East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-02-25
Filler SORRY HE DID
NOT TRY AEROPLANE
ON MEXICAN REBELS
ENGLISHMAN CERTAIN HE COULD
HAVE DISPERSED Or
OSCO'S ARMY.
But lie Didn't Know the Value OF the
Flying Machine in Warfare SO Well
as he Knows il Now From His Ex-
perience in Europe-NIachlne safe
at 1000 Feet.
RY WILLIAM g. sHEPHERn.

BY WILLIAM C. SHEPHERD.
Omitted Press Staff Correspondent.
LONDON. Feb. 10-(By Mail t
New York)-Lee Hedgson is over her,
wondering why, in the name of good
ness, he didn't take try at wipinl
out orosco's rebel army in Mexico
single handed, when he had a chance
He's an Englishman and he now
belongs to the Royal Flying Corps and
will shortly so to the front. Here.
the way he talks about his last chance
at the Mexican rebels
you remember when you used tC
see me around El Paso during the
Orosco revolution against Madero in
the spring Of 1918? Well, I had bis
things under way then, though ]
couldn't tell any Of the newspapers
about it at the time. I came to El
Paso because Felix Sommerfield, Ma
dero's agent, wanted me to fly over
into Mexico and locate Orosco's for
ces and also to do what damage
could to them with air bombs. There
was a fancy price attached to the
stunt and I brought my machine Sc
cretly to El Paso and cached It under
the grandstand at the ball park, wait
ing for q good time TO start.
But there were three sets OF Sc
cret service men in Ell Paso three
years ago; the American government
agents. the Maderista agents and the
rebel agents and. between them,
somehow, my secret got out.
IF 1 had known what the flying
men know now about what an aero
plane can do in warfare, I wouldn't
have been worried in the least. but
felt that II orosco's men knew that I
might fly over them any day they
would be ready for me and hanging
would be my portion. IL came down
alive. So I delayed my start, think
ing things over.
"At least I got up my nerve and
told Sommerfeld I would take al
chance. How to get the machine to-
gether and get started on my flight
was the next problem. Sommerfeld
solved it. He put up the money and
he arranged for an aero meeting at
the baseball park. I was to be the
only flyer and the idea was that, as
soon as got off the ground, was
to start across the Rio Grande and
do my work.
"And right at this point, Col. E. z. |
steever. who had charge OF the Am
erican troops, at Ell Paso stepped in. !
His secret service men had learned |
Of my plan and he sent word to me
that II I crossed the Rio Grande his
soldiers would be ordered to bring
me down with their rifles. I never
lid know whether Col. Steever had |
my right to take such a step. but the
thought OF American sharpshooters
Dotting away at me was too much
Ind so gave up the plan.
"But the things that have been
earned about aeroplanes fighting in
his war in Europe show me that
,ould have left the United States
Without the slightest danger from
American bullets and that would
lave been perfectly safe. barring such
lccidents might happen to any
Machine in peace times, over the Mex
can rebels.
Half a year Of aeroplane fighting
lere in Europe, has proved beyond
doubt, that an aeroplane, at a
height Of 1000 feet, is almost unhit.
able. I could have spiralod up above
hat baseball grounds that day until
had reached 1000 feet and then
ould have sailed across the Rio
irande with perfect safety.
Though 1t was only three years
go, an aeroplane would have scared
/. Mexican army to death and I can't
imagine what influence my bombs
would have had on Orosco's hombres
But didn't know about the safety
rom bullets Of the 1000 feet eleva-
ion and so the Job was called off.
But is an aeroplane really safe at
height OF 1000 feet?"
"Yes indeed. II works out like
his Any shot that hits either the
'ilot or the vital part of an aeroplane
It that elevation is the widest kind
# chance shot. It's like trying to
lit flying duck, with a rifle, right
through it's little heart. Did you ever
lear of the fanciest rifle shot in the
vest trying to hit certain feather
n flying bird or guaranteeing to
lick a flying bird in a certain part Of
IS anatomy. Shooting isn't done that
icely And the vital part Of an aero
'lane, at height OF 1000 feet isn't
s big as the point Of lead pencil
We seen western men in America
ut visiting card placed edgwise
nth a rifle bullet. at so yards, but
he card wasn't travelling at the rate
4 60 miles an hour.
THE aeroplane has got all the best
+ 1t in warfare and only wish I had
nown it, back in those days Of Oro-
cos rampage"