Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1918-07-13

| Ensign Stephen. Potter, Unitet
States Naval Reserve force. killed II
action with German planes April z:
| last. was the first American naval avt
atOr to shoot down and destroy Ger
| man seaplane. according 10 navy de
| partment statement.
The report states that on March IS
1918, long-distance reconnaissance
| of the German coast was made by
large American flying boats cperatin.
from British Royal Air force station
Ensign Potter was one of two Ameri
can naval aviatOrs' accompanying this
expedition and Potter was successful
in shooting down q German seaplant
which attacked the reconnaissance for
nation. A second enemy seaplane
found safety in running away.
POtter's death reflects credit on his
courage. He was killed in fight with
seven enemy Single-seaterS. He was
second pilot to British air force cap
tain. who was with min when he shot
down the German plane in March.
Two British planes had flown to a
point six miles from Hinder light.
when two enemy planes headed toward
them. The British planes closed IN
the nearest German and opened fire.
Two more hostile planes then appeared
overhead and attacked vigorously
vhi(n til roo ofhar ono,nv pIonoS ~, SSn,1
astern. The two British planes dived
and speeded westward under continu-
Gus volleys from the rear. One of the
Germans disappeared.
OF the seven Germans in action four
were attacking Potter, who fell behind
his COMPANION and began to zigzag.
Potter lodged. but was broadside to
MI the enemy machines and under
their fire only 20 feet from the water.
His companion. $50 feet above. saw
POtter's machine burst into flame.
come part of the way under control,
then crash on the port wing tip. Pot
ter was seen last on the surface Of the
water amid flames. which turned sud-
uVllv W d IuSC SIOUu Vi SluOhCs w
the pail had cleared not even wreckage
was visible and the circling enemy dis
appeared.
German timidity before American
pistol fighters armed with American
.45-caliber automatic pistols has
brought about change in the equip
ment If the American Expeditionary
forces by the war department and the
ordnance department is rushing pro-
duction of these weapons. About 5000
are turned out dali. and production is
increasing. The impression exists that
shot from an American .A5 takes a
man ont of action completely. Men
hit from the smaller German pistols
frequently continue in action effec-
lively. The 40 ca!iber was adopted
by the United States army in 1911.
Despite the heavy increased demand
for these pistols the ammunition
branch of the ordnance department
has effected saving during the past
TO calendar months of nearly $1,000
600, mostly on small-arms ammunition.
The total savings by the ordnance
department fer these two months
through salvage. waste prevention and
the utilization or sale of discarded ma
terials have aggregated $S,757,O25.
Cost of Vickers machine guns has been
reduced Sss222.35 each; Colt machine
guns. $2S4.1e each; Lewis machine
guns, 500 each. Government rifles
now cost 500 each. a reduction of $13
each.
Health Of women workers In num-
ton plants will he looked after by
woman health officers who are to he
trained under the direction Of the
women's division of the industrial
service section of the army ordnance
department.
An eight weeks course of study for
carefully selected woman health off,
GERS has opened at Mount Holyoke COL
lege. Massachusetts. The course is
under the general direction Of DR..
Kristine Mann, health supervisor of
the wOmen's branch Of the ordnance
department. The staff Of lecturers
and instructors includes well-known
specialists in physiology and hygiene,
physical education. factory organiza-
ton and labor.
Women taking the course are college
graduates or of equivalent technical
education. Almost all of them have
had experience in dealing with work.
ing women. First requirement for adj
mission to the course is perfect heath
and only those were selected who Will
inspire wholesome living among the
munition workers.
The army has sufficient veterlna-
rians, Surgeon General Gorgas an
nounces. Examinations for commits
sions in the veterinary corps nave
closed. There is waiting list or
those eligible to commissions and I'M
til this list Is exhausted there Will De
no more examinations. The corps mas
l 100 officers and 10000 enlisted men
on active duty.
Veterinary graduates called bv the
draft will enter the army service as
privates. Later they will be allowed
ia take examinations for veterinary
officer commissions to fill vacancies.
Men over the draft age and under
forty may enlist as privates and secure
an equal chance with selected men for
commissions. One hundred men are
graduated each month from the train
ing school for commissioned veterinary