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Aviation History
1915
1915 - 0125.PDF
FEBRUARY 19, 1915. Lutterbach was heavily bombarded. On Feb. 2nd our aerial projectiles struck an important transformer for the electric power, which is supplied to the vicinity of Mulhouse. On Feb. 15th, a visit was paid to the aviation sheds at Habsheim. " When the weather is clear and calm our aviators frequently encounter some of the enemy's aeroplanes. In no case have the French avions failed to put the German machines to flight. As a rule the Aviatik turns about as soon as he sees his adversary. Occasionally the Germans are compelled to fight. A good example of such a fight was given by one of our aviators in the vicinity of Cernay on Feb. 2nd. In the course of a reconnaissance be gave chase to an Aviatik, and forced it twice to turn round, preventing it from flying over our lines. Just as he was about to land at the aerodrome he caught sight of another German machine flying in the © ® [/yoBf] direction of Belfort, and immediately set off in pursuit, forcing it to turn back. He then overtook it, and exchanged a violent fusillade at a distance of 150 metres, continuing the pursuit up to the vicinity of Mulhouse. The German machine was forced to land before it could reach its own ground. " On Jan. 31st an avion was forced by engine trouble to cross the enemy's lines at a height of only 150 metres in the hilly country round Hartmanswiller-Kepf. In spite of a lively rifle fire from the woods the aviator was able to reach the Thur valley, and landed in our lines safe and sound. "To the already considerable German losses during the last ten days must now be added an Aviatik captured on Jan. 29th, north of the Meurthe between Luneville and Raon-1'Etape, and a machine brought down on Feb. 4th near Verdun." THE CAPTURE OF SQUADRON-COMMANDER BRIGGS. THE Secretary of the Admiralty, on Tuesday night, announced that the following communication has been received by the American Ambassador in London :— " Embassy of the United States of America, Berlin, " January 26th, 1915. " Sir,—With reference to the statement which is reported to have appeared in foreign newspapers to the effect that the British Flight Officer Edward Briggs, upon his landing at Friedrichshafen, was beaten by a German officer with a riding whip until he bled, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith a statement signed by Mr. Briggs, which the Imperial Foreign Office requests may be brought to the attention of the British Government.—I have the honour to he, Sir, your obedient servant, (Signed) "JAMES W. GERARD." " Fort VIII, 14-12, 1914. " By order of the Governor of the Fortress of Ingolstadt, the military judge and the sworn-in military clerc, accompanied by the Ersatz-reservist Alfred Frankel, who figurated as interpreter, went on December 14th, at ten o'clock, to Fort VIII., belonging to the fortress of Ingolstadt, to interrogate the prisoner of war, Edward Briggs. '' To begin with, the interpreter Frankel was sworn in according to instructions. Briggs appeared, and declared as follows : — " ' My name is Edward Featherstone Briggs. " ' I have held the rank of Squadron-Commander in the Naval Flying Corps since the commencement of the war. Before my capture on November 21st, 19:4, I was in command of the flight which left Belfort. I received orders to attack the Zeppelin works at Friedrichshafen. In execution of this commission I found my self, on November 21st, 1914, in my two-seated biplane, without a passenger, above the Zeppelin Halls at Friedrichshafen. At a height of about 100 metres above these works my petrol tank was holed, which forced me to land. I also got a light grazing shot, causing a slight wound over the right ear, which bled. I had to descend quite near the sheds. " ' I landed without damage on the level ground adjoining the sheds. After the landing my biplane remained on the level ground. Immediately after the landing a German soldier, at a distance of about 40 metres, fired five times at me, but did not hit me ; I then lifted up my hands, and several persons, both military and civilian, came up to me as I sat strapped in the biplane. I was released from my belt, and was then dragged out. During this latter operation the top part of my body was bent forward with my face looking downwards towards the ground. In this position I received a heavy blow on the crown of my head, which I strongly felt <# ® Switzerland Demands an Apology. A communique issued by the Swiss Federal Political Department on Monday, stated that an inquiry has proved that the aeroplane that flew over Swiss territory near Beurnevesin, and which was fired at by Swiss troops, was a German machine. The Federal Council has in structed the representative of the Confederation in Berlin to demand an apology from the German Government. German Seaplanes Lost. ACCORDING to reports from Copenhagen, a German seaplane, while flying to Heligoland, capsized off the Island of Mano on Saturday afternoon. Two officers through my flying cap. This blow did not cause insensibility or bleeding. I presume that the blow which was given me with such strength was administered by the butt of a rifle. This blow had been delivered presumably by a soldier of the rank, as I had seen only such carrying rifles. To judge by the sword, and in conse quence of what I was told subsequently, there was a German officer amongst the crowd, who rushed towards me. The last time I reme mber seeing this person he was at about a distance of 40 metres from me. " ' As I had been entirely dragged out from the biplane, and stood on my legs again, I was placed between two soldiers, who held me by each arm. At my back there was an excited crowd, who apparently wanted to rush on me. I was led immediately by the soldiers to the guardhouse, situated a few minutes' walk away. I remained in the guardhouse about half-an-hour, and an English- speaking German here gave me water to drink. This English- speaking German and two soldiers took me subsequently to the hospital at Friedrichshafen in a motor car. " ' This former visited me the following day at the hospital, and took the opportunity of telling me that the officer who was coming along when I landed probably saved my life. He also informed me that this officer stood between me and the crowd after I had been dragged out of the biplane, and threatened to shoot anyone who would lay hands on me. I have had read tome a publication in the Matin, dated November 27th, 1914, which contained the following words :— "' It is considered to be the height of cowardice that a German officer flogged (drawing blood) the shot-down aviator, Edward Briggs.' " ' To this I declare that neither the German officer who was present at the landing, nor any other German officer, has laid hands on me, not to mention flogging me with a horsewhip, since I was dragged out of the biplane. " ' Previously I had received only a single blow, namely, that one mentioned above, which was presumably made by the rifle butt; as a matter of fact, I did not see who administered the blow, as at this time J was being dragged out of the biplane with my face towards the ground. But I declare once more that, in view of the reasons above-mentioned, it is quite improbable that an officer administered this blow, besides which it is my personal opinion that a German officer would consider such an act as stated in the Matin beneath his dignity, as would an English officer. " ' I give this declaration without the least compulsion or pres sure being imposed on me. The questions and answers have been translated into English.—Read, approved, and signed, •« • EDWARD BRIGGS.' " ® © were rescued by fishermen, and later were permitted to return to Germany. It was also reported from Rotterdam that a German seaplane came down on the Engelschman Plaat, a sand bank midway between Schiermonnikoog and Ameland, but as the lifeboat crew which went out in response to their signals of distress could not promise that they would not be interned, the two officers, who were very exhausted from exposure, refused to leave the machine. Five hours later, in response to further distress signals, the lifeboat went out again, but found the bank sub merged and no signs of the machine or its occupants. 125
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