The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-09-04
FIGHTS Y GERMAN PLANES.
LIT. Oi{AMRERI4AIN'S ACHIEVE
MENT: THRILLING WAR
CHAPTER.
Recommended for Victoria Cross and
the Congressional Medal OF Honor.

the Congressional Medal OF Honor
London, Aug. 3l.--Lieut. Edmund
M. Chamberlain. Of San Antonio
Texas. a graduate of Princeton and
the University OF Texas, an aviator
attached to the United States marine
corps, has received simultaneously
recommendation for the Victoria and
the congressional medal Of honor for
an exploit in which he figured on
July 2s
On that day, over the British front,
Lieut.. Chamberlain took part IN an
aerial battle with twelve German ma
chimes. He destroyed five Of them,
damaged two others sand sweeping
earthward with damaged plane,
scattered a detachment OF German
soldiers. After landing he bluffed
three others into believing his COM
pass was bomb and captured one of
them. He then carried a wounded
French officer back to safety and
finally refused to give his name to
the British officer in command OF
aerial activities in that sector Of the
front, because Of his fear of being
reprimanded.
The story, which is one of the most
thrilling chapters in the drama OF
| war, has been cabled to America by
London officers of the committee on
| publication.
Lieut. Chamberlain appeared at
British aviation camp on July 27 and
| ;,of $1n Sp nj
he had personal, but not official, per-
mission to visit the camp. This is
borne out by the young mans supe-
rior, who says that Lieut.. Chamber
lain had asked to be permitted to go
up near the front during furlough
because he desired to get some more
experience before resuming his work
The British commander was in
need Of aviators, and as there was &
bombing squadron about to leave,
told Lieut. Chamberlain he could gc
along. On this fight the yonng Amer
lean brought down one German air
plane in flames and sent another
whirling down out OF control.
The next day came Lieut.. Cham
berlain's wonderful exploit.
He was one Of a detachment OF
thirty aviators VINO went out over the
battlefield through which the Ger
mans were being driven by the Allies.
AS the thirty machines circled abou
over the fleeing Teutons they were at
tackled by an equal number of Ger
man machines. It was a hercuiean
battle from the first, and almost a
the inception of the combat the Brit
ish lost three planes.
In the tempest Of machine gun bul
let's that roared about his machine
Lieut.. 'Chamberlain's engine was dam
aged. One OF his machine guns be-
came jammed and he seemed to be
out Of the action.
But instead OF starting for home h
remained to offer assistance. to thu
.wo other airplanes, which had been
attacked by twelve German machines
His two companions were now en-
gagged in a life and death struggle,
ina Lieut. Chamberlain went tc
their assistance. His action probably
saved the lives Of the two English
men.
His engine was now working bet
ter. He climbed up toward the enc
my and, with a burst Of fire, sent one
Of them crashing to the earth.
second was shattered with anothe:
volley from his machine gun. Then
Lieut. Chamberlain looped out OF
Gordon Of enemy machines, which had
gathered to finish him. AS he sail
- rIon r. off
German machine.
The leader OF the German squad
ron came straight at him. but was
met with such a torrent of bullet:
that his airplane joined the others
sent 70 earth by the American.
The lieutenant then turned for the
British lines. His engine had gone
dead" adm he was forced to volplane
carefully picking his way through the
smoke clouds Of shells fired at him by
the enemy's anti-aircraft guns.
He made a wide sweep toward his
destination He saw beneath him a
column of German troops and into
this he poured a gust Of machine gun
bullets from the gun which had been
jammed, but which he had succeed
ed in putting into action again. The
Germans scattered and Lieut.. Cham
berlain flew on for an eighth Of
mile and came to earth
He found that he could not carry
off the equipment Of his machine. SO
he took his compass and started run
ming across the fields. AS he did So
he encountered patrol Of three Ger
mans He shouted to them to sur
render, waving a compass above his
head like bomb. Two OF the enc
my ran, but the third surrendered.
The American started again for the
British lines. but came upon
wounded French officer, whom he
picked up and carried, driving his
prisoner before him. He waded q
brook under fire and finally arrived
wit hin the British line in safety.
with the French officer and the Ger