The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-05-23

On both occasions the caucisses were well de-
Tended by their mitrailleuses, and antiaircraft
guns also were active against the French scout.
To get the second Drachen SOulier had to de-
scend to altitude of 400 meters, and attack
very close to the enemy. His machine shelled,
but he succeeded in forcing the enemy to earth.
The enemy observer sought to escape, but was
killed because his parachute failed to work
properly
October 16 proved to be one of the busiest days
of Sergeant Soulier's career. Since entering the
service he had been engaged in working in the
region of the Somme. The wood of Saint Pierre
Vast was then a favOrite meeting ground for
rial combats. Since starting out in the morning
on this particular occasion SouIier had engaged
in six combats with enemy machines and had
forced of them to make q landing near Bour-
chavesnes. At the conclusion OF this series COM
bats he suddenly encountered three aviatiks. By
the adroit manipulation of his machine, for which
he is famous. and which has led his government
TO send him to this country as an exempIar of
stunt flying SOulier succeeded in keeping out of
the way of the other two of these machines while
attacking and forcing to earth the third.
On this occasion luck was with him in every
way, for the aviatik was brought down within the
French lines and the infantry recognized the
French scout, so that there difficulty in
obtaining official confirmation.
In the course of reconnaissance with a COM
rade to the east of Peronne over enemy terri
tory Soulier suffered q reverse of fortune few
days later. Three airplanes launched themselves
in the direction of the two French machines, and
Souliers cOmrade badly wounded,
obliged to abandon the combat. AS Soulier pre-
pared to attack, his machine shivered violently.
A blade of his propeller had been broken by
charge from the enemy mitrailleuse The
counter took place at height of 5000 meters.
Souers damaged machine spiralled and fell more
than Il thousand meters.
Feeling himself lost if the motor detached it
self the pilot cut off the power corrected the
chine, and let himself fall vertically so as not to
involve the motor By good luck wind from the
east carried him within the French lines and
to camp under enemy fire. His injuries were
merely bruises from which he soon recovered.
The good luck of the Benjamin of the aces did
not desert him, for some time later in returning
to camp in the darkness at four o'clock in the
morning it necessary for him to make a
landing without a light. His machine crashed
to the ground, but he again extricated himself from
the debris practically unhurt.
In December, 1916, Soulier again cited in
orders for operations against the enemy In Cham
payne, including the bringing down Of an en-
envy machine and firing enemy column
In the spring OF 1917 Brocard's scouts were sent
to the environs of Fisme, and Coulter, with the
other members of the N-26, went into quarters
near Bonne Maison. a large number Of enemy
aviators we'll equipped with new machines, were
operating in the vicinity.
May %, 1917, another busy day for SOulier.
His work began in the morning by starlight while
he patrollng the region Of dAnifOntaine
and Pronyais. Seeing enemy airplane, he
brought it down with few charges, but, so