Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-23
j. s. ARMY FL|ERS
MAKE GOOD IN AIR
French Instructors Give High
Place to Vanguard OF
American Aces.
CHEEKY SPIRIT DOMINATES
ny T.. PERCY NOEL.
Cablcgram 10 The Sunday Star and
Chicago Daily News. Copyright. 1917.


AN AVIATION CAMP IN FRANCE
p@eenber 1.-THE vanguard of the
Potential American aces has completed
its training TO: pursuit of the German
Air2lanes at this great aircamp- French
Instructors who knew Guynemer's NY
IRIS and who have done much to incul-
cate the high standard of proficiency
ex:Stir- here state unreservedly that
ns ~Aors skilful pilots have ever left
SCHOOL
From the visible fying-and there
Is pIenty-it is evident that the ma
Sosity of the airman cadets who are
Concluding their finishing course soon
will maintain similar degree of eN-
eellence All of which can be said
without patriotic vanity, for it would
be great disappointment to many If
this were not SO, because the United
States has wider choice of pilot ma
terial than any other nation and has
the advantage of ali her allies in pro-
fciency OF experience for training.
Results Surpass Expectations.
Even so. the results surpass the most
was being built training began briskly
In the beginning few cadets were re-
quired to wait first turns in fast Nleu-
ports. with which the school was
equipped. One wrote home:
Il am in trench somewhere IN
France The Germans are within fifty
feet of me. Aeroplanes fly overhead
and rifles and machine guns snap and
bang nearby
His trench was drainage ditch
,nf, ~ frrtt off
The Germans were prisoners at work
The aeroplanes were flown and various
arms were fred by pupils at practice
The work and discipline offered the
practical with it there is a peculiar
sort of freedom which the service de-
mands. There is a liberty which is not
license. and there are no indications OF
its abuse. Despite the unpleasant
weather and much real labor there is
. fine spirit of cheeriness evidenced by
smiles during the day and singing in
the evening
II don't believe in catering to any
special temperament airmen are reputed
to have" explained the colonel COM
manding. I'm not managing a grand
opera company. This is business
proposition on a military basis Flying
il trying work in war time for every
one connected with it. particularly the
pilots. who need little more freedom
than the troops of other branches. They
get 1t here-yes. free spirit with en-
enlargement and appreciation"
Outward Signs of Discipline.
Outward signs of discipline and ETH
quette are more noticeable than in any
other camp ! have visited. The cadet
officers. il possible. are more correct
than the enlisted men about sa1utfng.
The rules of the camp are severe. but
this is needed. There are prescribed
routes to walk from the barracks to
the different agglomerations of han
gars so as to prevent accidents to Pc
destrians ana not to disturb the pupils
who may be about to land. Smoking is
forbidden on airdromes and in and
about hangers as a precaution against
IRE. No pilot may leave the ground
without instructions for the direction
Of flying and landing to avoid colli-
sions in the air or on the ground
While the airpiane is being started
the button which opens and closes the
Ignition circuit must not be touched by
the pilot without instructions from the
mechanic. who is starting the motor
by twisting the propeller. The French
words coupe" for shut of and CON
tact" for on are used exclusively
Last night / slept in one of the bar
Jacks for the cadets. 1t is long, mar
row frame building. heated with two
stoves: with superimposed hunks on
each side They were made of sackina
stretched over a frame and SO attached
4hat when your neighbor in the ad I
Joining bunk. who is separated by a
shallow boarding. turns over YOU feel
thesHotion- ! remarked on this fea-
fure 10 an officer next to me. He said,
YeS, that used to keep me awake al
toE?''
IT was not cold when the flights on,
eoon signal flashed at 1915. nor wher
the bulbs disappeared at 1890 nm
put before the first bugle at $40 In
fhe morning the temperature hal
greatly changed. I was wakeful anf
N the cold heard the sentry tramp.
ing on the trench walk outside. Now
and then his challenge was FOLLOWED
oy murmured explanations from Off
GERS coming home late There wer,
ABOUT forty young officers in my bar
racks Most of them turned out viii
reveille. One went out and came bacl
10 say to some of his comrades: