The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-09-25


and flow. for our men were inspired:
they saw red; they were gloriously
mad. Drunk they were with enthus-
iasm, and as I watched from above,
the temptation to swoop down. to get
out of my machine and plunge into
the sweeping, swishing, unstoppable
tide of infantrymen was hard to fight
against. Oh, the glory of it all! Never
shall forget I have lived and feast
ed on those moments many times, and
then, when I have given myself ovep
to reflecuon, the feeling I have than
the world will nsvsr know the count
less deeds Of heroism makes mo sad.
But it Is the chances of war, an,i
in a war SO stuperdous and bloody as
this, ami in which historic battles are
waged daily, we may only know poor
little isolated Instances of giant brav-
cry.
1t has been recorded that the avia-
tor played an imperishable part in
making the capture Of Douaumont
possible. My observer and myself
were publicly complimented on the
field by the general commanding the
division which had taken the fort.
Once again my plane had been lit
orally ridded with bullets, but L was
unscratched, luckily indeed, for q bull
let had gone through my helmet.
A few days later my name again
appeared in the Order of the Day
with this mention:
Pilot of great skill and bravery;
ever willing for the most periious
missions. Brilliantly distinguished
mont October 25th, 1918, by flying
over the lines at a verv low altitude
during more than four hours, thus
showing complete disdain for danger.
This time I was proud the proud
recipient of the Medaille Militaire,
which I wear side by side with the
Croix de Guerre. It was presented to
me just behind Verdun by President
| Poincare on the day he visited the
immortal battlefield, in the presence
of General Nivelle, November 5th,,
I1916.
believe that I once publicly con-
fessed that the only time I was truly
frightened was in June. 1914, when
7 reached London to fight Gunboat
| Smith, and was mobbed by a crowd
of enthusiastic Londoners, and drag
ged round to the Hotel Metropole.
j But my feelings when I received the
second decoration from our beloved
President not only set my knees rock
ing, but I was absolutely knocked out.
A reaction had set in. Eight months
of continuous fighting had left me
weak and sick. I believed hat I was
suffering from nothing worse than
reaction, and J. was determined to
nurse myself quickly to fitness; I
would not confess to overstrain, so 7
hung ON for several weeks longer.
At last I had to take to my bed,
and the surgeons compelled me to
give up my duties. I was sent on an
Ambulance to hospital behind the
Zines. My condition was never dam
/ gerous, but occasionally it was seri-
4 GUS, and at the time of writing the
doctors have refused to pass me fit
flor further active service am to
present myself for further EXAMINES
ton, and my rest on the Riviera has
/ worked such wonders that have
thrown off the effects of my Illness
and expect to be allowed to go back
Ito the front again.
II I look forward to another spell OF
J fighting with much keenness, and /
J trust that shall continue to enjoy
good fortune and good luck.
My experience in the war would
not be complete unless set on rec
ord. the fact that have had NANNY
| pleasant times. There have been days
when, we have been free to indulge
in sport.
! At all times, whenever possible, ]
have kept myself fit, and have prac-
| tised physical culture with regular
! ity that, if appearances only were to
count, meyer was in better shape IN
my life. I have not run to seed. ]
am but "a trifle heavier than when
last took the ring, and should ray
that I am stronger. They say that
! am more of man
I have not had the gloves on very
often, for there has always been the
difficulty of getting a man to spal
' with. But I have frequently given ex-
' hibitions at sport meetings held be-
4 hind the lines, and have boxed fol-
|. charity.