Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-03-15
[By The Associated Press


British Front in France and Belgium,
10 D. M, March 12.-(Delayed)- TINS
has been another day of ideal fighting
weather, but there has been no change
in the situation. The British and Ger
man military machines, tuned up to
the finest pitch and probably as near
ly perfect as it is possible to make
them, still are. awaiting the signal
which will send them crashing against
each other.
Meanwhile the artillery pounds
away in thunderous duels at various
points and myriad airmen are busy
bombing, photographing and acting as
eyes for the respective armies.
70 BOCHE PLANES DOWN
The British airmen have been doing
marvellous work recently. The first
ten days of March, as whole nave
been among the best yet recorded for
the service. During that period, in
addition to a vast amount OF recon-
noitering and photographing, the In
trepid Britishers destroyed thirty-nine
German airplanes and brought down
forty others out of control, despite the
fact that the first two or three days
Of the month were 50 stormy that
aerial activity was virtually impos-
sible. Against this great total, fifteen
British machines are reported miss
ing.
yesterday another fine record was
made but the official figures are not
yet available.
HUN AiRDRoME BOMBED
There have been many air battles
and virtually all have occurred be-
hind the German lines, which means
that the British airmen have been
carrying the aerial war vigorously in
to the enemy territory. OF the Ger
man machines destroyed all but two
were sent crashing down back OF the
German lines. The amount of photog.
raphy work that has been done is
amazing and large number of the
pictures were taken at close quarters.
Bombing raids by British aviators
have been almost continuous. One OF
the most successful expeditions was
that against three enemy airdromes on
March 9. This raid was carried out
by a large number of machines dur
ing the day time. A British aerial
fleet arrived at an hour when num-
beers of German machines about to
their hangers. The British attacked
at height of 499 feet and because Of
their low altitude were able to shoot
with disastrous effect. Several build
ings were set on fire and direct hits
were observed among the German |
machines.
HAVOC AMONG GERMANS
The British returned flying at a |
height of 100 feet, which just enabled |
them to clear the tree tops. They used
their guns on every military object in
sight. The first attack was made on
4 horse transport Some of the
horses were killed and the rest STAN
peded, upsettins the wagons. Another
horse transport was stampeded and |
then detachment of marching in.
fantry came into range. Several of
the soldiers were shot before they
could reach cover. Equally effective
was the shooting against some cal.
vary, two officers being among those
|oppled from their saddles.
All the British machines. returned
safely, AS a matter Of fact they were
not attacked by the enemy at all.
FOE CLAIMS AIR VICTORIES
Berlin, March 14.-Three machines
Of m entente air squadron flying
toward the city of Freiburg were
brought down. army headquarters an
today.
On the Belgian-F France front yester-
day, the statement adds, seventeen
enemy airplanes and three captive
balloons were brought to earth.
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