Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-08-27
MARKS
WORK OF A|RMEN
IN GREAT WAR
STATEMENT CHIvALRY DOES NOT
EXIST IN WAR DOES NOT APP
PLY TO AlRMEM.
AVIATOR SAYS SOMETHING OF THE
SPIRIT OF KNIGHTHOOD OF OLD
MAINTAINS IN AIR.
tBy Associated press.l

British Army Headquarters in
France. Aug. 27.-"Though il has been
repeatedly stated that chivary does not
exists in this war" said a British avia-
tor. this does not apply To the British
and German aviation branches. Whether
il is the indiyidualism of our work and
its novelty. OF whatever il j. TIT is re-
.sponsihle. something of the old spirit of
knichthood maintains amon the riders
OF the air. When a British aviator has
10 descend ~ the German lines whether
from engine trouble or because his en-
CINE or his plane has been damaged by
a~nti-air craft guns FIRE. 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.
II has come To he a custom"
The reports are made IN manner
worthy Of airmen and they are the only
communication that ever pass between
the two foes which watch for heads to
snipe at from their trenches. h IS
called "A 'messagr bag" is dropped over
the British lines by u German or over
the German lines by "A British aviator
sometimes when he is in the midst Of
bursting shells from the anti-aircraft
guns. Long streamcrs are attached to
the little cloth bag. These as they pi
rouette down to the earth from a heighth
Of seven or eight Thousand feet attract
the attention Of soldiers in the neighhor
hood and they run out TO get the prize
when il lands.
II is taken to battalion headquarters
which wires the fact on to the aviation
headquarters where the fate Of a com
rade may. be known a few hours after
he has left his home aerodrome; and. in
another few hours. someone in England
may know the fate of a relative.
That il one of the advantages of he
longing 10 the flying corps" say the
British aviators. 1t may be weeks he
fore his relatives aud comrades know
whether a man who i missing after a
trench attack or counter attack is a
prisoner or dead. Such little kindnessrs
as this don't interfere with your fighting
your best for YOU cause: at the same
time they take a little of the savagerv
out Of war. of course. the rule could
not apply Ia prisoners taken in trench
ighting-only To airmen. There are
relatively few airmcn on either side and
only an occasional one ever comes down
III Ihc enPmNfS lines
With the first flush Of dawn the Brit
lsh planes rise from the aviation ground
and frequently Just rs a carrier pigeon
makes a circle before orienting his rom
pass they will make a circle before start
ing ont for a reconnaissance over the
German lines. All day they are coming
and going and in the dusk of evening
they appear ont of the vague distances
Of the heavens returning home to roost.
The flyers become a type with certain
marked characteristics. No nervous
man is wanted: and il is time for any
man who shows any sign If nerves To
take a rest. They shy al the mention Of
their names in print; for that is not
considered good for the spirit Of this
newest branch of service If war. Anonv-
nifty is absolute. Everything is lone by
the corps for the corpS Some members
have luck. az they put il. and some do
not. L......fS name may not he given
but his i the most dramatic IF recent
experience.
He was n pilot fving in Belgium far
away from the British lines when an
anti air craft shell mashed his lee which
was hit nv fifty bullets aud fragments
the doctor estimated" ~ the story was
told IN the correspondent. "He collap-
>ed IN his seat unconscious. His ma
chine dropned ~ right angles to the
line If flight. The observer. who v"
ing AT the machine gun.