The Tomahawk., 1918-05-02
AMERICAN FACES DEATH TO GET
OPPORTUNITY AS MANUFACTURER
Story of Meteorc Rise Man From Poverty to Leading Builder OF
ArpIanes in Engand-Wihout Penny He Joins British
Army and Deliberately Breaks Rules to Employ
Talents in More Effective Service. =

The turning point in his career had
come at Monte Carlo some years be-
fore. He received financial aid which
enabled him to shift his course In life
and take a turn for the better.
AS soon as war was declared, al
though he had become an American
citizen, ne enlisted in British regi-
ment and came to England. He was
at the battle of Antwerp, and there, at
ter watching the work of enemy air.
planes, reached the conclusion that air.
planes would decide the war sooner
or later.
. To get out Of the army was not an
easy task. He did it by insubordina-
ton, and when sentenced to be shot
produced his AmericanI citizenship pa
pers and said that he didn't think the
authorities would kill him. They
didn't. They paid very little attention
to his claim that he had committed q
breach Of discipline for the sole pur.
pose of employing his talents in more
effective way to the service OF his
country. He was sent back home with
a black mark against him, filled with
chagrin, but glowing with confidence
that he could manufacture airplanes
on a big scale and be factor In the
determination of the world struggle.
He had not q cent. He had no
friends who could help. His parents,
quite naturally, turned deaf ear to
his overtures for aid. His first step
was to go to the, war Office and, as he
laughingly says. with true American
optimism, ask for an order to build air.
planes. When asked IL he had a fac
tory he replied that he had. Then he
went out to look for one, so that the
government authorities could verify
his statement. -. J, - -.
Commanders a Machine Shop.
Out in a London suburb, where he
had q hotel man for an acquaintance,
he found an old machine shop in which
we're O few lathes and some benches
He inspected it as we'll as he could
through the windows. borrowed pot
of paint md brush and ladder and
began to paint his name on the front
Of the building. He had 1t fairly well
done when a man came along and said:
'What are you doing there?'
II am painting my name on this
building" .> T.. ~ T.
And what are you doing that for?
That's my building"
"Oh! Is that so? Then you are Just
the man want to see." .-
MIR. Whitehead took the owner Of the
building % the aforementioned hotel
and bought luncheon for him. He told
him of his airplane dream. and
Vaughan Thompson-for that was the
name of the owner-was impressed by
It. He said:
1T sounds very good to me. II 1t
will help win the war am for 1t. I
, am going to the front tomorrow. and
you can take the building and do what
you want to with It. And have two
hundred pounds cash. and as don't
expect ever to come back you can take
that, too, and use it the best way you
can. 1t will be at your disposal In q
| month"
Mr.. Thompson went away. He was
killed, as he predicted, just year
from that day.
| Contract for Six Flyers.
Mr.. Whitehead, being skilled me-
chanic. put the old machinery in the
Thompson property in the best condi-
ton he could. made few purchases
| on credit. and went to the air depart
ment with this proposal: you may
send your inspector to my machine
shop any time you wish. should
IKE 4 contract to build six airplanee,