The Robesonian., 1918-05-27
FLYING IN ITALY
Letter From shep Nash of Lunl-
berton Gives Interesting Ao
count Of Experiences Oh Cross
Country Flight.
EXPECTS COMMISSION
By JUNE FIRST

come time ago that Mr.. Shepard X.
Nash. son of Mrs. 4. Nash OF Lum-
berton. who volunteered for aviation
service IN the army about year ago,
resigning the position Of assistant
cashier of the National Bank Of Lun-
berton. had been transferred to Italy.
In letters received about the 18th inst:
by his brother Mr.. F. L. Nash OF
Lumberton, Mr.. Nash gives an inter-
esting account of his experiences On
a cross-country flight and states that
he expects to get his commission by
the 1st of next month. The letters
follow:
Campo D'Aviazivne, Ovest,
Foggia, Italy, Is Aprile '18.
Dear Billy: -.
The two Robesonians and Life
came yesterday and enjoyed them
very much and thank you for them.
Don't bother to send Life for we cam
get them here, we get the London
edition, but the Robesonians are fine,
I enjoy them very very much.
l had very pleasant and interest
ing experience a few days ago. Thurs
day morning at ten fifteen / left
camp to make my raid tcross-country
flight, finishing the second bout.
The raid is made in two flights Of two
hours each. We leave Foggia, go to
Manfredonia, then follow the coast to
Barletta, then back to Foggia; we
land at camp. get a bite to eat while
the machine is refilled with gasoline,
oil and water, then we go to Cherlg-
nola, from there to Manfredonia, then
to Foggia. l reached Manfredonia
about thirty minutes after leaving
Foggia and was about twelve thou
sand feet high. I turned down the
coast and began looking for two lakes
which were on the course and are
landmarks that let US know just where
we are. On account of a haze / failed
to see the first lake so passed the
second and continued down the coast
looking for the second. Flew on,
still looking for the second lake, un-
til 12:45 when my oil gave out and l
had to make a forced landing.
Ostuni, some hundred and twenty
miles southeast of here. Just before
I came down I could see the Adriatic
just before me to the left and over to
tn right could see the Gulf of Taran-
to (instep of the boot. l landed in
small wheat field and in just min
ute there were fifty or more people
coming out to see who l was. At
first they thought l was an Austrian
raider, but before l left camp the
Italian commandant had given me "a
letter written in Italian and saying
that I was an American and instruct
ing them in case of forced landing
to give me any assistance needed. He
also gave me an addressed telegraph
blank. / showed the letter to one
of the men and had one of them to
guard the machine while I went to
town to telegraph back to camp that
I was out of oil and gasoline. The
fellow that was taking me to sOst1ni
would have me go in his house and
have a bite to eat. We went in and
he brought out eggs, cheese, bread
and wine. A few minutes later, just
as I had finished lunch and we were
starting to Ostuni, tt.ecommandant OF
the fort in Ostuni came out to see
who 1 was. After reading my lette,
he took me to town ard phoned the
camp that I was in Ostuni and ir
good shape, and that / was waiting
for gasoline and oil, which were be-
ing sent from a camp nearby.
The oil and gasoline came late tha
afternoon and it was too late for MI
to start back to camp, so l spent th'
night in the barracks at Ostuni, ex
pecting to leave Friday morning, bu
when l got up Friday the weathe
was very bad, high wind and yer.
cloudy The commandant here wire
me not to fly back on account of tn
weather. that he was sending pilo
to bring the machine back as SEQ
as the weather was good. The pho
49, oft 1of
Ostuni by train Saturday a. M, al
irving back to camp about noon.
am waiting for a good day to tax
tomorrow morning will be good.
want to finish the brevet and take
few days rest in Rome
Two hours out of the two and on,
half hours that l was in the air we
over ten thousand feet high and We
getting very, very cold, but enjoye
the whole trip very much.
I think I was-the first Americs
that ever visited Ostuni and ":
quite a curiosity. felt very much lii
circlus parade going down i
street with several hundred Kids fc
lowing me. The Italian officers we
very very nice to ME. They put
guard over the machine ard did Z
e:ything icy could eo- r!y pieasu
and co~.fort.
I viii write you abor. my trip
Ror,e N c few days
Gle my regcr!s % II, tie e.. %
and i5ve TO t',a = ,,a:'z-
SHEPARD Z NASH
Eopes - Get Commission - Jure !
The following letter was writ;
days ate-:
Eight Avist:o- Ins. Cer.e
A. E. F. Italy, April -
Dear Billy: ~
Your letters of Marca IS and
received today. The Rooesoc.ans
coming regularly now and I en-
them very much. Did ycu send
copy with the picture Of the I
church?
am glad to know that Eli
been promoted to first lieuten;
= How about Jack and the rest of
Iumberton bunch? Have they Ia
promotion?
| finished the second brever