‘The Germans dropped back for a moment, then the whole force came forward to attack the Americans. There was a circular counter formation on the part of the Americans, and the rapid firing of the guns was accelerated.... At times it was impossible to distinguish the Germans from the Americans in this most unequal fight. We saw Prince and Balsley capsize and fall. In the apparent death-drop Prince righted his machine when near the ground, and returned to the aviation field uninjured, but with a bullet through his helmet. Balsley was not so fortunate. He owes his life, perhaps, to the fact that his feet were strapped to the controls. An explosive bullet struck him on the hip, rendering him helpless for a time, but he was able to regain command of his machine sufficiently to make a landing, though the machine was completely wrecked. Balsley explains that his machine-gun jammed during the second rush of the Germans. He is now in the American Ambulance Hospital in Paris. His wound is not believed to be dangerous, but the doctors say he will never fly again. Just after these two men had fallen, when things looked bad for the American squadron, reinforcements of French machines came up. The Germans were soon driven back across the lines, and the engagement was over. One German machine was destroyed and its two occupants killed, others were injured. The French suffered no casualties except the wounding of Balsley and the loss of his machine. ‘The American aviators are not reckless or foolhardy, but brilliant fliers, who use their heads. They continue to be very active, despite unfavourable circumstances, such as repeated bombardments of their camps and hangars by German aviators. The Germans try constantly to draw out the Americans. At Belfort they sought to get them at a disadvantage, and again just recently in a raid on Bar-le-Duc. In this latter engagement the Americans ascended as the invading squadron’s approach was telephoned from the firing line. They met and opened fire directly over the French hangars at Bar-le-Duc. The Germans again outnumbered them two to one. Both the French captain and Prince were forced to come down, one with a punctured gasoline tank, and the other with his ammunition box blown off by explosive bullets. Soon after Cowden’s machine-gun choked, and he, too, descended, leaving Hall and Chapman to fight off the Germans alone until reinforced by a French squadron from Toul. They were then able to force the Germans back into German territory and inflict heavy losses, though no injuries were suffered on the French side.’