Crittenden record-press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1909-191?, 1918-05-16

NUS .lstI RETURNING ~ HIS Culnp
Z. after valorous day in the air,
~ during which he has sent TO earth
on more than Nae enemy with his
machine In flames perhaps, realizes
as he nears his home grounds that, officially he
mas nothing TO show for his prOwess. The great
uay Is still afar oT-the day when his fellow air.
men. already arrived at thn ace" stage will well
come him us one of Reconsideration 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.
Lieut. Constant Souller known as the Ben.
Jamin' Of the French aces. who has come to this
country to show the people Of the United States
Just what the fighting armen of France are able
10 DO IN the way Of flying like most of the other
great French armen. found that winning the ace"
was not the task of day, but he won 1t, although
1t took the bringing down Of u machines actually
before the coveted "ofilclal" five were marked 10
MS credit says writer in the New York Herald
He does not look like veteran OF the western
front, this hero CT many air battles He seems
much more like pleasant little military schoolboy
he Is small with an amazingly youthful face, and
aithough he Is serious and dignifed II is with the
dignity ana seriousness Of n boy, such as is quite
IN Keeping with his simple and STRAIGHTFORWARD
manner.
But on the breast Of this modest, boylsh Young
offcer CLEAN medals which speak eloouently of
extraordinary valor-the Medallle MllItare the
Croix de 10 Vlrtu Militalre of Roumana and tho
Croix de Guerre Of France with seven Mains and
golden star.
These honors the little ace earned before no wo,
twenty years old. for before that time no had
accomplished 400 hours Of flight. had foupbt 90
battles In the air. had killed or wounded n 5000
OF enemy avlators and had brought down Is enemy
machines. Ills citations In orders and in specaI
government communications cover two closely
typewriter pages. '
A student at the Ecole Polytechnic in par,.
when the war began, Constant Souller found =,
impossible at first TO enter the service OF his co,n
ny as volunteer, as he was not considered IN
somcienty good health by the military authorities
ALSO ne was but seventeen years old. Presently.
however, ne succeeded In overcoming these ohiec.
uons ana became volunteer In the artillery. He
was paceu IN the Twenty-frst regiment AZ An
gouleme. ~ '"'
But while in the artillery training camn ,,ks 90
many very young patriots he became lntenselv
interested In the new arm Of the service He fol,
keeniy that his vocation not for the artillery
put that ne must become IN airman He s,c
eeeded In persuadlng the authorities 10 transfe,
nim 10 the aviation corps and became n studen,
at the school at Longvic. He was transferred %
Pau In March, 1915, md two months afterrord
obtained the coveted brevet Of pilot He had
Studied devotedy at the school and was n notable
promising aviator cadet
While at the school he WINS much li,;ed nv tho
older men, and one day an episode occurred
Enlch pleased them greatly. Young Souller found
MS machine taken In the eddy OF another mir.
plane which was flying over him. He was blown
10 the earth with violence. His machine WINS
broken to pieces and the witnesses of the acct
wai
sent In call for medical officer.
Imagine their amazement when they saw the
student aviator issue from the debris Of his mn.
chine without n scratch.
There are no more supersttlous people any.
where than the men Of the aviation corps OF nil
the armies.
And II wns after this episode that the older
aviators declared to one another that he was born
to triumph.
The flying school training was followed by
course ut the school Of mitrallleurs at Cazeau.
In June, 1916, Soulier was appointed to the Is.
cadrille N-20. under Commandment Brocard
The aviator remembers always his first engage.
ment. for no matter how extensive his practice has
been OF the school It takes different personal dual.
tiles to enable man 10 hold his own against the
enemy. No matter how well he may have done
In practice. II is felt that the actual test Of the
aviator's ability must come In battle.
Soulier had no easy task In his first engage
ment.
With a comrnde. like himself, q novice. he
was ordered on patrol. Soon they were envel.
oped In clouds, but as 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 TINT time considered very
much to be feared.
Soulier opened fre. but his mitrailleuse was not
firmly fastened In place. md with the first fre II
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 10 hold his mitrallleuse In place. Although
the gun struck him with each discharge he wus
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 Souller, who had then
become sergeant brought down In two success.
sive days two German Drachens, one at the wood
- vsur md the other east Of Mesni Saint. Nbalse