Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-06-10

motors are the fruits of the evolution
of aviation during the war--built to
match the best German machines in
speed, carrying only the pilot, ma
tehine gun and the minimum require
nent in fuel. misleading of rising
gradually like their predecessors, they
bound upward with an ascensional
power heretofore unattained They
are so dangerous In a fight that the
pilot has to go into the adversarys
territory to hunt an engagement. That
was what the Americans, especially
those chosen for the machines. were
! to do.
"lIuntcr's" Are FASTEST.
| There were nine of these, together
biplanes. in sight together for an in
slant; then the head of the line dis
appeared in the clouds. THE hunt
ers.' as the speedy machines are
called, overhauled the last of the big
ger flyers and went out of sight
ahead of them, while Thaw's Iris
and Captain T---'s Fran the two
pet dogs of the camp, were still bark
ing after them.
Even soldiers habituated to this
spectacle for nearly two years never
tire of it, They watch the last ma
chine until II is out of sight, then
turn back without comment to the
sheds to await the return. The silence
and solemnity of the camp after the
hustle of the departure was depress-
ling. The seventy soldiers of the
camp knew that come Of those brave
boys might be missing when the roll
was called again.
Anxious Waiting.
Time passes with marvellous rapid
ity fighting expeditions. aviators say.
but the two hours maximum wait In
camp to see if they all get back, is
always long. Watches are out after |
ninety minutes and eyes are turned in |
the direction taken by the fliers. Al |
the ninety-ninth minute, perhaps, q |
speck appears above the horizon
There they come" is the word |
that passes around the camp and !
everyone is on the field. rs a chas-
err" says one. mo. 2 is q bombarder," |
says another. In a few minutes TWEEN |
ty-seven specks are counted then !
there is another wait and voices are !
hushed A hunter" circles around !
the camp, dives downward at a dizzy |
pace. skins along the field without /
slowing up, until braking against the |
wind it comes TO a thrilling stop.
Fuel Supply Close.
The faster machines, last away, are !
first back for the fuel supply with |
them is sometimes close fit and not
a second is to be lost. Seven ehasers
land at the same breakneck pace and
with the same precision.
The eighth seems to flutter as il I
approaches, tips and dives fitfully.
Field glasses are levelled at him.
Hes had his tailpiece carried away"
cries one. ITS Thaw." says another,
land there's something wrong with
his propeller" Alternately rearing,
diving, and sliding on its wing. the
machine comes down convusively like
a wounded bird
Hes going to break bit of
wood" exclaimed French soldier,
expressing in characteristic aviation
language the prospect of smash.
The machine rears again after dive
which took it dangerously close to the
earth. veers around abruptly against
the wind, bumps along the ground a
yards and stops. "Thaw's one
of the few pilots who could bring
home busted machine like that"
said a soldier.
Enemy Wouldn't Fight.
But where's Chapman ?" All the
big bipanes are now in and pilots and
soldiers are all searching the sky
anxiousy. Then a cry comes from
the field a speck has Just emerged
from the clouds. Chapman, driven
out of his course by the Smelling in !
which Thaw's propeller was dam
aged, had finally found his way, and
lands now with the last drop of gas
oline in his reservoir.
The disgusting thing about it,"
said Thaw, while the mechanics were
taking an inventory Of the damage,
was that the fellows over there I,
across the line wouldn't come out to +,
fight" :