The Washington herald., 1918-06-23
MAY WITHHOLD
FLIERS' NAMES
FROM MENTION
War Department Believes
Relatively too Much
Credit Given Some.

Recent conferences between British
and American air service officers have
resulted IN Q decision BY the Aero
nautical Department Of the War De-
partment to discourage the puhliea-
tion Of the names Of American combat
f1iers. II Is understood that the ex-
ploits of Gen. Pershing's airmen will
be recorded only in connection with
the awards OF war decorations.
A prominent American oficer in
discussing the question. said. AL
though il is contrary to the French
practice. we feel that for our pur-
poses the policy of the British flying
forces in the matter OF giving de-
tailed accounts Of fiying exploits will
serve our purpose best.
Uadue Credit to Combat FIiers.
1T has been found by our allies
that the combat men are given undue
credit for the work they do. The
men who man the bombing machines,
who act as spoilers for the artillery.
or who pilot aircraft near the ground
and either attack massed enemy
formations or risk their lives In order
that excellent photographs may be
procured, should be given equal stand
ing before the public.
"Unhapplly the man who flies a few
hours each day. who fares far better
than his fellows In the trenches in the
matter Of food and lodging and who
has many special privileges. frequent
~ Is heralded as a hero as result OF
a single combat In which he has over
come an antagonist. II We could give
all the men in the air and in the
trenches equal praise for the amount
OF good work they do there would be
no objection to publishing the stories
Of their brave feats. But 1t is not
fair to give all credit to the combat
flier"
The American officers are putting
forth every effort to place highly skill
ed fiiers in the field, The British hiers
now receive six times the amount OF
training they did in the opening days
Of the war. At first the United States
fiiers were trained in q course set for
six months.
Recently this has been changed
and now a hier will not be given 1
post on the battle line until he has
successfully passed all tests in a
course of training lasting over eight
or nine months.
BY a new and unique testing sys-
tenn American officers now are able
10 select for combat service only
those men who will not faint when
flying in the rarihed atmosphere
found at 10000 feet. At the fly
ing field, on Long Island, n. Y. .
spseial glass room has been con-
Etfufted with equipment for de-
cre4sing the air pressure
rhe candidate Is placed in the
reom and the air gradually pumped
e4t, a dial indicating the. height
which air conditions correspond.
ire % those in the room are found
il hRs been found that many mel
- 30 have passed all other tests anC
Es- every appearance of being
eSgAi to any dying test. faint wheI
rae air is thinned to the degree
found at 10000 feet. Such men arr
asst Hed to other work which will
H1t ske them about $4,000 feet.
Revive with Oxygen.
Nbfn a man faints in the room
lhe amount OF oxygen is gradually
re lorsd and he reyiyes. In mos
carss he is unaware that he ha:
G2ihtsd- Many Aiers have falleT
frcm great heights and the experts
have never known whether the maj
fell because he tainted or because
Of some fault to his machine.
AS yet no clearly defined law ha:
been determined which explains tht
ability of some to mount safely 90.
900 feet in the air while their fel,
lows. apparently of equally robust
health lose conscIouSnAss