The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-25
By w. B. MCCORMICK.

\ S revelation Of the psychology of
L n the military aviator Jacques Nor
tane's sketch of Guynemer, The Ace Of
Aces, is distinct contribution TO the
literature of war aud of aviation.
The record of this gallant figure OF
France runs, in point of time, from Janu-
AIRY q, 1915, when he first entered the
military service of France, until Septem-
Der II, 1917; yet in that time he not only
became the accredited victor over fifty-
three German airplanes with third
more than this number not officially
eOuntedl. but also a youth of twenty who
was ito fix himself without word in the
glory of magnificent renown at this time
when French annals excel the ordinary
measure of history, laden with the deeds
of grandeur, "-Clemenceau's ringing
phrase.
Guynemer' Own Words.
The merit of Mortane's revelation Of
Guynemer's personality is TO be found
In the fact that it is faithful and ex-
act piece of reporting Of the great fier's
own words. Mortane, who is a Partisan
journalist, won his hero's friendship BY
writing the first newspaper account of
Guynemers career and on making an
appeal TO the aviator for matter for an
other article Guynemer consented con
condition that YOU do not mention nv
name" But as the flier was ~ brilliant
precise talker when alone with his Dos-
well, that reporter soon became possessed
OF Sheaf Of notes, the value and i'm
portance of which these pages reveal.
1t rs genuine pity, however, that the
publishers did not provide biographical
sketch of Guynemer, which is a serious
omission. Such a contribution might
have settled definitely for the reader the
facts as to The tale that Guynemer tried
five times to get into the French army and
was refused each time tale which he
said according to Mortane) was not
true. Moreover, We learn nothing of his
antecedeuts, and are permitted to have
but one brief glimpse of his family life
1t IS to be hoped that in a succeeding
edition this oversight will be rectilied.
His Talk and His Notes.
The text presents two records, Nor
tane's Journalistic version of Glvnemer's
narratives admirably translated by Cliff
ton Hardy Levy and the text of Guyne-
mer's two notebooks of his flights
As contrast nothing could be more
widely divergent than the aviator's own
narrative Of his doings with tlre style
of Mortane. For example, Guynemer
laeonically sets down that on January %,
1915, the day he entered the air service,
he was engaged on "snow duty" which
meant shovelling snow at the aerodrome
And here is Mortane's account of his last
flight:
.'On September IL, notwithstanding tie
bad weather. Guynemer started upon 4
cruise with Lieut.. Nerduraz. After fur
rowing space for long time without
success, for atmospheric conditions kept
the Boobies on the earth, the two pilots
at last saw a two-seater which appeared
to be lost in the clouds.
The Last Duel.
"The hero darted forward, attacked, his
gun missed fire. He manGuvrcd for pO-
sition again without even trying 10 dodge
the answering fire, SO sure was be Of him
self in dealing with that young fry. What
wa, Il single two-seater 10 him7 1t was
NOT even interesting. But above all did
he wis., to bring it down, to turn luck
his way and break the long series of no
results.
But what happened after that mo
ment' Lieut. Nerduraz had gone toward
other fights. with the conviction that his