The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-14
MyriadS of Planes Haunt Zone
Along West Front.
Seventy-Nine German Planes
Fall Within Ten Days.
BRITISH IN DARING DAY RAID
Using Machine Guns, Fly Low
Over Enemy Territory.
Scatter Cavalry and Infantry,
Stampede Wagon Train.
By the Associated PressD

british Front in France and Bel
eium. Tuesday, March 12.-This has
been another day of ideal fighting
weather. but there has been no change
in the situation. The British and
German military machines-tuned to
the finest pitch and proba bly, as near
ly perfect as it is possible to make
them-are still awaiting the slSnai
which will send them crashing against
each other.
Meanwhile the artillery pounds
aWav in thunderous duelS at various
points and myriad airmen are busy
bonn bing, photographing and acting
as eyes for the respective armies.
The British airmen have been doing
marvelo work recently. Inc hrst
ten days of March as a whole have
been among the best yet recorded for
the service. During that period, in
addition to a vast amount of recon-
noitering and photograph1ng, the
Britishers destroyed thirty-nine air
planes and brought down forty others
out of control despite the fact that
the first two or three days OF the
month were so stormy that aerial ac-
tivity was virtually impossible. Against
this great total, fifteen British ma
chimes are reported missing.
Yesterday another fine record was
made but the official figures are not
yet availa BILE.
British Air Forces Superior.
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 into
the enemy territory. OF the German
machines destroyed, all but two were
sent crashing down back of the Ger
man lines. The amount of photog-
raphy work that has been done is
amazing and a 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 airdomes
on March 8. This raid was carried
out by a large number of machines
during the day time. A British aerial
fleet arrived at an hour when numbers
of German machines about to start
were standing in field near their
hangers. The British attacked at a
| height of 400 feet and because of their
low altitude were able to shoot with
disastrous effect. Several buildings
were set on fire and direct hits were
observed among the German ma
chimes. The British returned flying at
a height of a hundred feet which lust
enabled them to clear the tree tops
Rout Cavalry and Foot Soldiers.
They used their guns on every mill
tary object in sight. The first attack
was made on a horse transport. Some
of the horses were killed and the rest
stampeded, unsetting the wagons An
other horse transport stampeded and
then detachment of marching infan-
try came into range. Several of the
soldiers were shot before they could
reach cover. Equally effective was
the shooting against some cavalry, tw .
officers being among those toppled
| from their saddles. All the British
machines returned safely. AS mat
/ ter of fact they were not attacked by
! the enemy at all.