Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-06-28

pilot has to go into the adversary's
territory to hunt an engagement. that
was what the Americans, especially
chosen for these machines, were to do.
There were nine of these, together
with 10 of the big bombardng BIZ
planes, in sight together for an in
slant; then the head of the line dis
appeared in the clouds. The hunters
as the speedy machines are called.
overhauled the last of the bigger f1iers
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 barking after
them.
Even soldiers habituated to his
spectacle for nearly two years never
tire of it. They watch the last ma
chine until it 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 depressing. The
20 soldiers of the camp knew that
some of those brave boys might be
missing when the ro', was called
again.
Time passes with marvellous rapid
ity on 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 f1iers At the
ninty-ninth minute, perhaps, d speck
appears high above the horizon
There they come" is the word that
passes around the camp and everyone
is on the field. Its a chaser" SAYS
one. Number two is a bombarder,"
says another. In a few minutes y
specks are counted; then there is
another wait and voices are hushed.
A hunter" circles around the camp.
dives downward at dizzy pace, skins
along the field without slowing up,
until braking against the wind it comes
to thrilling stop.
The faster machines, last away. are
first back, for the fuel supply with
them is sometimes a close fit and MOI
second is to be lost. Seven chasers
land at the same breakneck pace, and
with the same precision.
The eighth seems to flutter as it ap-
proaches, tips and dives fitfully. Field
glasses are levelled at him Hes had
his tail piece carried away" cries one.
It's Thaw," says another, and there's
something wrong with his propeller
Alternately rearing, diving. and slid
ing on its wing, the machine comes
down convulsiyely like wounded bird.
Hes going to break bit of wood"
exclaimed a 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 hundred
yards and stops. "Thaw's one of the
few pilots who could bring home a
busted machine like that" said sol
der.
But where's Chapman" All the
big biplanes are now in and pilots and
soldiers are all searching the sky anx-
iously. Then 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 damaged, had
finally found his way, and lands now
with the last drop of gasoline in his
reservoir
The disgusting thing about it," said
Thaw, while the mechanics were tax
ing an inventory of the damage. was
that the fellows over there across the
line wouldn't come out to fight"