. Guynemer defied
the new tactics of numbers, and in one day, October 17, attacked a group
of three one-seated planes, and another group of five. A second time he
made a sortie, and attacked a two-seated plane which was aided by five
one-seated machines. On another occasion, November 9, he waged six
battles with one-seated and two-seated machines, all of which made their
escape, one after another, by diving. Still this was not enough, and he
set forth again and attacked a group of one Albatros and four one-seated
planes. "Hard fight," says the journal, "the enemy has the advantage."
He broke off this combat, but only to engage in another with an Albatros
which had surprised Lieutenant Deullin at 50 meters. On the following
day, November 10, he added two more items to his list (making his
nineteenth and twentieth): his first victim, at whom he had shot fifteen
times from a distance less than ten meters, fell in flames south of
Nesle; the other, a two-seated Albatros, 220 H.P. Mercedes, protected by
three one-seated machines, fell and was crushed to pieces in the
Morcourt ravine. This double stroke he repeated on the twenty-second of
the same month (making his twenty-second and twenty-third), and again on
January 23, 1917 (his twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh), and still again
the next day, the twenty-fourth (his twenty-eighth and twenty-ninth
victories). In addition, here is one of his letters with a statement of
the results of three chasing days. There are no longer headings or
endings to his letters; he makes a direct attack, as he does in the
air.

26-1-'17

_January_ 24, 1917.--Fell on a group of five Boches at 2300. I
brought them back, with drums beating, at 800 meters (one wire stay
cut, one escape pot broken). At the end of the boxing-round, 400
meters above Roye, I succeeded in getting behind a one-seated
machine of the group. My motor stopped; obliged to pump and let the
Boche go.

11.45.--Attacked a Fritz, let him go at 800 meters, my motor
spattered, but the Boche landed, head down, near Goyancourt. I only
count him as damaged.

At this instant, I see a Boche cannonaded at 2400, hence at 11.50 a
boxing round necessary with a little Rumpler armed with two
machine-guns. The pilot got a bullet in his lung; the passenger,
who fired at me, got one in his knee. The two reservoirs were hit,
and the whole machine took fire and tumbled down