Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1917-01-05

inc master OF the Skies"
The next man down was Guynemer-
Lieut. Georges Guynemer, holder Of the
Legion Of Honor, the Military medal
and the CrOix de Guerre with IA palms
he who, since the German BoeIke's
death. is undisputed master Of the
skies. Even before l saw the famous
"Vieux Charles" inscription on the
cockpit OF the little Newport / knew
It was Guynemer, from the throng Of
ayiators and mechanicians gathered
about the machine. There was some
thing impressive about the silent way
they watched this STRIPPING rise up out
OF his seat and Chamber to the ground.
Even before removing his goggles and
helmet, Guynemer pointed out TO his
mechanicians what must be done to
the plane-the cavalier thinking first
Of his steed.
When his flying clothes had been
taken OF he turned with a smile to the
group Of airmen waiting to hear. as
they always do when Guynemer re-
turns, what he had to say. One would
fancy that having seen % foemen
tumble earthward under the lightning
Of his machine gun, he would have be
come a bit blase about IL But Guyne-
mer is great artist, and great artists
are never blase about their art.
casual question from one Of his
comrades started him of on an Odys-
sey Of the skies that fairly rang with
unconscious poetry. What he had to
tell was no more important than Luf
bery's lacOnic report; the way he told
it was like Chenal singing the Mar
seillaise." All the Celt and all the
artist in his makeup rushed to the
surface. His eyes flashed. his hands
shot out in nervous, expressive ges-
lures, his whole slim body seemed 10
vibrate with emotion. His listeners.
being Frenchmen, were enthralled- One
realized why this boy of twenty-one is
the adOred Of all France.
whats he so excited about?' asked
one Of the Americans, whose knowl-
edge Of French and Guynemer IS i'm
perfect. He must have brought down
about ten today to 90 on ike that"
From Verdun to Picardy.
Without attempting TO pass upon the
merits or dement's OF the various racial
outlined above, I may
say that the Americans have won for
themselves a perfectly good place in
the sun OF allied aviation. The proof
of it is their having been shifted from
luxurious establishments at Barbecue
and Luxeuil to leaky cabins amid the
eternal mud of this field in Picardy.
Tested in the blazing furnace OF Yer
dun. they were not round wanting. So
now they are privileged to share with
Frances aerial aristOcracy the hard
ships and gIOries OF the greatest battle /
OF them all.
Their quarters are q long, shedlike /
structure, into which wind and rain |
enter without knocking. Each pilot |
has q cubbyhole the size of a Pullman /
drawing room, but wholly devoid of 1
Pullman comforts, parudoned of as a /
bedroom. The bed is a camp cot. /
There is no head except that grudg-
ngly dispensed by a small stove in
he common meSSroom. an apartment
the least desirable dwell
ng in the most primitive of lumber
amps. There is electric light, but for
nscrutable military reasons II is
switched of promptly at ten every
light-'just when you're in the middle
# the most exciting chapter" as Ser
;eanr Dudley Hill put it
There are two forms of recreation,
photograph and whisky" The lat
er. indeed, is a tonic without which
he Americans existence would be-
ONE drab and doleful For the cen
or's sake let me hasten TO explain
hat Whisky" being animal and not
egetable. cheers but does not inebri-
te. He is. in fact, a lion. the eSca-
rifles pride and joy. Therefore he
: permitted 10 growl about Somme
iScomforts. which the pilots them
elves never do. When the weather
; particularly vile and things in gen ,
raj look particularly blue. somebody ,
visits ~Whisky's" tail. and he does the
rowling for everybody.
Temper Gets Shorter. {
Consequently his temper is getting I
lorter every day and his teeth longer.
, that he will soon be sufficiently ma c
lred. as the distillers say. TO fulfill Q
IS appointed destiny. which consists a
being carried over into the German
mes by airplane and deposited there. c
hat Whisky" full grown. is likely
do 70 the boches tickles his present
asters immensely. Meantime. being
tie bigger than a well-developed
lchshund. this first aerial lion plays :
Grub" TO a varsity team of dogs OF :
vers sizes and provides welcome COM
" relief in the grim melodrama of y
e Somme.
OF the nine Americans comprising =
e original eScadrille in the yerdun I :
ctor last June only one. Lufbery. is >.
duty on the Somme today. Victor -