The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1918-07-26

they are one of the hardest things to
90 through. If they hit the machine,
it is bound to catch fire and then the
jig is up.
tackled by "Archie"-the antiaircraft
gun. l escaped the machine guns and
the Flaming onions" but "Archie," the
antiaircraft fire, got me four or five
times. Every time a bullet plugged
me, or rather my machine, it made
loud bang, on account of the tension
on the material covering the wings.
| None of their shots hurt me until
I was about a mile from our lines, and
then they hit my motor. Fortunately,
I still had altitude enough to drift on
to our own side of the lines, for my
motor was completely out Of commits
sion. They just raised the dickens
with me all the time was descend
ing. and l began to think I would
strike the ground before crossing the
line, but there was a slight wind In
my favor, and it carried me two miles
behind our lines. There the balloons
had gone out to get had the satisfac-
ton of "pin-pointing" me. Through
the directions which they were able to
give to their artillery they commenced
shelling my machine where it lay.
This particular work is to direct the
| fire of their artillery, and they are
used just as the artillery observation
airplanes are. Usually two men are
stationed in each balloon. They ascend
to a height of several thousand feet
about five miles behind their own lines
and are equipped with wireless and
signaling apparatus. They watch the
burst of their own artillery, check up
the position, get the range, and direct
the next shot.
When conditions are favorable they
are able to direct the shots so accu-
rately that it is quick work destroying
the object of their attack. 1t was such
balloon as this that got my position,
marked me out, called for an artillery
shot, and they commenced shelling my
machine where it lay. If 1 had got
the two balloons instead of the air.
plane, 1 probably would not have lost
my machine, for he would in all proba-
bility have gone on home and not both
cred about getting my range and caus-
ing the destruction of my machine.
1 landed in a part Of the country
that was literally covered with shell
holes. Fortunately my machine was
not badly damaged by the forced land
| ing. leisurely got out, walked around
it to see what the damage was, and
concluded that it could be easily re-
paired. In fact, l thought if could
find space long enough between shell
holes to get start before leaving the
ground that 1 would be able to fly on
from there.
l was still examining my plane and
considering the matter of a few slight
repairs, without any particular thought
for my own safety in that unprotected
| spot, when shell came whizzing
through the air, knocked me to the
ground and landed q few feet away.
1t had no sooner struck than 1 made
run for cover and crawled into q
shell hole I would have liked to get
! farther away, but didn't know where
the next shell would burst, and I
thought I was fairly safe there, so 1
squatted down and let them blaze
away.
The only damage l suffered was
from the mud which splattered up in
my face and over my clothes. That
was my introduction to a shell hole,
and I resolved right there that the in
fantry could have all the shel-hole
| fighting they wanted, but it did not
appeal to me. though they live in them
through many long night and I had
only sought shelter there for q few
minutes.
After the Germans had completely
demolished my machine and ceased
firing, 1 waited there a short time,
lucky shot, hoping to get me after
all. But evidently they concluded
enough shells had been wasted on one
man. l crawled out cautiously, shook
the mud off. and looked over in the
direction where my machine had once
been. There wasn't enough left for a
decent souvenir, but nevertheless 1 got
a few. "such as they were" and read
| lily observing that nothing could be
done with what was left, l made my
way back to infantry headquarters,
where / was able to telephone in a
report.
A little later one of our automo-
biles came out after me and took me
! back to our airdrome. Most of my
squadron thought / was lost beyond
doubt, and never expected to see me
again; but my friend, Paul Raney, had
held out that I was all right, and as
1 was afterwards told, said, Don't
send for another pilot; that Irishman
will be back. if he has to walk" And
he knew that the only thing that kept
me from walking was the fact that our
own automobile had been sent out to
bring me home.
l had lots to think about that day,
and 1 had learned many things; one
was not to have too much confidence
in my own ability. One of the men in
the squadron told me that l had bet
ter not take those chances; that it
was going to be long war and 1
would have plenty of opportunities to
be killed without deliberately wishing
them on" myself. Later l was to learn
the truth of his statement.
That night my "fiight''-each squad
ron is divided into three f1ights con-