South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-10-19
Rescued Prisoners Spy
Ont All MOUementS of
Hun Army IN Belgium
Gather information All Plans of Germans to Cover
Their Retreat From Flanders: Many Cheat
Death Time After Time.

who was killed only few days
later. These airmen flew so low
over the Germans that they could
have reached out their hands. and
touched the heads Of the Germans
They sprayed the half column of
Huns with bullets until they were
practically all wiped out.
MannOck's Exploits.
Mai Maunock was one Of the
British airmen OF whom we saw a
great deal in the later days Of the
war. He frequently flew over Bel
GUM. and made a number Of land
ings well behind the enemy lines. At
that time he was probably better
known by sight in Belgium than in
Britain or France. and the amazing
thing is that the Germans never ap-
peared 10 recognize him.
Mannock flew repeatedly over the
district around Brussels. We had
no difficulty in recognizing his ma
chine by its markings. and we had
! the utmost admiration for this dar-
| ing officer Once / saw him land
at the improvised landing place not
far from Brussels used by the allied
( air couriers. IL was about a month
or six weeks before his death.
suggested to him that the work he
( was engaged on was dangerous.
Just a little" he replied. "but not
so much as you might think. 1t has
Z its points"
What are they?" I asked.
ooh" was the reply. you get
/ plenty of fun. plenty Of excitement.
and there is always the feeling that
you are cheating death
Cheats Death Frequently.
3 Mannock certainly cheated death
more than any man I know of, and
his greatest achievement in this di-
rection was in the summer of last
year. between Client and Bruges
There had been British intelli-
gence officer in the neighborhoOd
i'm hiding for about three weeks. He
had ascertained all that he wished
( 10 know, and it was imperative that
he should go back. MannOck was
! sent TO fetch him.
As rendezvous in that region we
used the house and grounds Of a
patriotic Belgian who had suffered
a great deal for his country.
These were anxious days indeed
for the Germans were very inquisi-
tive. and made a number Of visits
to the house in search OF unauthor-
lied persons. on the second night
troops were left in the house TO keep
watch, and il was a source of an
xiety 10 me when I reflected that at
any minute Mannock might come to
/ the house. 1 dared not go out 70
warn him, for I did not know how
much the Germans knew or sus-
pected. and any move I made might
have the effect OF putting them or
their guard.
Waits I'm Anxiety.
That night l waited with an
xiety bordering on terror. About
o'clock 1 saw MannOck coming alone
the road from Client He did no
appear to suspect anything, and IN q
few minutes he must be seen by the
Germans.
I was at first impelled TO rush out
20 warn him, regardless of wha'
might be my own fate. but I real
lied on reflection that this might
mean the defeat Of the end 1 had IN
view. I waited anxiously, and saw
! Mannock come close up to the gate
So far he had not been seen by the
Germans. but I could not say how
long his immunity from detection
was likely to last.
Suddenly to my great relief h
turned and walked back along the
road by which he had come. After
wards I learned that he had seen the
| Germans. had guessed what il al
meant, and had gone back rather
than run the risk OF discriminating
any Of us.
The next day the soldiers wen
away. the officer telling me that h,
was Disguised with the authorities
I NJ Brussels, who had ordered hin
cHt on this fruitless task. on tbs
following night the British intelli.
. cence officer arrived at the house
and about Il O'Clock I set out tC
take him 10 the secret landing place
where Mannock was TO be in readi
ness for him.
seek Refuge in Woods.
We had not gone far before We
heard the unmistakable sounds OF
infantry on the march, and very
shortly we made out the column
about zoo men altogether. We go
off the main road as quickly as w,
could. and sought refuge in tn,
p woods only reaching shelter just il
. time
The soldiers passed close by tn,
tree behind which we lay in hiding
and marched down the road in tn,
direction OF the clearing where w
expected Nannock 20 be- When tn
Germans had got out OF sight VI
hurried on our way, realizing nov
Z that there was very great danger
] we could not reach Mannock in tim
p 20 warn him. As we approached tn
. appointed place we saw Mannock b,
p himself and in the background. nea
some trees. we saw his machine. "
= had taken a near cut through tb
: woods and had got ahead Of IN