San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-02-11
Wounded Sheik Taken to
Doctor by Airplane Puts
Aviators in Good With
Most Nativcs-Air Mail
man Tells of Thrilling Ex-
perience on Desert When
Forced to Land.

Lands that more than 1000 years ago
harbored infant civilization, today list
ems daily to the buzz Of airplane
motors of the British Royal Air Force
as the planes carry letters of British
and American business men from
Cairo, the capital of Egypt, to Bag
dad, the principal city of McsOpotnmia.
In one day the fliers of the British
Royal Air Force go from the land Of
the pyramids, over the Holy Land. and
across more than 500 miles of desert
10 the land of the date.
According TO recent edition Of
the Air Service News Letter. the most
difficult part of the journey is the 532
miles of desert that stretch between
Palestine and Bagdad. There are
practically no natural landmarks
along this distance. 1t would be com
paratively easy, however, to navigate
this desert by the compass, but the
risk of forced landings can never be
eliminated, and the most pressing prob
lem has been TO devise some means
by which help, If necessary, could be
provided the stranded airman.
The problem was solved by running
4 number of motor trucks and auto
mobiles over the same track across the
desert and marking off series Of pos
sible landing places that can act as a
guide to n pilot, and enable him to be
located by wireless in the event nc
has been compelled 10 come TO the
ground.
4 Wounded Shieli.
Only this narrow track, two parallel
lines five or six feet arart, is the
flicr's navigating chart. On favorable
ground it is easy to see these lines
even from an altitude of 5000 but it
is not at all easy to pick up without
some indication as to its locality, nor
is it simple matter to follow these
lines when the nature of the ground
has prevented the vehicles from max
ing more than slight impression on
the surface.
In some places along the route the
single track has been reinforced by n
number of separate tracks where the
cars and trucks spread out instead of
following one another, but for the most
part the task of the airman is to hold
grimly to the single, narrow streak.
Should he lose sight of it at any time
there is nothing for him TO do but
circle around in the air, or to retrace
his course until the track has again
been picked up.
Another additional danger the fliers
of the Royal Air Force constantly face
is the possibility that some desert
dWellcr who nurses an antipathy to
the British may take shot at a low
flying plane, or that the airman, IL
forced to land, will encounter hostile
tribesmen. However. the Nomads of
this district have been inclined TO
friendliness through the action of the
Air Force at one time picking up and
by plane TO Bagdad, a wound
ed shiek found in the desert and in
for him the medical treat
ment that saved his life.
Tribesmen Were Hostile.
But the fliers. however, when they
are prevented from making the trip
from Cairo to Baghdad in single
day. and are forced to land in the
desert. are still suspicious of the ma
tives that dwell there. The story goes
that on one recent occasion an aviator
of the British Royal Air Force made
forced landing in the desert and
was Immediately approached by
number of Arabs whose attitude was
anything but friendly. The aviator.
fortunately, knew some Arabic. and the
following conversation took place:
Are you alone?"
no"
How many other airplanes are
there"
"Ten," the aviator replied.
"Are they coming here?" was the
next question.
Yes"
Have you told Amman you are
here:" one of the desert men asked,
referring to the nearest city.
Yes. he was told BY the aviator.
Convinced by these answers the
Arabs allowed the engine defect to be
rcmcdied and the plane continued on
It's lonely journey to Baghad. Whether
the tribesmen would have adopted a
different attitude if they had known the
answers to their inquiries were all
lntruthful is q matter that must 70.
main doubtful. The pilot himself is
thoroughly satisfied. according 10 the