The Hague, Feb. 25.
A brief aerial fight was staged over neutral Dutch territory today when a German warplane which violated the Netherlands' border was sighted and attacked by a Dutch patrol plane. The invader, after firing a few bursts of machine-gun bullets, at the Dutch craft, fled and escaped over the Belgian frontier, the official Press Service of the Government announced today.
The short encounter took place this morning over the Oss district, in northern Brabant, at an altitude of 26,000 feet. The German plane was identified as a Messersehmidt-ILL It was chased by the Dutch patrol plane in the direction of Tilburg and after a few minutes of pursuit, the patrol craft fired on the invader.. The Ger-
Iman pilot returned the fire, then broke away and made for the Belgian border near Reusel.
"Owing to the fact that the German plane had not only violated Dutch territory but had the audacity to fire on the Dutch plane which was on patrol duty," the Press Service stated, "the Dutch Government will lodge a severe protest with the German Government."
Another similar incident was reported to have occurred over the Woudenberg district of Utrecht prov-mee, where German planes were identified and fired on by anti-aircraft guns. The planes turned back and fled in a southwesterly direction. "The Dutch Government," the Press Service asserted, "will also protest to Berlin against this violation of its
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