The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1918-06-14

On both occasions the caucissss were well de-
Tended by their mitrnilleuses. aud nntialrcraft
guns also were active against the French scout.
To get the second Drachcn souller haa to de-
scend to an altitude Of 400 meters. and attack
very close 70 the enemy. His machine was shelled,
but he succeeded In forcing the enemy 10 earth.
The enemy observer sought 20 escape, hut was
killed because his parachute failed TO work
properly.
October 10 proved to be one Of the busiest days
Of Sergeant Soulicrs 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 n favorite meeting ground for ne
rial comhats. Since starting out Ia the morning
on this particular occasion S0uller had engaged
In six combats with enemy machines, and had
forced one Of them 60 make n landing near Bour.
chavesnes. AZ the conclusion Of this series OF com
hats he suddenly encountered three aviauks. By
the ndrolt manipulation of his machine. for which
he II famous, and which has led his government
20 send him 10 this country ms nm exemplar Of
stunt" flying, Soulier succeeded In keeping out OF
the way Of the other two Of these machines whine
attacking and forcing 10 earth the third.
on this occasion luck was with him In every
way. for the nviatik was brought down within the
French lines and the Infantry recognized the
French scout. 80 that there was no difficulty In
obtaining nm Official confirmation.
In the course Of reconnaissance with a com
rade 10 the east OF Peronne over enemy terri
tory souller suffered n reverse OF fortune a few
days later. Three ~nirplnnes launched themselves
in the direction of the two French machines, and
soulier's comrnde. badly wounded, was soon
Obliged 10 abandon the combat. As Soulier pre-
pared TO attack. his machine shivered violently.
A blade OF his propeller had been broken by n
charge from the enemy mitrallleuse. The en-
counter took place nc n height OF 5000 meters.
souller's damaged machine splrnlled and fell more
than a thousand meters.
Feeling himself lost II the motor detached H..
self the pilot cut on the power. corrected the ma
chine. and let himself fall vertically so as not TO
Involve the motor. by good luck a wind from the
east carried him within the French lines and
he was succored by the Infantry and brought back
20 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 II was necessary for him 10 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 was again cited In
orders for operations against the enemy in Cham
payne. including the bringing down Of an en-
envy machine and firing on an 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.20. went into quarters
near Bonnie Malson. A large number Of enemy
~aviators. well equipped with new machines. were
operating In the vicinity.
May 20, 1917. was another busy day for Soulier-
His work began In me morning bs starlight while
he was patrolllng the region Of dAnlfontaine
and Pronvaia. Seeing IN enemy ~airplane, he
brought Il down with a few charges, but. a. 90