DARING AIRMEN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12284, 5 April 1918, Page 3

DARING AIRMEN.

DROP TONS OF DEATH. Fearful Execution on Troop Trains. s SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE. January So. Although the British official communiques contain announcements of bombing raids on important points behind the German lines almost, daily, few perhaps realise the nature of these raids or the extent of the damage which they accomplish. An aeroplane heavily laden with bombs requires aerial protection from enemy scouts, which, built solely for lighting, might at any moment dive on to it from a superior height/ with deadly effect. To afford such protection British fighting machines always accompany a raiding expedition, and still further precautions me devised to guard against enemy interference. LINE IS IMPORTANT.

The Donni-Lillo main railway line is of immense military value to the enemy, for it is one of the great arteries which supply his army. A bombing raid was organised recently, with Libereourt as its chief objective. and it was carried out with conspicuous success. Patrols, each consisting of two bombing machines and ono fighting scout, were directed against the aerodromes of Tmirmignios. Phalompin andProvin. When they reached their objectives the raiders dropped phosphorus bombs at intervals to keep the aerodromes shrouded in smoke, and from time to time sent down a twenty-pound high explosive bomb to show that they were still there. HANGAR IS DESTROYED. The patrol over Provin destroyed a hangar in the course of its work, and at Phalompin a. fire was caused which spread over the northern part of the village, throwing out such sheets of flame as to make it evident that a petrol store had been hit. In all three aerodromes the enemy’s warbivcls were effectively pinioned. In the meanwhile two bomb-carrying machines, each accompanied by a fighting scout, proceeded to Libereourt. It was their duty to descend and attack the trains. The first train seen was leaving Libereourt at 1.40 p.m., and the two bombing aeroplanes swooped to the attack. Just as they dropped a. second train was observed coming up the Henin Lietard branch line toward Ostriconrt. where it joins the main line, and one of the assailants turned .aside after this new quarry.

FIRST TRAIN ATTACKED. The first train was attacked from a. height of 800 ft, and six twenty-pound bombs were dropped. The result was that tho engine was hit and thrown from the rails, whiclroaused the tuo or three front coaches to bo partly telescoped. German soldiers immediately began to alight and they were played on with machine-gun fire as they ran in streaming confusion to Ostricourt village and the woods in its vicinity. There were so many men, according to the pilot of the attacking aeroplane, that it would have been almost impossible to miss them, and undoubtedly a largo number were killed or wounded. _ The second train was attacked with similar success.

Once more troops poured from the carriages and they were fired on ns they ran toward Envin village. Altogether between 600 and 700 rounds were fired hy tlm two machines and the total casualties can sea reelv have been less than 100. Neither of tho two raiders was attacked.

Subsequently more raiders from the main party attacked Lihercourt station. They dropped 112-ponnd bombs and thirty-four of twentv-pound weight. Station buildings, rulings and rolling Stock Were bit mifl Il'-rloi'M-dly dfnnng'' -• e- 1 c "vera! carriages ‘W" ir > 'm '•‘mpletelv wrecked ;.ud mie conch was observed lying crossways on the lino.