Show KOVEL IMPREGNABLE IS BELIEF OF Germans Checking Every Russ Move Correspondent dent Declares By CARL W. W ACKERMAN HEADQUARTERS OF GENERAL GENERAL GENERAL GEN GEN- ERAL VON LINSINGEN'S ARMY NEAR KOVEL Via Berlin Aug 12 Flying Flying at a dizzy height far above the Vol- Vol battle front I observed today the machinelike precision with which the Germans are checkmating every movement made by the Russians on their desperate effort to capture the great railway center of Kovel A fleet of two score German aeroplanes aeroplanes aero aero- planes climbed skyward and disappeared disappeared in the direction of the b battle tUe line east of Kovel when our party a ar arrived arrived ar- ar rived at the aviation ground They were off to drop bombs on the railway communications and to attack Russian troops by swooping low and riddling their ranks with machine ma chine gun fire It was the first time correspondents at the German front had been permitted permitted permitted per per- to fly in battle battie by planes An officer Just returned from the fightIng fighting fight fight- ing line volunteered to take me through the stunts he had performed during air battles around Verdun Ackerman man In Air Wrapped in furs and woolen coats I took the observers observer's seat in a huge Albatross Two heavy straps were fastened about my shoulders The officer of of- fider climbed in and gave a sharp command the motors hummed and then like a streak of lightning we were literally pulled from the field It was like riding astride the tail of ofa ofa ofa a gigantic shell We mounted so quickly I lost my breath but reg regained ined it as the plane plana drifted half a mile above the earth circling the city ity and then pointed itself in the direction of the battle front Noncombatants are not permitted to view the actual fighting from the air afro For that reason when we had proceeded pro a few miles the machine suddenly suddenly sud sud- denly dipped sharply and shot earthward earthward earthward earth earth- ward like a skyrocket The dive was made at such a terrific rate that it seemed as If we were about to splash Into a river or plunge into a plowed field But after a drop of 2000 feet made in a few seconds the plane tilted upward again and we glided over fields and roads as easily as if we were riding in a comfortable limousine Germans Prepare Below In thin streams columns of troops were en route to the front There was no confusion anywhere Everything moved like a cog in a great machine The pilot glanced Quickly above and below Finding the sky clear again we began mounting It was like being dragged up the face of a cliff at the tall tail end of an express train Higher and higher we sped in the direction of Kovel Then suddenly we dipped again and began falling It was a terrible sensation sen sen- i I wanted to shout stop but the noise of the motor and the rush of air all prevented The earth swayed and rolled Everything Everything Everything Every Every- thing seemed topsy Twisting and turning we slid earthward Then my Judgment returning I knew that we were spiraling above Kovel cir Kovel-cir- cir circling cling round and round like a corkscrew corkscrew cork cork- screw until we were within feet of the ground Such tricks the pilot played for half an hour Then we landed There Is no doubt that the Germans are masters of the air on this front While German planes depart for the fighting line lina frequently no Russians crossed the line during our stay here Kovel Kovei Safe Germans Say Officers at headquarters are absolutely absolutely absolutely confident that Kovel is They are certain that the Bussian Russian Russian Rus Bus sian offensive has been crippled al although although although al- al though aviators report black masses of ot Russians concentrated behind the battle front New Russian bridges span the river Near one city the Slavs Slays concentrated thirty bridges and when these were not enough for forthe forthe forthe the thick masses they waded the river neck deep Despite these extensive Russian preparations the Germans are areso areso so BO confident of holding Kovel that they are building permanent quarters for forthe forthe forthe the winter As we left headquarters by automobile automobile automobile automo automo- bile at 5 a. a m. m we saw a fleet of German German German Ger Ger- man eagles preparing for a raid They carried two tons of ot explosives and as assembled assembled as- as like birds in groups of five Fir First FIrt t one sped toward the front re returning returning returning re- re turning within a hour Then two others followed and then five until all had returned safely their officers re reporting reporting reporting re- re porting success |