The Dickson County herald. (Dickson, Tenn.) 1907-1979, 1916-05-05

nas0r Is TIA very beginnlmg 81 to
fiigha and had n return % sAle iInaa
Thlre resnaiENM consequently only
three. Besides ths captain there were
Lt0utenahs n and Corporal r.
The thrse started on tog',ther and
followed tile SWISS fIuntiaE To the
Rhine and then catered tits Black
forest and penetrated in the direction
Of the Wusrttemberg plant. All bad
gone well ant1l they we're within few
ntles OF the latter. when several Ger
man chaser machines came OUT OF the
fog and spread themselves In fan
shape tc hsr the way to the French
men. Tho latter were carrying ten.
hour supply OF gasoline and load
OF bemkrs Ard their machines ennse-
qaentIy were slow and not easily man
ageahle.
An Easy Target.
They offered a relatively easy target
and could not defend themselves very
satisfactorily. Mr.. Jacques Montana,
who describes the incident, says the
tirst TO Withstand the shock was the
captain himself, who was attacked by
large nao,loplanA Of the type as Lath-
ANS Antoinette. Two men were on
board and the machine was well known
BY the pilots who operated on the Al.
satan aide. The French oEicer replied
with so much valor that the aggres.
sor judged IL prudent not to insist
and abandoned him In order 10 attack
the machine OF Corporal p.
The captain endeavored at once to
go to the aid OF his subordinate, but
the adversary was much more rapid
and after short fight succeeded In
bringing down the unfortunate cor,
poral During this time the captain
was turning and swerving and did not
lose q single point OF the painful
drama of which be was powerful wit.
ness. But he decided to avenge him.
self.
After the fall Of p. he started OF
on the way to the powder factory with
the determined purpose OF making the
Germans pay dearly for the loss OF his
fellow aasat5v' lie Sew caltGly, TceTn.
Ing the enemy who had gone above
him in the hope OF cutting him of and
OF attacking him. for the first success
had encouraged the occupants OF thu
big German machine.
Lieutenant d.. who had continued
his way without stopping. now saw
himself surrounded by enemy ma
chimes. One OF them brought him
down. 60 the northeast OF tho town
near the factory.
This death was considered sad loss
to the French aviation service. d
had distinguished himself several
times In bombarding expeditions, often
by night, and had been OF boldness
worthy OF his chief.
The captain remained alone to &C
complish his mission. Instead OF turn
Ing back. "a prudence might have die
tated. for he still had q considerable
distance to 30 before reaching HIS OBJ,
jectiye, he persevered all alone against
the German machines and went and
cast his eight shells slowly and with
great care on the powder factory. All
OF them struck true.
His Sad Return.
A thick black smoke al once arose
TO the sky, the black smoke which thts
same bold pilot saw for the third time
at the same place within a year, He
remained, according TO his custom.
for ten minutes over the establish.
ment. In order TO make notes OF the
result OF his Smelling. and then he
started for home, along the same route
by which he had come, not bothering
10 make a single detour to avoid enc.
my machines.
The alarm. however, had been given.
and when he arrived over the Black
forest ha perceived a veritable curtain
Of aercplanes waiting for him. They
all swooped toward him In the hope OF
bringing him down.
BY clever maneuvering he avoided
half dozen OF them. and then he was
obliged TO engage In close comba,
with two. the second OF which awaited
him above l.. The duel with the latter
was particularly bitter and the captain
ended II by forcing his adversary to
take to fight.
Quietly he resumed his way toward
the French trenches. mourning the
death OF his comrades. Near the lines
he perceived French chaser machines
which were awaiting the return OF his
squadron
One OF them approached and made
signs to inquire IL the other aero.
planes were coming The captain with
gesture OF desoation indicated tina,
! there was no one to walt Cor, as he
was the sole survivor OF the expedi
ton, And miraculous survivor he
was, for when his machine was ex
amined II was found that the top and