The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1917-12-21
FLYERS BRElK h[l
AERIAL RECORDS
GO FROM ENGLAND TO ITALY
cadorna's Call for AIrpIsnes and
Pilots Is Answered BY Great
Britain and Franoe-Few Ao-
eIdsnts Are Reported.

Paris.-Bo many speed and distance
records have been shattered and set
and then surpassed again by allied
aviators that It is doubtful II the best
performances win ever be Strengthened
out and set down ON the official books.
But aviators have been flying from
points In England and In France TO
the Italian front every day, as the
British and French war offices have
outd0ne themselves In their efforts to
re-enforce the French aviation serv-
ice. Pilots just breveted-and there
were a certain number of Americans
among them-soared into the air, and
following the lead OF an instructor
or some veteran aviator, set their
course for Italy. IN
Youths who had not sat In an air.
plane two months before, duplicated
the feat OF Roland Garros which
startled the world u few years ago;
the traversing Of the italian Alps.
Flights OF 400, 300 and 90 miles With
out stop were common occurrences.
And in all cases the average speed
maintained was considerably more
than 100 miles ain hour.
Asks for AirpIanes.
One Of General Cadorna's first re-
quests to the French and British was
for Reinforcement I'm airplanes and
pilots. The Germans had assembled
several score Of their best fighting and
bombarding escadrilles on the Italian
front and had struck suddenly In a
body. In one day the German forina-
tons had practically cleared the air
Of Italian fighting aircraft, and they
followed up this advantage by s.nd-
Ing over into the italian lines squadron
after squadron OF bombing machines.
IncendIary bombs and aerial torpe-
does were ralned on the italian avia-
ton fields and the hangers and Italian
aircraft burned together.
Both the French and British general
STATS realized that without its "eyes"
the IT. an army might wander into
traps and pitfalls. And they gave the
order at once to REINFORCE the Italian
aviation service with their own es-
cadriIles. The order went out to all
the aviation camps and schools in
England and France. Within few
hours the orders were being executed.
Pilots having passed their brevets
were mustered out on the FIELDS They
were told TO wear two leather and rub
her union suits instead OF the single
garment they usually wear. The gaso-
line tanks were filed and they were
Instructed to IOllow the leader. Then
they scared on In long coveys, all
headed toward the Italian Alps.
Cover Vast Tsrrltory.
Some Of the British machines went
clear across England. travsrsed the
channel, then SCARED over France and
sealed the Alps and psvessdsd straight
On TO the Tsgiiamsnto line without
ever descending. French machines
nsw from remote corners 81 the re-
pubiie over the great mountain ranss
and across the plains Of Lombardy 70
Udins. arriving there before the Ital-
ira were forced 10 rstrsat fron that
Strktssie railway esntsr. 4h s.r'i
may not s&sn vaguely indicate the
pumber Of airplansg that were SAINT
from Drancs and England, but can
stats that the number Of accidents was
- low AZ the average total for ~
At any Of the big aviation schools.
o a. .t rae. Z