Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-03-30
Plessis- -Belvedelie
Feb. 10, 1918

Lert the front TWO days ago anC
am now here learning to fly the Mo.
rane monoplane. Two days,
should say that were we'll filled with
experiences, the principal one being
a bath, which by the way, nearly
proved my undoing, for 1 nearly sol
sick the next day. So much for be-
ing painfully clean," for that could
have been literally translated or
Saturday. Before 1 go any further
l better tell you that the box of candy
you sent after Christmas containing
part of your can, arrived at the esca-
drille right before left, also two
pound box of wonderful chocolates
was sure glad when orders came
for us to leave. We stayed in Paris
over night, arriving there about $50
p. M, but l can't say l enjoyed il
so much, as l spent most of that time
and 10 fancs-trying to cash that
money order. Tried the Y. NJ. C. A
first, but it seems l arrived before
office hours, which was p. m, and
since explanations as to my need for
hurry had no effect. l turned to the
Y. NJ. C. A. "cantine" for consolation
since it was then only a. m. Oh
no, / didn't throw my sorrow in
drink, although l did try hard to do
it on ice cream, but neither flattery
nor bribery would get me more than
one plate of that rare delicacy, and !
used both quite freely. But the limit
was one plate per man and the
maiden stuck firm to orders, which
rather took some of the wind of con-
ceit out of my sails. since l counted
on my flattery Cor salve, just as you
have it,, and my being an aviator 10
help some. But since both failed l
had to fill up on hot chocolate and
cakes to the tune of four francs.
Meanwhile l persuaded the petite
femme" to sit down and talk to me
a while in my home tongue. The
conversation became very amusing,
for she wanted to know all about
flying and in particular, why pun
of wind did not knock us over. That
made me laugh aplenty! To hear her
talk one would think / was floating
around like a maple leaf instead OF
sailing serenely along at three miles
minute or more. Four A. m. came
and l tried to cash the order. Moth
ing stirring, so l tried the aviation
quarters. Stung again! But they
gave me the address of the Amer
lean Post Office and spelled the name
of the street wrong, which necessl-
tated me doing some detective work
before finally discovering it.
Takes Beat Shrapnel
Take it from me, Dad, / was in
more danger lodging traffic in Paris
than 1 ever was shrapnel. After a
man lodges Paris traffic for awhile
| see no reason why he should 1ot
make a good aviator, for it takes
both nerve and a cool head, not TO
mention a thorough knowledge Of
eccentric dancing, to cross one OF
these busy streets.
Fortunately, when / arrived at the
Y. NJ. c. A. hotel / found Putnam,
my roommate, there, and took ad-
vantage of the opportunity to have
him explain the motor of the Mo-
rane to me, for you remember l told
you i was the only American left
where the first lot left for their new
gangs" and / could see trouble
ahead If someone who spoke English
didn't explain things to me. There
fore Putnam was a Godsend, and
after he had explained everything
thoroughly it seemed very easy. He
was greatly elated over the speed
and climbing ability of the Morane
and told me how nicely it worked
in the air. Having received all this
useful information, l fortified my
self with a good dinner and took that
eventful bath. Speaking about that
dinner, there was such a long time
between courses that one had time to
digest the preceding one and get
hungry again. 1t would have been
lovely with some pretty chicken on
the other side of the table. On the
other hand l saw two wounded
Americans, one with a leg gone and
the other with broken arm. 1t was
not very pleasing sight, of course,
but these fellows had been in the
fight.
The next morning I lad to get out
at ) a. m. to catch train for Pies
sis and no sooner had we arrived
than the usual red tape commenced
that tiresome process of having a
paper signed at a dozen different
offices situated in different parts OF
the country, telling them your rank,
making your will and where you
want your body sent. These ques-
tions have been asked me so many
times that an interpreter isn't ncc-
essary any more.
Some Speed
A handsome lieutenant was in
charge and he surprised me with the
speed with which we were started
training, for that same afternoon the
little one winged bird was wheeled
out by the proud mechanics who we
had brought with us, and flying COM
menced. l say proud because we are
the envy of every aviator who sees
our "zang," for it is very tiny re-
minding one of a mosquito or q
wasp. Judging from the way the
latter insect loved me during my
boyhood days, you would never think
| would come close to anything re-
sembling it, let alone climb aboard,
and fly it. / said it was tiny, but 1t
is so beautifully proportioned and
the lines so racy-looking that a more
beautiful "Zang" was never built.
Indeed, when I say we are en-
We'd 1 put it mildly, for every one
wants to get in the escadrille now,
not only because the "zang'' is so
strong, pretty and fast, but because
we are the first escadrille of this
type. Every one used to cape with
awe at a spad U'lI never forget how
it awed me the first time 1 saw it,
but not anymore. Let our little Mo-
rane come noisily out, for like most
small things it makes a great noise
and everyone loses interest in the
Spad, as they watch one of we privi-
legged ones climb aboard and so
shooting into the air like the tail of
Haley's comet, for it's possible to
climb vertically with them. Yes, and
I got aboard this speedy bird that
same afternoon and from that expert
ence / see no season to change my
statement of being aboard a bullet
for she sure is fast, passing every
thing on the road.
One never notices the speed while