The Washington herald., 1917-12-02

will be waste OF ammunition. Then
the aeroplane. after one last circle
round the shattered position to sur
vey the amount OF damage done, sets
on towards its distant aerodrome.
while the battery cleans its guns and
prepares for the next shoot upon its
program.
The modesty OF the air service pre-
vents the use Of the name Of the
British airman who performed the
feat of capturing a Boche airman
on the ground and carrying him into
captivity. Lieut.. Roland johnson is
the narrator of the story. Here II is:
''One Of our little 'wasps' "a par
ticularly fast one at that), was rid
ing high in the heavens. He was
very high up. so high, indeed as to
have been undetected by the enemy
as he swept over the lines at a
speed exceeding 100 miles an hour. He
was alone in the deep blue sky. while
French and British and some Ger
man machines passed and repassed
far below him.
He had flown over the lines, and
down there on the earth he could
see country In which there were no
signs of troops. The first symptom
OF his detection by the enemy was
a tiny black aeroplane several thou
sand feet below; some scout making
on to give news OF him. It is the
thought of second, a swift move
ment Of the control leyer, and the
young pilot swoops down and "opens
fire with his deadly little machine
gun.
RAT. tat, tat. tat" goes the ma
chine gun. and there is an answer
ing pop, pop. pop. pop" The Boche
fights like a devil possessed, turn
ing, diving, climbing-anything to es-
cape his deadly attacker
But the German was beaten. He
could not compare with this wonder
full little machine and with its inex-
orable occupant He dived to ground
followed by the EngIishman. In land
ing he crashed and his machine turn
ed turtle. Shaken but unhurt, he
climbed out, regained his machine
gun and opened fire at his opponent,
who was circling round above. The
latter diyed. fiattened out and land
ed in the next field far from any
house or visible sign of life.
Thereupon ensued a battle royal.
Both piled their machine guns for all
they were worth. The English gun
was the first to jam; the pilot has
perforce to play ''possurh," revolver
in hand. In such a situation some
one has to make the first move. I'm
fortunately for the Hun, he, in his en-
deavor- to ascertain the meaning Of
this sudden silence. advanced unwar-
lily, and found himself pulled UP at
revolver point.
Good morning." said his opponent.
Good morning." replied the Hun.
Just jump into my machine" mur-
INJURED the Englishman, and mind, no
tricksr'
AN invitation like that cannot be
refused, especially when II is given
three feet away from behind a con-
vincing looking automatic of the very
latest type. The Hun, without re-
monstrance, climbed into the spare
seat, the selfistarter was put into ac-
tion, and captor and capture rose
from the ground, leaving the wrecked
mans.
Back in the English aerodrome
once more"
Thank you" said the Hun. That's
all right! You may be better than
some of your crowd!
ITO those who know only the Ger
man army on the ground, some Hun
airTRen seem suFpFisingly good fell
lows. and such is the etiquette of
war"
Typical Bombing Raid.
at is five o'clock in the morning."
he begins. The engines are started.
and warmed, and the pilets cover their
eyes with goggles. They then have a
few moments in which to smoke un-
til the c. o. appears. A buzz on the
telephone is heard, the engines are
restarted, and, at a signal from the
thex ''taxie" out on to
the aerodrome preparatory to taking
off, and the bombing raid has be-
gun.
There are ten machines in all, four
OF them acting as escort to ward on
the attacks Of hostile aircraft while
the bombing is in progress.
THE aeroplanes leave the ground
in a long stream, the leader having a
triangular flag attached to his tail
planes or wings. Quickly getting into
their required positions, they single
around the aerodrome until they re-
ceive a signal from the ground, Civ
ing the permission to make for the
lines.
climbing steadily all the time they
follow their leader Hunward, and
cross the line at varying heights, from
ten thousand to eight Thousand feet,
out to avoid the chances of