The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1918-05-10

- 4 after valorous day in the air,
during which he has sent TO earth
f1 more than enemy, with his
machine in flames perhaps, realizes
as he nears his home grounds that, officially he
has nothing to show for his prowess. The great
day is still afar off-the day when his fellow air
men. already arrived at the "ace" stage will vel
come him as one Of themseves-when his relatives
and friends at home, and all the world, indeed will
recognize that he Is a fighting aviator Of France
out of the amateur class forever.
Lieut.. Constant Souier, known as the Ben
1amln" Of the French aces. who has come to this
country TO show the people of the United States
Just what the fighting armen of France are able
10 DO In the way of flying like most of the other
great French alrmen found that winning the ACE"
was not the task Of day, but he won it, although
II took the bringing down of II machines Actually
before the coveted "offcial" five were marked to
his credit. says writer In the New York Herald
lie does not look like veteran of the western
'front.' this hero OF many air battles He seems
much more Ike pleasant little military schoolboy
He is small, with an amazingly youthful face and
although he is serious and dignifed 1t is with the
dignity and seriousness of a boy, such as is ouita
In keeping with his simple and straightforward
manner.
But the breast of this modest. bovisb vouno
ofhcer CLEAN medals which speak eloouently ~
extraordinary valor-the Medaille MIlitair. tho
Croix de Ia Firtu Militare of Roumana and the
Croix de Guerre of France with seven poln,s and
golden
bpfo no
twenty years old for before that time he had
accomplished 430 hours of flight Ind fou,htS GA
battles IN the air, had killed wounded n scora
OF enemy aviators and had brought down Is enemy
machines His citations in orders and in special
government communications cover two cIosoi
typeWrittcu pages -'
student at the Ecole Polytechnic in Paris
"heh me war began, Constant Souier found II
Impossible at first 10 the service of his conn
try as volunteer, us he was not considered in
lyr+ .,,,ElI.
Also he was but seventeen years old presan,1r
however ne succeeded in overcoming these ob,ec.
tons and became volunteer in the artillery He
was placed In the Twenty-frst regiment nj An
gouleme. " an
But while in the artillery training camp like 40
many very young PATRIOTS he became INTENSELY
interested III the new arm of the service He felt
keehlH uat MS vocation was not for the artillery
but that he must become an airmon 10 s,o
ceeded In persuading the authorities to transfer
him 10 the aviation corps and became n studant
mt the school at Longvic He was transferred to
Pau in March 1916. and two months ,fterwora
obtained the coveted brevet of pilot He had
studied devotedly at the school and was a notahly
promising aviator cadet
Whlle at the school he much liked bv the
oder men, and day an episode occurred
"hich pleased them greatly. Young Soulier found
mis- machine taken in the eddy of another air
plane which was flying over him. He was blown
TO the earth with violence. His machine was
broken TO pieces. and the witnesses of the occi
dent, without waiting to Investigate, Immediately
sent In a call for medical officer
Imagine their anazernent when they saw the
student aviator issue from the debris OF his ma
chine without scratch
There are no more superstitious people any,
where than the men of the aviation corps of all
the armies
And it after this episode that the older
aviators declared to one another that he was born
to triumph.
The flying school training was followed by
course at the school of mitrailleurs at Cazeau.
In June l9lo Souiier was appointed to the Es-
cadrille N-26, under Commandment Brocard
The aviator remembers always his first engage
ment. for matter how extensive his practice has
been at the school It takes different personal quail
tiles to enable to hold his own against the
enemy. No matter how well he may have done
in practice. II is felt that the actual of the
aviator's ability must come In battle.
Soulier had easy task in his first engage
ment.
With comrade, like himself a novice he
ordered patrol. Soon they envel-
oped in clouds, but they came out of this snowy
bank they for the first time in the presence
Of the enemy. They confronted by two
Fokkers, which at that time considered very
much to be feared.
Souier opened fire. but his mitrailleuse not
firmly fastened in place and with the first fire 1t
shifted, striking him in the head and almost knock
ing him out by the shock. But he held his own,
plotting with one hand and with the other try
ing to hold his mtrailleuse in place Although
the gun struck him with each discharge, he was
able to keep in the fight until the adversary, his
cartridges exhausted abandoned the fight. The
French airmen then regained their lines.
Some time after this Soulier. who had then
become sergeant brought down In two success
sive days two German Drachens one at the wood