Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1915-09-10
NOT 0EI1
Old Spirit of Knighthood Mi,
talned Among AviatUrs. ''
British and German Air Rala.
thy Enemy of Fate Of Rival 49, y"
ators-Fiyers Are Type VIA
Marked Characteristics,
BY FREDERICK PALMER
International News serv,ceI


British Headquarters. Fro.
Though it has been repeatedly -
ed that chivalry does not exist in ts,'
war" said a British aviator. otbis IN
not apply to the British and Co-nss
aviation branches. Whether il il ~
individualism of our work and lie ~"
city, or whatever 1t is that ia rasno,
sible, something of the old shirt :,
knighthood maintains amone ~
flyers of the air. When a British a.,
ator has to descend in the Germo,
lines, whether from engine trouble =,
because his engine or his plana b.,
been damaged by antiaircraft gun6rs
the next day the Germans report "a
us his name and whether he survival
and If so, whether he is wounded Va
always do the same. 1t has come IN
be custom"
The reports are made in a mama,
worthy of airmen and they are ths
only communications that ever mass
between the two foes, which watch
for heads to snipe at from tbei,
trenches. What is called a message
bag" is dropped over the British lines
by German or over the German lines
by a British sometimes when
he is in the midst of bursting shells
from the antiaircraft guns. Long
streamers are attached to the little
cloth bag. These, as they pirouette
down to the earth from a height Of
seven or eight thousand feet attract
the attention of soldiers in the neigh.
borhood and they run out to get the
prize when 1t lands.
1t is taken to battalion headQuar.
tiers, which wires the fact on to the
aviation headquarters, where the fate
of a comrade may be known a few
hours after he has left his home aero
drome; 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. 1T may be weeks
before his relatives and comrades
know whether a man who is missing
after a trench attack or counter-attack
is a prisoner or dead. Such little kind.
nesses as this don't interfere with
you fighting your best for your
cause; at the same time they take
a little of the savagery out Of war
OF course, the rule could not apply to
prisoners taken in trench fighting
only to airmen. There are relatively
few airmen on either side and only
an occasional one ever comes Gown
to the enemy's lines"
With the first flush Of dawn the
British planes rise from the aviation
grounds. All day they are coming
and going, and in the dusk of evening
they appear out of the vague dis
tances of the heavens returning home
to roost.
The flyers become type with GER
tain marked characteristics. No nerV'
Gus man is wanted; and 1t is time lot
any mdu WIN SuOWo any
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 hltlo
difficult to realize that some quie'
young fellow who is pointed out na'
had so many hairbreadth escapes
What tales worthy of "AraOiSn
Nights heroes who were borne away
on magic carpets they bring home 10
lating them as matter-of-factly as Il
they had broken a shoe lace. up IL
their seats, a whirr of the motor anu
they are away on another adventure.
They shy at the mention Oh Iuo"
names in print; for that is not cUu.
sidered good for the spirit OF TINS 'n'
newest branch of the service OF wa.
Anonymity is absolute. Everytnino
is done by the corps for the coipI
Some members have luck, as they p1s
1t, and some do not. LIS name Ii@'
not be given, but his is the most ui'
matte of recent experiences
He was a pilot flying in Belgium
far away from the British lines "neA
an antiaircraft shell mashed MS 'oe'
which was hit by fifty bullets "ns wv
fragments, the doctor estimated "a. a.
the story was told to the correSpon uu
ent. He collapsed in his seat uno w.
scious. His machine dropped at risI.
angles to the line of fight, with 'ns o
conclusion. The observer VINO We" W.
with him managed to hold oH
clutching at the machine gun. =.
They were careening down 70 .- I'm
earth, with the observer helpless - -
his position to do anything VIZ ID
l. recovered consciousness ~
mustered strength and presence -
mind enough to right the machine % a
to turn it round in the midst " -,
cloud of shrapnel smoke. He was his his
going to be taken prisoner, despite .s 10,
shattered leg, when he founu cor
the she'll which had so nearly done ~ NJ
him had not injured the engine