The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-03-20
SEC. BAKER SEES
]. s. AvIAToRS co
THROUGH TRICKS.
Secretary Of War and Cener-
al Pershing Visit Big AVA
ton Camp.

"a SASsAAA6 ASs 20
ton Camp.
ABOARD THE SPECIAL TRAIN OF
SECRETARY OF WAR BAKER ct IN
Aviation Center in france, March
(date deleted) IF said what think
sbout what we have seen today 1t
would sound like boasting," said Cen
eral Pershing after visiting the largest
aviation camp in France, where hum
drcds OF American boys are learning
to ny.
"What pleased me most was the alb
eolutely perfect order maintained IN
the supply and repair shops" asserted
Secretary OF War Baker. Where you
see that you find a we'll ordered ana
well regulated camp throughout.
81 am exceedingly pleased and de-
lighted and l want to congratulate the
commanding officers warmly on the
high standard Of efficiency apparent
at this past and on all sides. 1t 1s IN
deed highly gratifying and encourag'
Ing"
Alrpianes Eseort Train
More than so planes already were
In the air when Secretary Bakers spe-
cial train approached the camp at an
early hour this morning AS soon as
one OF the machines caught sight OF
the distant train II scooped down ana
gave the signal to all the other planes,
which promptly drew up in formation,
escorting the train to the special camp
center.
There the band crashed out noisy
welcome, In which a number OF Rus
slams working at the camp Joined.
After a visit to headquarters the
SECRETARY OF War and his party set
OF for the flying field, where the ma
chimes were drawn up in long lines,
three Deep the loud humming OF the
motors greeting Baker
Fifteen planes darted up simultane
ously, flying In close formation and
gradually the air became filled WIN
SQUAD after squad until more than
hundred machines were darting about
overhead. some flying so close tha'
their wings almost touched one an
other
Does "Loop the Loop"
Then there came a buzzing that was
louder than that Of the average ma
chine. II attracted Bakers attention
and he turned lust in time to see 9
Philadelphia officer In charge OF the
training dart upward In Moran one
scatter. appearing to rise straight az
bird and picking IN to height OF hal
q mile, where he looped the loop anc
flew upside down while reserving hi
course suddenly nid-air. finally drop
ping In q spinning nose dive. Jus,
ms 1t appeared the bold hyer must
crash to earth, he suddenly darted ur
again Secretary Baker congratulated
him on the feat.
General Pershing. expressing his ad
miration Of the pilots nerve. asked
him II 1t was necessary to take suci
risks. The aviator replied that It wal
part OF the training. He said the nose
dive was especially useful In escaping
an enemy. as 1t gave the impression
the machine had been shot up.
Craze Tree Tops
Meanwhile a whole flock Of planes
skinned about at low altitude. graz
ing tree tops. darting over and abov'
each other and skimming the barrack
and hangers. 1t was one OF the fines
exhibitions of flying the visiting part.
had ever seen, despite the fact tina
today the first cloudy weather pre-
vailed during the entire trip. Nov
and then there was even a sprinklln
OF rain.
The party then visited the Ret
Cross barracks, where the head nurse
Miss Given Wilson, of New York
drew up the nurses for inspection
Secretary Baker and General Perish
ing chatted with them and sampled
the jam sandwiches the nurses wer'
making for the soldiers.
Baker talked personally will
many Of the aviators, questioning
them about their work. He was i'm
pressed especially with their self-cor
fidence and baility to learn quickly
The party had Just left the fiei
when q sad accident occurred. TIL
motor OF a machine piloted by q youtl
from Memphis suddenly started t
slide, the student tumbling to eartt
He 10 Injured Badly
Both legs were broken and he SUI
tanned fracture Of the skull. a
though the doctors think he will liv'
The machine was badly smashed
None OF Secretary Bakers party wi
messed the fall.
As the party prepared to board tn
special train copies Of the Plan
News. a local weekly published at tn
camp, we're presented to the member
They contained full news Of Seer
tary Bakers visit
That's what I call quick Journal
tie work." said Baker. complimentin
The editor.
After luncheon, which was take
aboard the train. the party spent tn
afternoon at another large storae
center, which has been entirely cor
pleted for troop cantonments that al