The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1918-05-10

- after valorous day in the air.
C,O during which he has sent to earth
~ more than oae enemy, with his
] machine in flames perhaps, realizes
as ne nears his home grounds that officially he
mas nothing to show for his prowess The great
DAY is still afar of-the day when his fellow air
men, already arrived at the "ace' stage will well
come MIN as one Of themseves-when his relatives
and friends at home and all the world indeed will
recognize that he is fighting aviator of France
out OF the amateur class forever
Aeut. constant Soulier known as the 'Ben-
!amin" OF the French aces, who has come to this
sountry to show the people of the United States
JUST what the fighting airmen of France are able
~ uo ID the way OF flying. like most of the other
great French airmen. found that winning the SAGE,
vas not the task Of day, but he won it, although
TOOK the bringing down of II machines actuaIly
oeiore the coveted Official" five were marked to
ms credit says writer in the New York Herald
lie does not look like a veteran of the western
'front.' this hero of many air battles He seems
huch more like pleasant little military schoolbov
ne is small, with an amazingly youthful face and
a'hougn ne Is serious and dignifed it is with the
algnity and seriousness of boy such as is ouite
In keeping with his simple and straightforward
manner. N
But on the breast Of this modest bovish yorn,
ofhcer CLEAN medals which speak eloouentlv oF
extraordinary valor-the Medaille Militaire the
Croix de la Virtu Militaire of Roumania and tho
Croix de Guerre Of France with seven palms and
golden star anu
These honors the little ace earned before be rvos
twenty years DID, for before that time no hoS
accomplished 40 hours Of flight had tonight az
battles in the air, had killed or wounded o scoro
OF enemy aviators and had brought down X anon,1
machlnes. His citations in orders and in sneco1
typewriter pages e-'
student at the Ecole Polytechnic in por,s
when the war began, Constant Soulier fonnd -
hpossipie at nrst to enter the service of his conn
ny as volunteer, as he was not considered i'm
sunciently good health by the military authorities
Also he was but seventeen years old Presently
however, he succeeded in overcoming these ohiac
Mons and became volunteer in the artillery He
was placed in the Twenty-frst regiment at An
gouleme. 80 1>
But while in the artillery training camp like On
many very young patriots, he became Intensely
interested IN the new arm of the service He feIt
keenly that his vocation was not for tho ortiuor,
but that he must become an airman !. He crc
ceeoed In persuading the authorities to transfer
MIN TO the aviation corps and became a student
ct the school at Longvic. He was transferred 70
Pau in March, 1916 and two months afterw.rd
obtained the coveted brevet Of pilot He had
studied devotedly at the school and was =. no+oh1
promising aviator cadet. ....'@
while at the school he was much liked nv the
older men, and day an episode occurred
which pleased them greatly. Young Souier found
nus machine taken in the eddy Of another air.
10 the earth with violence. His machine was
broken TO pieces, and the witnesses of the acct
dent, without waiting to investigate Immediately
sent In call for a medical officer
Imagine their amazement when they saw the
student aviator issue from the debris of his ma
chine without scratch.
There are no more superstitious people any
where than the men of the aviation corps of all
the armies
And it was after this episode that the older
aviators declared to one another that he was born
to triumph.
. The flying school training was followed BY a
course at the school of mitrailleurs at Cazeau
In June. 1915. Soulier was appointed to the Es
cadriile N-26, under Commandant Brocard.
The aviator remembers always his first engage
ment, for matter how extensive his practice has
been at the school 1t takes different personal quail
titles to enable man to hold his own against the
enemy. No matter how well he may have done
in practice, it is felt that the actual test of the
aviators ability must come in battle.
Souer had no easy task in his first engage
ment.
With a comrade, like himself, novice, he
was ordered ON patrol. Soon they were enve-
oped in clouds, but they came out of this snowy
bank they were for the first time in the presence
of the enemy. They were confronted by two
Fokkers which were at that time considered very
much to be feared
Soulier opened fire. but his mtrailleuse was not
firmly fastened in place, and with the first fire it
shifted striking him in the head and almost knock
ing him out by the shock. But he held his own,
plotting with one hand and with the other try
ing to hold his mitrailleuse in place. Although
the gun struck him with each discharge, he was
able to keep in the fight until the adversary his
cartridges exhausted abandoned the fight. The
French airmen then regained their lines.
Some time after this Soulier, who had then
become sergeant, brought down in two success
Sive dayS two German DrachenS. at the wood
of Vaux and the other east Of Mesnil Saint Nbaise.