Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1918-03-22
Secretary Greeted by Large Num-
Der of Flyers.
CABINET MEMBER is PLEASED
Congratulates Commanding Officers on
High Standard of Efficiency Main
tanned at Post-Party Is
Given Noisy Welcome.


visiting the largest aviation camp in
France, where hundreds of American
boys are learning to fly.
What pleased me most was the abb
solutely perfect order maintained in
the supply and repair shops" asserted
Secretary Baker. "Where you see that,
you find well2ordered and well-regu-
lated camp throughout.
Il am exceedingly pleased and de-
lighted and want to congratulate the
commanding officers warmly on the
high standard of efficiency apparent at
this post and on all sides. It is indeed
highly gratifying and encouraging"
Planes Greet Train.
More than fifty planes were in the
air when Secretary Bakers trair an
preached the camp early this mornii
AS soon as one of the machines caught
sight Of the distant train it swooped
down. and gave the signal to all the
other planes, which promptly drew up
in formation, escorting the train to the
camp.
There the band crashed out noisy
welcome, in which number Of Rus
slams working at the camp joined.
After a visit to headquarters the
secretary of war and his party set off
for the flying field, where the machines
were drawn up in long lines, three
deep, the loud humming of the motors
greeting Mr. Baker.
100 Machines in Air.
Fifteen planes darted up simulta-
neously, flying in close formation and
gradually the air became filed with
squad after squad until more than a
hundred machines were Garting over
head, some flying so close their wings
almost touched one another.
Then came a buzzing louder than
that of the average machine. It at
tracted Mr.. Bakers attention, and he
turned just in time to see a Philade1-
phia officer, in charge of the training,
dart upward in a Moran one-seater, ap-
pearing to rise. straight as bird, and
picking up to height of half mile,
where he Topped the loop and flew up
side down while reversing his course
suddenly in midair, finally dropping in
spinning nose dive.
Just as it appeared the flyer must
crash to earth, he suddenly darted up
again.
F corgratuIates Daring Flyer.
Secretary Baker congratulated him
on the feat.
General Pershing, expressing his adj
miration of the pilots nerve, asked him
if it was necessary to take such risks.
The aviator replied that it was part
of the training. He said the nose dive
was especially useful in escaping an
enemy, as it gave the impression the
machine had been shot down.
Meanwhile a flock Of planes skim
| med about at a low altitude, grazing
| tree tops, darting over and above each
other, and skimming the barracks and
| hangers.
Sample Jam Sandwiches.
It was one of the finest exhibitions
of flying the visiting party had ever
seen, although we had the first cloudy
weather during the trip. Now and
then there was sprinkling of rain.
| The party then visited the Red Cross
barracks, where the head nurse, Miss
| Given Wilson of New York, drew up
| the nurses for inspection.
Secretary Baker and General Per
shing chatted with them and sampled
the jam sandwiches the nurses were
making for the soldiers.
| Mr.. Baker talked with many Of the
aviators, questioning them about their
work. He was especially impressed
with their confidence and ability
| to learn.
Youth Falls; Badly Hurt.
The party had just left the field
when an accident occurred. The motor
Of a machine piloted by youth from
Memphis suddenly started to slide, the
student tumbing TO earth. Both his
legs were broken, and he suffered a
| fracture of the skull, but the doctors
| thought he would recover. The ma
chine was badly smashed.
None of Secretary Bakers party wit
| messed the fall.
AS the party prepared to board the
train copies Of the Plane News, a
weekly published at the camp, were
presented to the members. They con-
/ tanned full news Of Secretary Bakers
visit.
'That's what I call quick journal
istic work." said Mr.. Baker, compli-
! menting the editor.
After luncheon aboard the train the
party spent the afternoon at another
large storage center, which has been
entirely completed for troop canton
| ,onontc that aro To arrive today