The Dolores star., 1917-09-28
HOW UNCLE SAM
TRAINS FLYERS
Student Aviators at Mineola
Field Learn to Worry
the Germans.
SOME TESTS OF SKILL SHOWN
Men 90 Up About Hail Mile, Thsn
"siide" Down at Sharp Angle
And, Say, This 10 No Job
fer Nervous Man.

4ineOIa, l.. L-While hundreds OF
thousands Of men In America are
learning how to jab bayonets through
German soldiers in leisufely manner.
some Of the most promising embryo
officers Of the American forces are
here learning how to destroy Boche
birdmen. To Judge by their training.
they will do the Job both efficiently and
quickly.
Under the direct supervision Of Bert
Acosta, one Of Americas most success
full civilian aviators, scores Of candi-
dates for commissions in the aviation
| section Of the Army Signal corps are
being taught to extricnte themselves
from the most dangerous positions
imaginable while several thousand feet
from the ground.
For military reasons 1t Is forbidden
for details Of the fighting instruction
for aviators to be made public. Here
however, is an illustration Of the dan
gerous situations the aviators are be-
ing put through:
While about two thousand feet above
ground. with the machine going nearly
straight up. let her quietly slip back
ward and downward. tail first, for IS
or 100 feet. then get the machine un-
der control again, go up still higher.
and try 1t once more.
It's quite easy-that is, 1t Is easy
to watch Bert Acosta or Edward Hol-
terman. his first assistant, pull 1t of.
All you have to do Is to let the ma
chine drop backward and downward
until you feel that you have gone far
enough, then pick up speed and make
her go upward again. Simple!
Another simple little test Of your
skill as an aviator is to ride up 1000
or 5000 feet, then come down in a
spiral, with the wings of the machine
almost vertical. Acosta recommends
this for nervous persons.
Notwithstanding the apparent reck-
lessness Of the flyers, each ''stunt" is
carried out In an absolutely scientific
manner. Instead of counting danger for
''the fun Of 1t" the aerial movements
are carefully planned with the factor
Of safety always being among the first
things considered. Nothing is under
taken for exhibition purposes except to
demonstrate how to escape death over
the battlefield.
ITO fly around putting the machine
at all kinds of angles and going
through all the manipulations may ap-
pear silly and dangerous" Acosta said.
"As matter Of fact. 1t is the only safe
thing to do when you are above an
enemy's battlefield.
Infantry officers In our training
camps are telling their men that Ig.
norance courts death, in a battle with
bayonets. In the aviation service ig
norance Is certain DEATH"
High in the ranks of the men seek
ing commissions in the aviation corps
stands Capt. Cushman A. Rice. veteran
of half a dozen wars on the American
continent and a former member Of the
general STATS Of three brigadier gen
erals Of the American army.
Captain Rice, 1.-THE Cuban Million
aire," made a fortune in Cuba follow
ing his resignation as captain Of in
fantry in the regular army In 1902. He
is temporarily sergeant in the corps
of men slated to receive commissions
Recently he told how it feels when you
make your first flight in an airplane.
when Mr.. Holterman, who was
driving the machine, and myself were
gliding along about 1900 feet up. fol
some unaccountable reason felt g
strong desire to leave my seat ant
walk out on one of the wings to learn
how, It felt out there. I don't know