FIGHTING THE GERMAN WAR-PLANES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2677, 25 January 1916, Page 5

FIGHTING THE GERMAN WAR-PLANES

BRITISH SUPERIORITY IN THE AIR. . By Telczrauli—ProES Assoclation-CoDyrlEht (Rec. January 24, 10.10 p.m.) London, January 24. Reu tor's correspondent writes: "Owing to the 'Fokker" scare, I visited tho headquarters of the Flying Corps in France, and returned in a ■ mood of buoyant _ reassurance, convinced that the British are maintaining the aerial initiative held by them since the earliest days of the war. The British flights are five-fold those of Germany. "Tlie '■Fokker's' radius of action is less than 150 miles. It is only used for defence against British reconnaissances ivhich are made daily. Wo are establishing a principle of convoy by the newly-invented battle-planes, wliicli now escort our reconnoitring aeroplanes. "Recently, one of' these escorters was two thousand feet above the German trenches when two 'Fokkers' appeared. ' The Britisher directed a furious end-on fire, and the leading 'Fokker' dived erratically down to earth. The second 'Fokker'then rose above the Britisher, which swiftly climbed and opened fire a hundred feet above it. WithMjthirty seconds the 'Fokker' plungea into a- ploughed field. "The victor then climbed 10,500 feet and met and attacked an albatross aeroplane, which _ fluttered down to the trees. The Britishers were satisfied with their day's work. Returning they saw a third 'Fokker' among several of our scouts. Swooping within seventy feet he pumped in a volley and the 'Fokker' dived three thousand feet."