The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1915-03-02
An Inspiring
Sight
By r. A. mitchell

Jacques tilgueailX. WHO WIS HSu''hS
/ in the French army in the north .:
France. suddenly felt his knees give
way beneath MIN and collapsed. goiIl.
down with thousands ut tXplosiollS
ringin. in his ears Mingled WIN
these were the sholItn. ot officers.
neighins of horses. Shricks. groans-
indeed. every conceivable sound mel
dent to battle. But he did not near
them bong for he became unconscious
jacques awoke lie heard no sound
but the piping OF bird in Il tree near
by Opening his eyes. he saw only
the blue heavens and n light cloliu
sailing ever SO peacefully. tor he was
lying on his back He felt of himself
and came upon II spot in his side where
pressure gave him pain. A little fur
thpr Investigation with his eand told
him that he had been wounded there.
and his clothing had Stanchpd the flow
of blood
jacques lay still. He did not dare to
move for fear that his wound would
could move He mad no desire to move
unless II WAS to get water He won
dered whether there had been victory
or defeat tor the side on which he had
fought Was he In the French or Ger
man lineSt How long had ne been
there: He tried to HIT his head to see
about him. but he could not. II was
lonely to be ont there ON the battlefield.
left to die with no one even TO take
message for loved ones ut home.
War. which nad brought him to such
pass. came to console him. at least to
occupy his mind What seemed to be
huge bird sailed gracefully into his
field OF View, then another and an
other. They were all moving in the
same direction. From the foremost a
little puff OF smoke appeared and float
ed lstleSsly away 10 the rear.
In another moment two aeroplanes.
muvin. side by side and In the oppo
site direction to those Jacques had al
ready seen. appeared In the heavens.
They were driving straight mt the oth
IT'S Ilt tIlh' tht WV
French ana was sure the two were
German. BECAUSE they were oheying
the German method Of attack. lie had
learned that there WAS no defense IN
the German army: 1t was All strike.
Another shot. this time from one IN
II German airship. II evidently caused
some damage TO one OF his encmy's
wings, fol there appeared spot
through which Jacques could see light
Several shots were fired IN quick sue.
ccSsion by the Frenrhmcn. There was
no report. for sound rises The only
Indication OF the shots was the i1ttle
pii1S of smoke
The aeropIanes were now manenver-
Ing, circlins each side trying to get IN
"A shot that would strike an enemy's
vital part The Germans. though the
attacking party, seemed sensible Of the
fact that they were inferior IN NUN
bcrS and used their skill to secure a
favorable position hv SeImIatihr the
Frenchmen and attacking In detail
Jacques heard II report and n slight
vibration at the earth on which he was
stretched and In II few seconds saw
one OF the French aeroplanes stagger
ike n wounded bird. One Of its wings
was broken. II sank In circles. soon
falling below the range OF the soldiers
vision.
The numbers on each side were now
even One OF the German ships tried
to ram one OF the Frehchmen. but
missed Ii by what seemed to Jacques
hair's breadth At the same time Il
shot from the other Frenchman wound
ed u German bird
Jacques was no longer lonely
wounded rnan on deserted battlefield.
The spirit or contention was again
aroused IN him He wished he were
M In the air 10 one Of the aerOpianes.
He saw an advantage OF position FOR
one OF the aerial FrenchmeD. Forget
ting that be could not he heard, he
shouted:
You're on his broadside. Strike his
propeller"
The sound OF his voice seemed to
mock him. For moment the still.
ness that folltwed It seemed like that
OF death. Then voice near by came
somberly:
"Comrade. have you any waterT'
water. No." cried Jacques. That
man up there had an advantage, and !
! can't make him hear. There. he
has lost It "
Il don't care for the man up there.
! am only Interested In the man down
here myself ! am suffering from q
horrible thirst"
Another puff OF smoke from q
Frenchman and one OF the German
aeroplanes dropped like lead. A re-
port from below and Frenchman
followed TO earth. Another report and
the remaining Frenchman turned and
fed. The German followed for a short
diSt q ncp buf bis DrpnaIlpr bod hppn in