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

often happened. there were no witnesses and noth
ing TO confirm his success from an official point OF
view. In the afternoon he went up again. anu
by no means discouraged with his mornings eN
perlence he went to look for the enemy In the
neighborhood OF the reservoir.
He was not long In appearing Soullcr soon saw
in his path an nbOtross biplane with three mE
traeuses Following his usual tactics, Souer
dropped from the altitude In which he was fly
ing. always very high and swiftly pursued the
enemy The albatross sought 10 escape from at
tack. but was ovcrtaken by light charge, md
fell. spreading itself out on the earth and taking
fire. The deed was done, but again the pilot look
ed about him for spectators who might supply the
confirmation necessary TO his official recognition
Unfortunately again there one who had
seen his triumph.
Souer, however hardly had time to indulge
In bitter reflections before n new danger and
new opportunity presented itself
Some klometers further on he perceived n mag
nlncent observation balloon lighted by the rays
OF the setting sun.
Where the Drachens are there are also the
bursts OF shrnpnel. and toward the middle Of these
clouds OF black smoke Souller guided his machine,
carrying II through the marvellous evolutions OF
which he is master. Again fate was against him.
for as he fired his twentieth cartridge his MI
traileuse stOppeu anu tnere WIS uOtnlns fOt tIe
pllot TO do but to return to his own camp.
Turning with the object OF making for home
quarters. Soulier saw himself beset by new enc
niles.
Two thousand meters above his head four en-
envy airplanes circled.
One OF them came on at full speed and at 2oC
meters opened fire on him.
II Is at such moments as these that the aero
battle flyer finds himself at the height OF his glory.
With every nerve taut. with every bit OF skill
In play, he turns, twists and circles his
way out OF such difficulties. and when he
comes through them successfully tnstes for o
moment n glory almost unknown 10 other men
A slide down the wing. loop. then all the ga
nut OF beautifully executed maneuvers-whose
most valuable quality Is their faculty OF keeping
the enemy guessing where the machine will be In
the next secondhand Souller had succeeded In
showing his heels TO the enemy. Then guiding
himself with one hand and repairing his mitral.
leuse with the other. while at the same time he
continued his series Of acrobntcs Soullier winged
his way TO the French Ines succeeding In throw.
ing OF the first one and then another OF his ad-
versaries
To complete his mlschance his motor weakened.
He had only one resource-to do the death drop.
He let himself fnll In spirals md the Bosches,
believing that he had been sent down. beat their
wings as II In n dance OF JOY.
Then suddenly the dead" French aviator right
ed himself. began to arm anew his mltrallleuse,
and with last shot at his enemy regained his
lines, able at last to say "alone"
The tolls and dangers OF this terrible day had
counted for nothing. however. on the official REC
ord OF the young aviator. but the following day,
although his activities were by no means so con.
tinuous. was to bring him the substantial recogni.
ton that every war aviator longs for
by the same bright star as that OF the day be-
fore he started on n morning flight. passing rapid.
ly over the enemy trenches. Presently perceiying
a ID. +. W. scout machine. he attacked II vigor.
ously.
In these single combats In which only two ma.
chimes take part the fight is usually very soon
over. In three minutes the enemy had been beat.
en- the machine fell In flames and the two avia.
tors were crushed on the ground. On this occa.
sion observers In q balloon and some infantry
troops had been able to follow the duel and No
ported official confirmation 30 eagerly desired
That very night at the Bonnie Maison farm In
friendly ceremony the new ace was baptlzad ia
champagne.