing Albatross scouts, who failed of
their purpose. One of them was shot
down by the much slower artillery
machines while they were retreating &
to their base with the machine guns
rafting.
One patrol Of British scouts met
fifteen Germans patrolling over the
lowed four Of the enemy planes were
destroyed. One of the pilots of this
patrol. dissatisfied because he had
not been one of the individual vic
tors, obtained permission later in the
day to go out on a solo patrol Alone
and unaided he attacked a formation
of a German triplane and four Pfalz
scouts. In the ensuing maneuvers
and charges he brought down the tri-
plane. which broke up in the air. the
wings falling OF as 1t went down.
Soon afterward the same colo flyer
his machine. shot down another Ger
man. He then returned home feeling
better.
Long Battle Between Patrols.
One battle between patrols lasted an
hour and a half. So brisk was the
action and so many were the ma
chimes engaged that it was fmpos-
sible to obtain definite report of the
enemy's losses, but all the British pi-
lots returned to their own lines Fif-
teen British scouts had engaged an
equal number of enemy planes when
the latter were reinforced by at least
twelve more. At first the battle was
dependent upon the coolheadedness
and skill Of the patrol leaders. but
soon 1t developed into a scrimmaEe,
where it was difncult for the combat.
ants to know enemies from friends.
The British patrol leader had ac-
counted for one enemy airplane
when his own gasoline tank was
punctured. Temporarily blinded by
the gasoline. he was forced to spin
downward. At 1000 feet elevation he
turned to engage pursuing German.
AS he did SO his engine was envelop-
ed in flames, but he succeeded in
landing safely and getting clear of
the machine before it began burning
dercely.
All the other British machines re-
turned. the majority bearing scars of
battle and some with their pilots
slightly wounded. Even these had not
retired from the combat until they
knew that the enemy had withdrawn
to his own territory.
Fine Balloon Work.
There was one particularly fine
deed among the balloonists. Two bal
loon sections located an active enemy
battery and began directing a de-
structive artillery fire on 1t, where
upon the battery began a rapid
shelling of the balloon. Despite the
enemy's shells the balloon observer
went on sending down fire adjust
ment reports to the British counter
battery until his balloon was dam
aged and forced to descend. The other
balloon observer continued the work
until the enemy battery was neu-