Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-21
MANY AMERICAN FLYERS
join PERsH|NC FORCES
Examination OF Aviators i'm Lafay.
cite Escadrille by Army Doc
tors Begins.
TO LEAVE FRENCH SERVICE
Those Who Pass Tests wifi BE Re-
ceivcd Into United States Aviation
Corps With Rank of First Lieu
tenants.
ny lROHEItT J. PREM.

PARIS. October = tby mail to New
York)-The examination by United
States army doctors of the American
ariators in the Lafayette Escadrillc.
which is attached TO the French army.
has begun. Those OF the Americans
who pass the examination will be re-
ceived in the United States aviation
service as first lieutcnants, with pay
of more than 1900 francs month
Their pay as serEeant-pilots in the
French army is about "A franc day.
But all of the American youths who
have been fighting for France with
the Lafayette Escadrillc will not so to
the United States army. Some won't
go because they don't wish TO leave the
French army. Others won't be taken
because they will be unable to pass the
physical examination.
1t is fact that Il certain American
youth who has been flying for more
than a year with the Lafayette Esca-
drille has been rejected by the United
States army examining board for fail
ing To pass the tests.
Your eyes are bad--you can't see
we'll enough to fly. Your heart is bad
YOU could not stand the quick transit
ton from low to high attitudes. Your
balance is bad--you could not control
acceptance" they said to him who
has brought down his Bochcs." who
has taken high patrol at $4,000 feet
elevation, and who has had to dive and
wiggle and twist and turn in his aero
plane scores of times to duck antiair-
craft shrapnel or machne-Gun bullets
from enemy aeroplaneS.
Perhaps the examining board will re-
consider this pilots case ii he applies
for them to do SO. But he won't. lie
prefers TO remain with the French avi-
alton service here he is at home" and
where no question arises as 10 whether
he can fly considering that he is flying
every day.
TO Enter United Stntcs Army.
So it is probable that the Lafayette
Escadrille will cease to be before long.
Nearly all of the score Cf Americans
in the cscadrillc Will enter the United
states Army. The lure of commissions
as first licutenantS, and the l.500 francs
month salary Is too strong to be
withs,ood by many-as the cscadrillc
is not now made up. a. ii was origin
ally, of the sons OF wealthy men, in
sdependently we'll off and able TO disre-
gard The lucrc entirely. Perhaps Il
few of the Americans vii! stay with
the French army, and these will be
--ecattercd about in F,encn escadrillcs.
The Americans who go to the Unit
cd States Army will eventually be In
command Of cscadrilies OF their own,
elevated to captaincics having under
Them the youths who are now being
trained in French aviation schools and
those being trained in America
One thing which is worrying the
American aviators in the Lafayette
Escadrille is VIVA: type machines they
will he asked to ily when they are
taken by the American army
Heretofore the Lafayette EscaGi lie
has been fighting unit solely and
every member has been provided with
The newest, fastest. MISUNDERSTANDING.
singlc-seater acropiancs that were
manufactured. AS fast as Il new model
was tested out and accented by the
French government. machines were
sent to the Lafayette and other
"chasse" or fighting escadrillcs and the