Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-19
"ARCHIE" DOWNS /,
AMERICAN FLIER
Lieut.. Harris, Lands in Hol.
land After Fight, Disguised
at Tnternment
COULDN'T HEACH HOME
Zeebrugge Port Still Closed,
Except for Narrow Passage,
He Says

Special Gable to Evening Public Ledger
Copyright. 1918, by Ne,e York Times Co.
The Hague, Aug. 10.
Lieutenant Regan Harris. the Ameri-
can who, with his observer Sergeant
James Muir landed on the Island OF
iceland after their plane had been hit
by shell. said to your correspondent:
my home Is at Arden. near .Ashviile,
N. c. I had just graduated from the
University of North Carolina when
America declared war and at first went
TO training camp at Fort Oglethorpe.
Georgia. where I stayed three months
and then went to Canada. where was
attached to the Royal Flying Corps.
stayed in Canada about four months and
then went to Texas as an instructor. but
I soon went to England.
'T have been in France three and a
half months, attached to the Royal Air
Force"
Asked about his recent experience,
Lieutenant Harris said:
1T wasn't much OF n fight, as we were
hit by an archie which pierced the
engine and petrol tanks. There were
no Germans up. We were flying well
In formation toward our object, with
virtually no anti.aircraft gunfire, but
just as we were about to cross the OBJ
ject, well-directed and very heavy
barrage was put up.
Machine Hit by shrapneI
MY machine was struck in several
places by flying bits of shrapnel One
burst took effect directly beneath the nose
or the machine, almost upsetting it. and
fragments of the shell pierced the radia-
TOR and motor. causing so much damage
that. within few minutes after being
struck the motor ceased and the propel-
Ter stopped. While we dropped bombs
after being HIT we rad to consider what
we would do. Our lines were at such a
distance that 1t was impossible to return.
so the next best thing was to attempt to
reach Holland
| we fired distress signals and turned
away from the formation. heading in a
general northerly direction and landing
on an island near Flushing. We looked
around US for field big enough to land
in but found nothing suitable, and so
much height already had been lost in
Obliged to land In an ignominious Do
tato patch.
We got down safely. but broke n
wheel. and were Immediately surrounded
by huge mob Of people who saw us
coming. We were taken in charge by the
Dutch military authorities. The treat
ment We received everywhere was most
Kind aud courteous. Captain wynne
Satou. the pilot of another machine, was
badly wounded, and his observer had his
left arm shot of. Today we are to be
taken to The Hague to be officially in
termed" W..
Dlsgusted at Internment
| Lieutenant Harris said he felt dis
gusted when he realized that he would
be interned.
This is the third time my motor has
been shot" he said. but I've always
managed to get home again"
Have you been In many fghts?" no
was asked.
I've been going over the lines for q
run into the Huns he said. They are
still as good as formerly and have good
machines. but they are now very eau.
tious and never attack"
"Zeebrugge closed?" he was asked.
The two ships that were sunk there
by the British are still in the Identical
| position, ana there Is only small exit, !"
he said. Il have not seen any subma-
rines going out, and / do not know
whether the exit Is big enough for them
to pass or not. ..E
I'VE never bomb towns, but only mill
tary objectives. / feel very much out
Of it, with all my, friends back fighting,
but I've been treated quite we'll here.
and it IL not so much like being a pris.
oner as l thought 1t would be-" ..-
The objective of the squadron was not
Zeebrugge.