New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1918-08-09


| apple! l could Just as easily have
eaten Il brick.
When he got no answers out Of me
he walked away disgustedly.
"YOu don't have to worry any more
he declared, al a parting shot. "For
you the war is over"
was given a little broth later In
the day, and as I began to collect my
thoughts l wondered what had hap
pened to my comrades In the battle
which had resulted so disastrously to
me. AS l began to realize my plight
worried less about my physical con
dition than the fact that, as the doc
tod had pointed out. for me the war
was practically over. l had been in 1t
but a short time, and 10Y l would be
a prisoner for the duration of the war |
The next day some German flying
officers visited me. and l must say they
treated me with great consideration.
They told me Of the man l had brought
down. They said he was a Bavarian
and a fairly good pilot. They gave me
his hat as a souvenir and compliment
ed me on the fight l had put up.
My helmet. which was Of soft
leather, was split from front to back
by a bullet from a machine gun, and
they examined 1t with great interest.
When they brought me my uniform l
found that the star of my rank which
had been on my right shoulder strap
had been shot off clean. The m OF
my left shoulder strap they asked me
for as a souvenir, as also my r. F. G.
badges, which l gave them. They al
lowed me to keep my swings" which
l wore on my left breast, because they
were aware that that is the proudest
possession Of a British flying officer.
l think ! am right in saying that the
only chivalry in this var on the Ger
mar side of the trenches has been dis
played by the officers of the German
flying corps, which comprises the pick
of Germany. They pointed out to me
that l and my comrades were fighting
purely for the love of it. whereas they
were fighting in defense of their coun-
try, but still, they said, they admired
us for our craftsmanship. l had a no
ton to ask them If dropping bombs on
London and killing so many innocent
people was in defense of their country,
but ! was in no position or condition
to pick a quarrel at that time.
That same day a German officer was
brought into the hospital and put in
the bunk next to mine. OF course l
casually looked at him, but did not
pay particular attention to him at that
time. He lay there for three or four
hours before I Gid take a real good
look at him. I was positive that he
could not speak English, and naturally
l did not say anything to him. Once
when l looked over in his direction his
eyes were on me, and to my surprise
he said, very sarcastically. "What the
HI r you looking at" and then
smiled. At this time l was just be-
ginning to say a few words, as my |
wound had prevented me from talking. |
but l said enough to let him know
via 1 was uoiIS tueTc duu HOW i
happened to be there. He evidently
had heard my story from some of the
others. though, because he said it was
too bad l had not broken my neck
he did not have much sympathy
with the flying corps anyway. He
asked me what part Of America l came
from. and l told him california"
Il few more questions he
that l hailed from San Fran
cisco, and then added to my distress
by saying, "HOw would you like to
Il good, juicy steak right out of
he Hofbrau?" Naturally I told him
t would hit the spot" but I hardly
my mouth was in shape just
hen to eat 1t. / Immediately asked,
If course. what he knew about the
1Ofbrau, and he replied. II was con-
lected with the place a good many