THE FIRST REAL AERIAL BATTLE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 861, 13 November 1916, Page 7

THE FIRST REAL AERIAL BATTLE.

SEVENTY AEROPLANES IN THE FIGHT. GERMANS DRIVEN OFF BY BRITISH SQUADRONS. By Cable. — Press Association. — Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received November 13, 8.55 a.m.) PARIS, November 12. Thousands of British, and French troops watched near Bapaume the first real aerial battle, fought at a height of two miles, which is mentioned in General Sir Douglas Haig's dispatch. ' The battle was fought between 38 German machines and three British squadrons, each of 10 aeroplanes. The British delivered battle before the Germans were able to cross the Allies' lines. At one moment 70 machines were engaged in the tight. First, a Fokker fell in flames, and men a,British aeroplane landed in our lines, badly damaged. Meanwhile the soldiers heard incessant machine-gun fire and revolver fire overhead. They saw the last four German machines drop. After half-an-hour's fighting the enemy flew back in disorder, the British aviators pursuing. Th(* eommuniqaii referred to appears in another column, under tlic heading, "Fighting in tlie West."