Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1918-08-22
AMERICAN WAS Dove
OF PEACE FOR SURE
Made Airplane Flight Of 200
Miles and Prevented
Another War.

London, (by maiD.-An Americans
flight by %airplane 200 miles from Jassy
TO Odessa was the means of bringing
about peace between the Bolshevists
n the Rumanians last March.
The American peace dove" as the
Rumanians called him after his daring
flight. was Colonel Joseph Boyle. Col
onel Boyle, who was formerly in the
Canadian army on the west front, was
sent to Russia as the representative
of the committee OF the American IN
gineers In London M spent several
months in Rumania and south Russia.
Ihe story OF his secret airplane trip
is now old for the first time.
Colonel Boyle wac; II Of the few
foreigners in Russia who las the con-
fidence and close friendship of the ex-
tremist Russian parties from the be-
ginning of the revolutionary period.
He was known among the bolshevists
as q MAJ OF action. honest and fearless
and anxious to extend them a helping
hand In every work of reconstruction.
On his journeyings round Russia he
was never interfered with or chal-
lenged. He carried personal letters and
credentials from Lenine. Trotsky and
Il host OF lesser leaders and could OBJ
N.AA Nv IA NiiiiS A0
the local or provincial Soviets. He
was accompanied everywhere by a staff
of three Russian officers who spoke
English fluently and who displayed
great personal loyalty to Colonel Boyle.
During the latter part of February
the situation between the bolsheyists
and Rumanians became very serious.
Wal had ven been declared on Ru-
mania by the bolshevist government,
owing to MISUNDERSTANDING about the
status of certain Russian troops In
Rumanian territory and Rumaniar.
troops in Bessarabia. Active HOSTILE
ties, however. had beer generally avoid
ed, n both sides were presumably
anxious to reach an asnicable UNDER
standing.
But communication between Odessa
and Jassy was in q state of disorgan-
ization which made the telegraphs and
the mails useless. Every attempt at
at Jassy and the bolshevists at Odessa
was blocked or brought to naught by
by intriguers or mischief makers. II
began to look as IL things were going
to drift straight into b%loodshed on a
large scale.
1t was at this point that Colonel
Boyle, who a been trying to alleviate
the food shortage in Rumania, arranged
q meeting of unofficial representatives
Of both sides on the Rumanian frontier
and succeeded in putting through an
agreement between these representa-
tfves. The Rumanian government was
ready to approve the decision OF these
formal confirmation or eve favorable
consid Grafton, to be obtained from the
bolshevist side: =
The bolshevist delegates were with
out credentials or authority, but they
felt II their case were properly put be-
fore the authorities in Odessa their
course of action would be approved.
Travel between Jassy and Odessa had
been impossible for several weeks
owing to the tearing up Of the railway
line in 'Benderi and the wrecking OF
several bridges and trestles.
Colonel Boyle volunteered to be the
bearer of the olive branch. to carry the
peace proposals to Odessa with the
least possible delay by means of an
airplane which he had already per-
suaded the Rumanian authorities to put
At his disposal, n he proposed also to
use his own personal influence with the
bolshevist leaders in Odessa to secure
their approval.
Speedy action was necessary, for it
was known hat orders had already
been given to the b%olshevist troops to
begin hostilities on a large scale. and
1t was felt that nee serious fighting
had begun, the chances Of an amicable
adjustment would be much diminished.
The necessary papers were hastily
prepared and signed. and Colonel Boyle
motored to IN airdrome near Jassy
where a Rumanian pilot was waiting.
The weather on the day Of Colonel
Boyle's departure was stormy and
threatening, and several aviation ex-
perts advised him to postpone his
journey. He declined to be dissuaded
and left Jassy about noon, arriving
safely at Odessa shortly before sunset.
The flight was made at q height OF
about 5000 feet across a rough noun
famous country and in the face Of a
driving sleet storm. The machine twice
developed engine trouble, but this wa
overcome and q landing was made in
an open field not far from the water
front at Odessa. BY midnight Colonel
Boyle had secured the signing OF the
peace treaty and the cancellation Of
tho orders for . b0lsheyist offensive
against Rumania.
kiae oeorss and the Fourth.
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