Evening journal., 1921-06-23
AIR Fighter
Home; HERO
OF TWO WARS
Continued from First Page.

poldina, and was met at the pier by
his parents Mr.. and Mrs. Harry
Crawford. 1920 Washington street.
We'll, 1 certainly am glad to be
back" he exclaimed, as he respond
ed to the greetings of his mother
and father. All three at once took
train for Wilmington, arriving here
at about o'clock last evening.
Few Delawareans have seen as ac-
tive war service as Colonel Crawford.
He was cited for gallantry in the
Argonne; was taken prisoner by the
Germans when his plane was shot
down by highpowered guns while on
special detail for General Pershing:
and was released shortly after the
armistice. He accompanied Herbert
Hoover's relief mission to Russia
and spent about eight months at
Reval and other points on the Baltic.
Then he Joined the Polish army as a
commander of an aerial squadron
and did valient service in the war
against the Bolsheviki.
One of Colonel Crawford's most
famous exploits was the blowing up
of a Bolshevik troopship, while it
lay in the Dneiper river. Maneuver-
ing his plane until he was directly
over the vessel, he dropped a bomb
down the smokestack. wrecking the
craft and killing several scorr of
the enemy.
The colonel gave an example OF his
almost unbounded energy when,
early this morning, he received word
from Philadelphia that one of his
.aae IN
Although he had been home only one
Right, he caught a train at 8 o'clock
for Philadelphia, saying he might
not be back until dinner-u time at c
this evening.
Colonel Crawford Is warm in his
praise of the Poles and Poland. MY
heart goes out to the Polish people, -
he declared. They have battled
bravely against a foe superior in
brutal force, but not in conscience.
And after much dreadful. almost
unspeakable suffering, they have
won their independence. Poland is
now let alone to work out her own
destiny. Economically she is faring
comparatively well. Her needs are
great, while the supplies are still
inadequate, but it is only a question
of time for her rehabilitation.
"On the other hand the Soviet
government is drawing nearer its
collapse" he continued. "Oh, /
know people have been speaking
about it more than three years and
it hasn't happened. But the situa-
! ton, as it confronts the Bolsheviki
today, is more serious than any they
have yet had to face. While last
winter proved severe to the Reds.
/ from the point of food and clothing,
/ conditions next year will be decided
/ ly worse. Already the government
has begun to make concessions to
the peasants in the matter of re-
QUESTIONING production, but this
move comes too late, in my opinion" "
In recognition of his services in
| behalf of their native country, the
| Polish societies of Wilmington are
making preparations for a mass
meeting and banquet in Colonel
Crawford's honor next Wednesday.
The mass meeting will be held in
| Delamore Park in the afternoon. and
| the banquet in the Hotel dupont in
the evening. DR.. S. G. Pawlik owski
is chairman, and Vincent J. Kowa-
| lewski secretary OF the Committee on
Arrangements.
Colonel Crawford Joined the avia-
ton service Of the American army
soon after the outbreak of war with
/ Germany. In September of 1917
following a training course al
Mineola- l.. l.. he was sent to France
as a pilot and remained there for
eleven months. He took part in the
st. Meihel break through the Ar
gonne offensive and for a time did
service in what was then termed the
defensive sector" It was while
on a special detail in the Argonns
for General Pershing that the ace
was taken prisoner by the Boche
MY plane was flying low" ex.
planned the colonel describing tn,
incident. ''The Germans aeria
guns opened fire and several OF tn,
shots took effect. Ny observer wa
plane fell and both of us were tax
en- prisoner. Since then, 1 hav,
neither seen nor heard Of him. 1
is possible the wound proved fatal.
he answered in response to ques
tion, "but I hope he recovered"
Touched by the ardor with whicl
. the Pole fought and the justice o
his cause and revolving against tn
: heinious crimes committed by tn
Red armies. Colonel Crawford wa
moved to enlist in the Polish army
Z He commanded a squadron until tn
: signing OF the armisuce, January
t 1920, engaging in encounters an,
? maneuvers on the Pondeliano from
/ and also at Tarnopol, Ploscurow, Po
lonne, Berdorchow and Beiliaczrov
He participated in the immens
Kiev drive, which was one Of the dc
, cisive battles OF the conflict. Tn
main base OF his squadron was lie
vow, Galicia. The Military Virtue.
an emblem Of the highest order 4
the Polish military code. was con
ferred on him by Colonel c. e. Fon
leroy, chief Of the air service OF tn
Polish armies. The commandment
chief is a former major Of tn
| American army. Colonel Crawfor
| was also awarded medals for servic
| and bravery.
l u~uVW 1890