The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1915-09-16
CH|vALRY NOT DEAD
Old Spirit of Knighthood Main
tanned Among Aviators.
British and German Air Raiders No.
tify Enemy Of Fate Of Rival Avi-
ators-Flyers Are Type With
Marked characteristics.
BY FREDERICK PALMER.

ed that chvalry does not exist in this
war;" said a British aviator, this does
not apply to the British and German
aviation branches. Whether it IS the
individualism Of our work and its nov
city, or whatever it is that is rcspon-
sibe, something OF the old spirit Of
knighthoOd maintains among tho
flyers Of the air. When q British avi-
atOr has to descend in the German
lines, whether from engine trouble or
because his engine or his plane has
been damaged by antaircraft guniirc.
the next day the Germans report to
us his name and whether he survived,
and if so. whether he is wounded We
always do the same. 1t has come to
be a custom
The reports are made in manner
worthy of airmen and they are the
only communications that ever pass
between the two foes, which watch
for heads to snipe at from their
trenches. What is called message
bag" is dropped over the British lines
by German or over the German lines
by a British aviator-sometimes when
he is in the midst Of bursting shells
from the antiaircraft guns. Long
streamers are attached to the little
cloth bag. These, as they pirouette
down to the earth from q height OF
seven or eight thousand feet attract
the attention Of soldiers in the neigh
borhood and they run out to get the
prize when 1t lands.
1t is taken to battalion headquar-
ters, which wires the fact on to the
aviation headquarters, where the fate
OF comradc may be known a few
hours after he has left his home aero
drome and, in another few hours
someone in England may know the
| fate Of relative.
THAT is one Of the advantages OF
belonging to the flying corps" say the
before his relatives and comrades
know whether man who is missing
after trench attack or countcr-attack
is a prisoner or dead. Such little kind
nesscs as this don't interfere With
YOU lighting your best for your
cause; at tho same time they take
n little OF the savagcry out Of war
OF course, the rule could not apply tC
prisoners taken in trench fighting
only to aiimcn There are relatively
few airmen on either side and only
an occasional one ever comes Gowl
to the enemys lines"
With the first flush Of dawn the
British planes rise from the aviation
grounds. All day they are coming
and going, and in the dusk Of evening
they appear out Of the vague dis
tances Of the heavens returning home
to roost.
The flyers become type with Ger.
tain marked characteristics. No neiv.
GUS man Is wanted; and 1t is time for
any man who shows any sign Of
nerves to take rest. They seem
shy, difildent. men Of the kind given
to observation rather than talking;
men who are used to using their eyes
rather than their hands. 1t Is a little
difficult to realize that some quiet
Young fellow who is pointed out has
had so many hairbrcadth escapes.
| What tales worthy Of arabian
| Nights" heroes who were borne away
on magic carpets they bring home, re-
lating them as mattcr-offactly as If
| they had broken a shoe lace. Up i'm
| their seats, q whirr o: the motor, and
| they are away on aECth2r adventure.
| They shy at the mention Of their
| names in print: for that is not con
sidcrcd good for tho spirit OF this. the
newest branch Of the service Of war.
| Anonymity is absolute. Everything
! is done by the corDs for the corps.
| Some members have luck, as they put
| it. and some do not. Is name may
not be given but his IS the most dra.
| matte Of recent experiences
lie was pilot flying in Belgium,
far away from the British lines, when
| an antiaircraft shell mashed his leg,
which was hit by fifty bullets and
fragments. the doctor estimated. as
the story was told to the correspond,
ont lie collapsed in his seat uncOn-
scous. His machine dropped at right
| angles to the line Of fight. with the
/ concussiOn The observer who was
with him managed to hold on by
| clutc at the machine gun
They were carccning down to the
earth. with the observer helpless from
| his position to do anything, when
L recovered consciousness and
mustered strength and presence Of
mind enough to right the machine and
to turn it round in the midst Of
cloud Of ahrapncl smoke. He was not
! going to be taken prisoner, despite his
| shattered leg. when he found that
tho shell which had so nearly done for
him had not injured the engine or
the plane. So ne made for the near.
est aerodrOme.
There he managed to land safely.
But, as he said he did not dare to get
| OMl OF his scat until the doctor CANA