Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-03-28
AMERICAN A|RMEN IN MEXICO
SURM0UNTING FLYING PR0Bl Fms
NOT EQUALLED BY EUROPEANS EiIlC
Veteran Flyer Says Aero Squadron Has Novor
Experienced Such Difficulties as Enconn+o.ea
in the Air Above the Treacherous Mountain
Peaks and Gorges- Chance for Aviator If
Motor Stops-No Serious Accident as Yet
sid headquarters American Aero

.+sld Headquarters American Aero
,.,e rolon:a Dublan, Chihuahua.
,,v March %, tBy Aeroplane to COL
.br. y. NJ, March 27)-The first
40 squadron in the United States
.n. IN d weeks service with Brig.
:, yo!ln J. Pe:shing's expedition in
,..,,co has surmounted flying prob
more difficult than most of those
..,ountered by European aviators.
rho work has been done thus far
.bo,,t serious accident. One of the
.or ayiators said today that only
.ba Alre are the European flyers
tn encounter conditions parallel
hose under which the Americans
~ ale woEhlnG
handicapped by Altitude
.v...9r" said the aviator have we
.. arr t:,ls a. difficult as here We
=. ndaI q handicap Of ali altitude of
,.,, 5o1n fcct when We rise. Some Of
mountains we have tried to get
a.
81, level and ..oue of our machines is
Nnsreul enough 70 carry the pilot OBJ
go, and sufficient fuel at such an
l.:.,da We might get over one Of
HIGH mountains, hut we probably
IA he unable to carry enough fue!
a.. the return ilight.'
10 told about flight of some of his
49,, oyer mountain pass which the avi-
a.ciar4d vas in the toughest coun-
nv in Mexico.
Dangerous Air Currents
,.s, before reaching the pass they We're
..,ya gorge 3'n feet deep, No landing
=. vas observable within Is miles and
- If the flyers had difficulty in rising
-. ,s. necessary altitude. He turned and
-tssed his machine trying to ascend, but
-, s,rone air currents swept him around
...1 he was within about 70 feet of the
,-ss tops near the summit of the pass
y. had er3zed the trees without being
.,,. 70 fsh, his way higher through the
...a-herous winds and was forced to turn
lark
Tia other aviators succeeded in making
.,s fight Two of them carrying dispatch
F.. landed near the camp in a wind which
-sy described as the worst encountere |
n aly OF ths SGuadrons since the fight
Ysr TIE Msscot> trophy in 1914 from San
rega Cal IL Los Angeles, when Lieut..
Fred (icrst.rrtI. an observer, was killed.
Rocked Like a Boat
The lad air near this camp drove one
the machines INTO spiral nose
side in which it dropped about 1000
ts-, When the aviator came out of
rfe Glide he SAN some cavalrymen
gayng blanket and he finished the
aescent delivering his orders safely.
Tive minutes later the second aviator
~ this particular trip came along, his
machine rocking like a boat in rough
SEA The second plane also landed
safely
After the landing had been accom-
f..shed the wind was SO strong that it
picked 10 one Of the machines and sent
/ hack 30 or 81, feet.
IN flying here" said the aviator, lit
il case frequently of pitting ones
life against the motor. for if the motor
stops there is no landing place with
IN reach and the aviator has no
chance"
Thus far, however. the aero squadron
has kept the motors in running order
In all emergencies.
The aviators themselves believe that
lle!r work Of gathering and transmit
ting information is a more difficult
The aviatorS themselves believe that
nelr work Of gathering and transmit
Ing information is a more difficult duty
than being under actual fire. The
Chances Of being hit while under fire
million To one"
Not Counting on Lives
The European planes in the Alpine
SNs, they have been informed, carry es-
haally powerful motors designed for
mountain observation duty. Furthermore
the Alps If an aviator. after an acct
Qe,'' does succeed in landing he stands
chance Of capture, but in any work
1fy may undertake against Villa the
american aViators are not counting on
saving their lives if they should be forced
u uescend within reach of the bandits.
LIE cold itself has required great nerve.
a lev Of the men have come in from
n1'o Nights so numb that they had to be
11'eo from their machines.
mus far in their landing the avia-
wy nave not encountered any signs
u uAirlendliness among the Mexican
t''pe. Some IF the planes have made
'"s trps away from their bases. In
.4' ease an aviator in a flight which
,.''ea uHti, q clock at night used
i +s north star as MS guide. This man
w TWO DAYS work, during which he
s''e became so exhausted for lack Of
IT nat in 4 long trip on foot to a
t''e where lie knew lie could End IL
~ collapsed several times. He also
''' on ;ieeund a horse for another
Nv iVano mission. At Mexican ranch
~ "4nd one but it had no bride. He
,,' up his overalls. fashioning bride
"H answered the purpose. The
.sNcan ranchman riding another
se acted as the aviator's guide.
Scares Natives Away
W." another aviator looking for To-
.NVn Tor night landing in unfamiliar
."ry swooped down close to camp
s 'or observations When he passed
lie fire he noted three Mexicans
'o at it, apparently considerably per-
wv AS the ground looked good for
=. 'A''ong, the aviator wheeled his ma