Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-08-28
YAAK AvIATORS
WINNING FAME
Progress So Rapidly in italian
Camps They Amaze
Instructors.
MANY GUARD lTAly's COASTS
Their Watchfui Eagesness Is Of Great
t'eip in Spotting Sneaky Sub
marincs-Ail Are Anxious
fer Action.

American Navy Aviation Camp,
Somewhere in Italy.-Back there nj
home YOU have all heard by his lime
NJ the thrilling exploits Of American
aYiat0rs on the Pave rtver-the army
1yiators who dropped their bombs ON
The frail Austrian pontoon bridges anu
helped turn the enemy invasion into
disastrous retreat. 1t is now permitted
10 announce that American naval arla-
tors are also aiding the Italian de-
tense.
For more than three months now
these hronzed boys of ours, Swimming
the air in their flying boats. have kept
their constant vigil of coast patrol
along the Italian seashore. watching
for the Stealthy moving blur beneath
the waves that means one NJ The foes
submarines, scanning the horizon for
the specks which might be- OVERLOAD
Austrian destroyerS, or rising beyond
the clouds that screen the enemy's
Scaplaues.
As matter of fact American naval
flyers are cooperating with the navieS
Of all the great allies in Europe. Num-
berle>s eyes are required down the
Ion. coasts from the North sea TO the
Mediterranean, ana the United States
is furnishing its share as fast as pos
siblp This work. Of course, Is all IN
der Admiral Sims. but there is special
headquarters for American naval aNla-
ton, under Capt. II. |. Cone In Paris.
This system Of American co-opera'
ti0n has been developing since last Au-
gust. and naturally viii extend IN the
future as our naval forces grow. In
France naval ayiators were the first
to fly beneath our flag. But in Italy
the effort of the American navy Is
comparatively new. The number Of
our men now there is n matter of mill
tary ormation-therefore a secret.
But there are enough TO have done
plenty Of useful work.
Our Flyers Relieve Italians.
The work falls into two branches
the taking over Of the actual opera
ton of coastal air patrols from the
Italians and thus relieving Italian fly.
/ ers for other duties, and the training
of our own men for further endeavor
In the same direction. OF course, the
men who are actually operating above
italian waters are finished nyiaiorS
most Of whom learned the game II
the naval dying schools which have
sprung up since the war along oul
own Atlantic coast. But the chaps who
are ge, ing their instruction in Italy
are rapidly catching on
The American training school liec
on the shores of charming Italian
lake circlel by picturesque hills. Righ
beside II Is another training camp fol
Italian naval flyers, ana the candl
dates In both camps have developed
ready camaraderie. our camp ends IL
niue HubtIt NiuAIc NliltiAt ~ hfti'
of the Americans, now boasts Il rev
name--the Piazza degil Staff Unit
Here the two llagS-the red whit
and blue ana the green white an
red-foat all day together. AT daWl
and sunset they are raised and low
erred side by side before uniforme
squads representing each nation.
is a bit Of symbolism that counts.
Americans Make Swift Progress.
The lot of splendid American boy
at our camp, most of them fresh frnl
college are getting on in n way tina
is inspiring, Many Of them are Il
ready solo flyers" and will soon b
turned out" equipped for active ser'
ice. They are UP at dawn, all G
them, and more anxious about tn
weather than they used to be at HON
on thp morning Of the hir intprpr'