New Britain herald., 1915-08-27
'KNIGHTHOOD SPIRIT
 AMONG AVIAT0RS
British and Germans Notify Each
 Other Of Captured AirInen

British Army Headquarters in
 France, Aug. 1O>-'Though it has
 been repeatedly stated that chivalry
 does not exist in this war;" said British aviator, this does not apply
 to the British and German aviation
 branches. Whether it is the individual ism of our work and its novelty, or whatever it Is that is responsible, something of the old spirit of knight hood maintains among the riders of the air. When British aviator has to descend in the German line wheth- CT from engine trouble or because his engine or his plane has been dam aged by anti-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 It has come to be a custom.'
 The reports are made in a 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 a message bag" is dropped over the British lines by German or over the German lines by a British aViator-somet etimes when he is in the midst of bursting shells from the anti-aircraft guns Long streamers are attached to tho little cloth bag. These as they pi- rouette down to the earth from height of seven or eight thousand feet attract the attention of soldiers In the neighborhood and they run cut to get the prize when it lands.
 Fact Becomes Known.
 It is taken" to battalion headquar- ters which wires the act on to the aviation headquarters where the fate of comrade may be known few hours after he has left his home aerodome; and, in another few hours someone in England may know the fate of a relative.
 That is one of the advantages of belonging to the flying corps" say the British aviators "It may be l weeks before his relatives and con- 1 rades know whether a man who is missing after trench attack or counter attack is prisoner or dead. Such little kindnesses as this don't interfere with your fighting your best for your cause; at the same time thev take little of the savagery out of war. Of course, the rule could not apply to prisoners taken in trench to a1rmen. There are relatively few airmen on either side and only an occasional one ever comes down in the enemy's lines"
 Moving all Day.
 With the first flush of dawn the British planes rise from the aviation grounds and frequently just as 1 carrier pigeon makes circle before orienting his compass they will make 3 circle before starting out for a over the German lines. All day they are coming and oing, in the dusk of evening they appear out of the vague distances of the heavens homo to roost.
 The flyers become a type with cer- tain marked characteristics. No nervous man is wanted; and it is time for any man who knows any sign of nerves to take a rest. They shy at the mention of their names in print; or that Is not considered good for the spirit of this newest branch of the service of war Anonymity is absolute. Everything is done by the corps for the corps. Some members have luck, as they put it, and some do not. L...'s name may not be given, but his is the most dramatic of recent experience.
 Shell Washes Leg.
 He was a pilot flying in Belgium far away from the British lines when an anti aircraft shell mashed his leg which was hit by fifty bullets and fragments the doctor estimated'' as the story was told to the correspon- dent. He collapsed in his seat un- conscious. His machine dropped at right angles to the line of flight The observer, who was with him, manag- ed to hold on by clutching at the machine gun
 '"They were careening. down to the earth with the observer helpless from his position to do anything when L.. recovered consciousness and mus tered strength and presence of mind enough to right the machine, and to turn it round in the midst of a cloud of shrapnel smoke. He was not going to be taken prisoner despite his shat tered leg when he found that the shell which had so nearly done for him had not injured the engine or the plane. So lie made for the meas est aerodome
 There he managed to land safely Bllt. ho said ha ot <3