Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-27
ANATORS CAPTURED
REPORTED BY ENEMY
Whenever One Comes to Grief His
Plight Is Quickly Made Known
by Opponents.
Correspondence of the Associated Press.

Correspondence of the Associated Press.
BRITISH ARMY HEADQUARTERS
IN FRANCE. August 10.-"Though 1t
has been repeatedly stated that chivaIry
does not exist in this war" said a
British aviator. this does not apply to
the British and German aviation
branches Whether it Is the Individual
ism of our work and it's novelty, or
whatever 1T is that is responsible
something of the old spirit of knight
hood maintains among the riders of
the air. When a British aviator has to
descend in the German lines, whether
from engine trouble or because his en-
CINE or his plane has been damaged by
anti aircraft gun 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
1t has come to be custom
The reports are made in a manner
worthy of airmen, and they are the
only communications that ever pass be-
heads to snipe at from their trenches.
What is called a message bag is
dropped over the British lines by a
German or over the German lines by
is in the midst of bursting shells from
the anti-aircraft 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 neighborhood and they
run out to get the prize when it lands.
1t is taken to battalion headquarters.
which wires the fact on to the aviation
headquarters, where the fate of a COM
rade may be known few hours after
he has left his home aerodrome; and
in another few hours some one in Eng
L., Il L. f,to g 1l,ti
One of Advantages.
That is one of the advantages of be-
longing 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 trench attack ir counter attack
is a prisoner dead. Such little kind
nesses as this don't interfere with your
fighting your best for your cause: at the
| same time they take a little of the saw
agery out of war. OF course, the rule
could not apply to prisoners taken IN
trench fghting-only to airmen There
are relatively few airmen on either
side and only an occasional one ever
comes down in the enemys lines
With the first flush of dawn the Brit
ish planes rise from the aviation
grounds and frequently, just as a car
rier pigeon makes circle before orient
| ing his compass. they will make "A cir
Gle before starting out for a recon
noiSsance over the German lines All
! day they are coming and going, and in
/ the dusk of evening they appear out
| of the vague distance of the heavens
| returning home to roost.
The flyers become a type with GER
| tain marked characteristics. No nerv-
Gus man is wanted; and it is time for
| any man who shows any sign of nerves
! to take rest. They shy al the men
i in 0f o yna in ylrtn f0r hot i-
| not considered good for the spirit of
this newest branch of the service of
| war. Anonymity is absolute. Every
! thing is done by the corps for the
\ corps Some members have luck, as
| they put 1t, and some do not. LIS
name may not be given, but his is the
most dramatic of recent experience.
An Aviator Hero.
He was 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 correspond
| ent. He cola sed in his seat uncon-
scious. His machine dropped at right
| angles to the line of flight. The OBJ
| server. who was with him. managed to
hold on by clutching at the machine
| gun.
They were careenins down to the
earth with the observer helpless from
his position to do anything when L
| recovered consciousness and mustered
strength and presence of mind enough
to right the machine and to turn il
| round in the midst of a cloud of
| shrapnel smoke. He was not going to
| be taken prisoner. despite his shattered
| leg, when he found that the shell
| which had so nearly done for him, had
not injured the engine or the plane. SO
he made for the nearest aerodonle
There he managed to land safely
But, as he said, he did not dare TO get
out of his seat until the doctor came
for fear that his leg would fall off lie
will get we'll"