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Aviation History
1914
1914 - 1071.PDF
OCTOBER 30, 1914. AIRCRAFT WORK IN the official despatch, dated October 17th, from an eyewitness present with the British General Head quarters in France, issued by the Press Bureau on the 23rd, there were the following references to the work of aircraft:— " In the north of France the fighting has so far been of a preparatory nature alone. As stated, ground has been gained by us, but misty weather has hampered aerial reconnaissance and has at times rendered artillery co-operation almost impossible, which factors, taken together with the nature of the terrain, have rendered progress somewhat slow." The following extracts are taken from a supplementary despatch from " Eyewitness " issued on the 24th inst.:— " In spite of the adverse weather the aviators of both sides have not been idle in the northern theatre of operations. To begin with, on Monday, the 12th, a German airman flew over St. Omer and dropped five bombs on to it, apparently under the impression that the place was occupied by us. As a result two women and a little girl were killed. " On Wednesday a hostile aeroplane was brought down by rifle and machine gun fire, and both observer and pilot were captured. The pilot was decorated with the Iron Cross, which, according to his own account, had been awarded to him as being the first German to drop a bomb on Antwerp. " On the 15 th three of our aeroplanes gave chase to a [/JJGHT AT THE FRONT. German machine. Unluckily, the one machine of ours which was faster than the enemy's met with some slight accident and had to give up the chase. "A German airman recently made an unsuccessful attempt by means of four incendiary bombs to explode a French captive observation balloon. The missiles fell simultaneously on the circumference of a circle of about 50 yds. diameter, and as they struck the ground emitted vivid red flames, followed by columns of dark smoke about 60 ft. high. At the point where each fell was found a large mass resembling dark pumice stone, and the stubble was burnt in patches of about a yard in diameter." The despatch also contained a translation of a leaflet, calling on French soldiers to surrender, which had been showered over the French lines by the German aviators. In a communique issued by the Admiralty on the 2and, regarding the work of the naval monitors off the Belgian coast, there was the following :— " Observation is arranged from the shore by means of naval balloons, and all reports indicate that substantial losses have been inflicted upon the enemy, and that the fire is well directed and effective against his batteries and heavy guns." In a communique issued by the Admiralty on the 24th, regarding the work of the naval guns at Nieuport and Ostend it was stated the naval aeroplanes and balloons aided in the direction of the fire. _ II nri'T" "HANSA.»-A photcgragh of a scene which BERLIN AS VIEWED FROM THE, J^Xrent conditions when the end of the war draws nearer. The may, let us hope, be repeated under vastly dlKwent con«qg^w ^ ^^ Q ^ jgg rf ^ Ktng o photograph is a parade of the troops in tfie jgwrj * ggj 1071
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