American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-09-21

when issuing the order. They could
have been held only at a cost too high
for their value. AS they were emptied,
regiment after regiment Of Japanese
infantry which had been waiting till
the batteries had prepared their way,
charged across the bridge with ire
sistible impetus and swept over the
trenches like a living wave.
Not, however, entirely without oppo-
sitiOn. One man had, for reasons Of
his own, elected not to retreat. Alone
he greeted the onslaught with ma
chine-gun fire, spraying death over the
bridge and its approaches. Dozens Of
the charging troops fell before he ran
out of ammunition or was silenced by
a shot well aimed Patria never knew
how the fellow met his end. He was,
one minute, working his weapon busily
and ~methOdically the next, he was ST
fenced and his fate was masked by
the hordes that took possession Of the
trenches.
AS this happened, Patria's observer
touched her arm to draw her attention
to their personal peril. So absorbed
had she been in the action beneath
her that she-and for that matter, her
observer as well-had altogether neg
lected to look after the safety Of the
blplane.
1t was now menaced by no less than
three japanese air scouts-lightly
armored biplanes carrying two pas
sengers and equipped with machine
guns.
Soaring out over the battlefield at a
great height, these assassins of the air
had chosen shrewdly the right moment
to strike at Patria's plane. The latter
happened to occupy the lower levels
Of the air alone, at that time no other
machines Of Patria's flying corps were
at hand; the two which had pursued
the first hostile airplane beyond the
border were lost to view in the heat
haze that yelled the south, their fate
a mystery; all others were still in the
hangers or delayed by minor circum-
stances at the aviation field.
Upon the lonely craft piloted by Pa
tria, then, the three japanese dropped
down from their high level with the
ltIOtlly VI AldWhos ODGLluk Lite Win
their machine guns as soon as they got
within range, and attacking the de-
voted biplane from three sides.
Taken utterly by surprise-with no
more than the touch Of her observers
warning hand Upon her arm by way
/ of preface to a hailstorm Of bullets
Patria did the only possible thing per-
-nfkAA1 - H. AA-1f+4a-E NEnk 4a
| sought safety in fortnight fight. And
{ since she was hemmed in on the north,
east and west, she was obliged to drive
into the south.
For a few moments she expected
| each breath to be her last. Bullets
l whistled and sang between the planes
or tore their fimsy surfaces or glanced
= from twanging struts and cables like
t sleet through the ribs of a cOverless
umbrella. 1t seemed nothing short OF
miraculous that lone found Judgment
= in either Patria or the observer.
t Then, however, the slightly superior
= speed of the American engines began
to make itself felt. Patria drew slight.
t ly ahead and at the same time tilted
D the nose of her machine and began to
e climb. Immediately the firing of the
? machine guns ceased, and the three
japanese closed in behind and stretch.
e ed out in determined pursuit.
g The four swept away into the south.
ern skies like leaves whirling before
Y a squat.
$ Climbing steadily, Patria gained the
a 5,OOO-foot level at a distance Of some
e miles within the Mexican side Of tn,
e border, her three pursuers outpaceC
but u~ndiscouraged lowering in the Of
d fing like wolves that walt for a windeC
e stag to fall.
q And now fortune chose TO favor tn,
American for a little. Out of the haz'
in the south a fifth aircraft was ap
preaching. For some time in doubt a
TO whether it was another enemy Graf
d or possibly an American survivor o
8 that triangular duel which had result
ed from the first air skirmish of tn
day, Patria was quickly able to recog
y nlze certain ~peculiarities Of construC
n ton which Enthusiastically identified tn
s. newcomer as one Of her own corps.
y There was, however, 10 way Of tell
l. ing how 1t was manned, whether by 1t
k original crew or by the japanese VIII
might have captured the plane. Blu
IS all doubts as to this were soon set a
e rest by the action OF one Of Patr1a'
IS pursuers In abandoning his first OF
y tective and sweeping Off at a tangen
8 to engage the stranger-who cheerful
ly greeted this new antagonist with
le whitening blast of machlne-gun fire.
Crcling warily. like prizehghter
+ sparring for an opening, splitting FIR
and hatred, the two were t%emporaril
le forgotten by Patria, who had pressin
personal matters demanding instan
attention.