Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-08-05
SPLENDID SPIRIT EXISTS
AMONG ALLIED AV|AT0Rs
British hirmen Win Admiration OF
Americans by Great Fight
for Air Supremacy.
CASE OF GERMANS INTERESTING
Faint Wings Of Airplanes With
French Colors-Encmy Flying
Service No Longer Respected.
Naval Warfare u Clean Game.
nY GEORGE IL. sE:.DEs.

Bf GEORGE IL. Sf:.DES.
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE, August Al England or
France had been baseball-playing ma
lions. we would have been better
friends before the war, ana quicker
allies now"
lieutenant was speaking. 1t was
lunch time in the mess hall OF an avia-
ton base. We had been talking about
the British and French aviators. who
arc honored and respected more by our
aViators than. l believe, by any other
group in the service of the allies.
moment later the licutcnant-avia-
tor added that he himself vas not n
baseball fan. never cared either 10 play
or watch the game. but tho remark
was the result of observation in the
year he had been in France in Eng
land. He felt that there was nothing
In the world stronger than a common
sport 10 bind two nations.
AVIATION SERVICE
RETAINS ELEMENTS OF sPORT
Now aviation itself, despite ;he
Srimness OF battle, still retains many
elements of \ sport. and that perhaps
is the best explanation of the fine re-
lations between the American aviators,
the French Service ACKNOWLEDGES and
the Royal Air Force. The iiasion there
Is the most perfect 1t has come nat
uraily between America and France for
the Lafayette Escadriile composed en-
tirely of American aviators. did noble
work and about Il like number OF
Americans. dispersed among many
French squadrons and therefore un-
honored and UnsunE by the press.
brought our American spirit into the
whole French service.
The British ariators had to win our
admiration by their great battle for
air supremacy. and another battle
agains, an American public school
taught prejudice against anything
British. But from the day America
became an ally. our airmcn became
one in spirit with tho British. To day
they have real friendship. Ard ono
reason has been our soor:smanship
honoriag British sportsn.nnstip.
GERMAS AvIAToRS now
LIKE OTHER HUNS
The German case also is interesting.
Aviation being an antc-bellum sport
whatever craftsmanship Germany had
In 1915 was in the air. although 1t was
In September OF that year that Ger
mans first dropped bombs and killed
woman md children in Paris. Never
theless. there were certain rules OF
craftsmanship which German aviators
observed. and one OF the few fine things F.
they did was TO bring n wreath to the |.
funeral OF = noted allied ace. ana to
send information via the air OF avia
tors they had taken alive. Nowadays
~ lat
changed Prussianism has got into its
blood. The av!ators not on, lombard
hospitals, knowing them 10 be hospi- |
tails. hut turn their machine guns on |
the wounded and The nurses when they |
Try 10 escape from the burning build I
lnEs.
The newest trick OF the German av!a-
tors. l was told here at the base. and .
given Photographic proof, is 10 paint
the allied cccardc. the conccntric red.
white and blue circles, on their wings.
so that they may cross the French and
American lines and make observations.
or course they ran the risk of being
attacked by their own machines ana
guns. bu. they have tried
this device many times lately.
There is therefore very little OF the
onctime respect for the German air
service of to-day left among the allied
ariators. In the case OF Baron Won
Richthofen the British showed the!r
sportsmanship by holding an impress
s!ve funeral. with full military honors.
SO far as is known he was fair fighter.
although his clai i'm 10 some eighty al !
He'd planes destroyed is clearly a claim .
rlade by the German military as n /
stimulus for a waning service Rich
thofcn was the victor "a many bat
ties. but he was credited with many .
victories OF other members O. his cir /
Gus. and again, nc rarely fought alone |
and attacked Away. 4 smaller force /
while he had the pick OF tbs Gcrma n |
aviation behind him.
GERMAN SAILORS BECOME
TYPICAL OF HUNS
The game At sea IS another good IL
lustration. Although service with the
Hect is not exactly sport. il is that
by comparison with infantry and ar
ti!lcry service. Like the way in the
air. the way on the ocean is a clean
way. n select game. - whole lot OF n
game. and tho players respect the play
crs they oppose. / have never heard
British seamcn underrate the Germans
although they know they can beat them
no matter how great tho odds in favor
OF the enemy. II Is the transfer Of the