The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-08-27
Aviators Send Word to OPP
posing Armies If Member
II Lost or Wounded Be-
: hind Lines.
iFLERS TAKE RESTS
Strenuous Work Wears on
Nerves and Birdmen Are
Forced to Take Vacations
to Recover NOrve.
~ FREDERICK PALMER.

&, British Headquarters, France, Aug
tt0-"Though It has been repeatedly
q 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 10 the individualism Of our
work and its novelty, or whatever 1t
10 that IL responsible, something OF
the old spirit of knighthood main
tains among tho flyers OF the air.
When. . British aviator has to de.
: scend in the German lines whether
j from engine trouble or because his
engine or his plane has been dam.
(, aged by anti-air craft 'gunflre, the next
day, the Germans report to us his
name and whether he survived, and If
! 10, whether he Is wounded. We al
, ways do the same. 1t has come to be
4 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 a Message
bag" is dropped over the British lines
by q German or over the German
lines by q British aviator-sometimes
when he is in the midst of bursting
, shells from the anti-air craft guns.
Long streamers are attached to the
little cloth bag. These as they pir-
ouette down to the earth from a
height Of seven or eight thousand
feet attract the attention Of soldiers
IN the neighborhood and they run to
se THE prize when 1t lands.
,-,- Wire News to Relatives.
It 10 taken to battalion headquar-
ters which wires the fact on to the
aviation headquarters, where the fate
Of Z comrade may be known a few
hours after he has left his home aero
drome, and. in q few hours someone
Ii England may know the fate Of a
relative.
THAT is one Of the advantages Of
belonging to the flying corps" say
the British aviators. 1T may be
weeks before his relatives and com.
yades know whether a man who Is
missing after a trench attack or coun-
terattack ID a prisoner or dead. Such
little kindnesses as this don't inter
fere with your fighting your best for
your cause; at the same time they
tSke little Of the savagery out Of
war. OF course, the rule could not
apply to prisoners taken in trench
hEhtinE-only to airmen. There are
relatively few airmen on either side
and only an occasional one ever
comes down to the enemy's lines"
The fliers become type with GER
tain marked characteristics. No ner.
vous man is wanted. and 1t is time
for any man who shows any sign of
nerves to take a rest. They seem
shy, diffident men of the kind given
to observation rather than talking;
men who are used to using their eyes
rather than their hands. 1t is little
difficult to realize that some quiet
young fellow who Is pointed out has
had SO many hairbreadth escapes.
What tales worthy of Arabian Nights
heroes who we're borne away on mag
ic carpets they bring home, relating
them as matter-of-factly as If they
had broken a shoe-lace. Up in their
seats a whirr of the motor and they
are away on another adventure. They
shy at the mention Of their names in
print; for that is not considered good
for the spirit of this the newest
branch of the service of war. Anony-
nifty Is absolute. Everything is done
by the corps for the corps. Some
members have luck, as they put 1t,
and some do not.