Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-03-15

Of 1t. This time saw the square
head turned sideways. the bod!
slipped down under the seat. He was
dead. The machine began TO descend.
for, OF course. the pilot could not
shoot, and | did not see il again. MY
1000 rounds of ammunition was run
ming low. but / decided that | was
still good for another. Besides.
wanted to bring down a machine.
| didn't have long to wait, tor the
other two. both single e-seaters ike the
knew it. One of them pulled of anc
| made directly for the other. letting
my Nickers cut loose.
rs Shots at 20-Yard Range.
Twenty-hve shots at twenty yards.
That tells the whole story. and II
looked like goodnight for me.
Suddenly. ! saw flames bursting out
of the cockpit OF my antagonist-and
was saved. My aim, fortunately. had
been true. Down went the Boche ma
chine. a line OF black smoke marking
its path through the early morning
light. ] watched him until | saw him
hit the ground. a pun of flame and
smOke-that was all. | had brought
down my machine. | WAS particular
ly happy because | had done 1t with
dllIIOSl tIle idSl VI my '.iIl ib~NN'
Was | now alone in this particular
chunk OF atmosphere or was the third
Bochc still a near neighbor OF mine?
couldn't see him anyway. | didn't
know at this moment. but ! think
now that the other single-seater
which had pulled off was having mo-
tor trouble. Whatever il was didn't
matter so much-wherc he was did
trouble me, for in the air yolI must he
ready for danger from six directions
from above and below in addition to
north, south, east and west. In order
to find out what is below me ] very
seldom look over the rail Of the car:
in fact, il is almost Impossible in a
machine like the Bert SO | just
turned her on her side and got Il
good look below. No l'Uchc.
had about made up my mind that
the last of the three had gone home Tor
breakfast when | suddenly discovered
that he was nearly above me. felt
that he was about TO try one OF the pet
lSochc Stunts-"gctting under the tan
OF my machine from above and he
hind. And he did. His gun. mounted
i'm front, was aimed directly AT me as
he started on his bchind-and- under
dive. He had the advantage, for in
order to hit him I had TO turn and
come AT him head on, Il rcvcrScinrnt
il is called. tried this. and luckily
the BERT" responded so quickly that
his bullets went wild. As | had only
Il few cartridges left. saw that
my only chance was to manocuvrc---
To do all the stunts | could think OF.
in iart-with the chance OF catching
him ont of position when WAS in.
Also. hoped that | might get on his
a IN ~.
enough ] felt that he would turn and
beat il for home.
Was Like a Duel.
II was like a duel. just fencing
around for position. | loopcd and hr
loopcd. He aimed his machine gun
and fired all the time. ! kept away
from hcad-on contact, so his fire was
ineffective. ! climbed and he climbed
Then ! did some slips and viragcs, all
the while munoeuvering for the mo
mrnt when | could get in my last
shots TO advantage But the moment
never came.
| suppose the whole thing was only
Il matter of twenty seconds at most.
suddenly he dived and made off in
the direction of the German aviation
field to the east of Fort DOuaumoni.
Enough IN enough. when you are out
Of ammunition, and had 10 let him
go.
| looked at my watcf; fifteen min
utcs more and my two and Il half
hours would he over. | slowed down
the motor and prepared to descend.
doing il slowly. for the air pressure
constantly became harder on my head
and ears. Bang. \ German shell
exploded not more than forty yards
81 niaPn nT
hole. the second. in my wings. Damn.
That's what | said, and didn't stop for
any more. | was nbw passing over
our lines. and If eyer the feeling
Of getting home grips you hard. he
licve me, it's after yRu have been
flying over the Germal, trenches.
The descent was " ual. for the
reason haEe- said soon.
able to make our own landing field
and hanger. One Of my comrades,
just starting up. passed waving his
hand. could tell that 1t was b
by the number on the machine. |
waved back, making a sign that ! had
brought down q Boche. One reason.
and an absolutely necessary prccau
tion, for the big number painted on
the top and sides OF the machines Is
to prevent Stacking. We can always
Stt lHt NhIh VI
required TO report movements that he
witnessed. If any man declines COM
bat or refuses to attack an enemy
machine ne is sent to the trenches
forthwith.
After passing b. who never
shirkcd anything in his life. God bless
him. | came down to about 200 feet
over our field. \ short turn into the
wind. nose down with the motor
stopped, brought ME skimming along
ut about q nincty-milc clip TO flattcn
out. Gradually losing speed. the
wheels of the Bert" finally touched
the ground; then n turn, and up we
rolled to the hangar without n scratch
TO show for our mornings work save
the two holes In the wings.
Leon welcomed me us | climbed out,
cold and stiff. and pulled off my boots
Prepare yourself for n citation"
he said. grinning.
"What?"
was busy trying to warm up bit
and did not quite understand his
broken English. Then he went on in
French. which did understand.
Balloon No. 49 has telephoncd. mon
lieutenant. They witnessed your
fight. They tell us the exact min
ute and location, OF your Bochc fall
ing in flames. Prepare yourself for
citation. and another palm leaf for
your croiy dc Guerre.'
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