Evening star., 1928-02-01

even in this placid and peaceful world
nearly 10 years later.
The Scene of Action.
! The scene of action was rich In his
toric memories of wars and battles BY
land and sea. Only few hours sail 20
the northwest lay Venice, one time mis-
tress of the seas, from whose stored
canals had sailed the fleets that swept
the wealth of the world to the treasure
vaults of the Doge's Palace. To the
north lay the waters of Lepanto, where
Turk and Christian once fought for the
mastery of the Adriatic and the Medi-
| terranean, while nearby was the scene
of the great naval battle Of LISA. where
| in 1865. Tegetthoff's wooden Austrian
ships defeated PerSano's Italian lron-
clads.
Once more these historic waters. once
| A sea highway OF the Roman Caesars,
were to be the scene of stark nght
against odds. with victory for the man
whose super courage and flghting IN
stinct carried him "beyono the nile VI
duty"
At 1890 am. August 81, 1918,
patrol of four small pursuit seaplanes
and one larger M-8 bomber left Porto
| Corsini with the object Of Shower1ng
upon PoIa some thousands OF leafie's
designed 10 shake the loyalty OF the al
ready shaken Austrian garrison. Inc
pilots we're under orders to "peddle their
papers" and then return to Porto Cor
sini. avoiding engagement with hostile
planes IL possible.
The expedition came to quick disas-
ter. from which Ii was as quickly res
cued by the hardihood and nying ability
of a young enlisted man from Balti-
re- Tod
| Charles Hazeltine Hammann. lands
man for uuartermaSter" Othe Lowest
rank in the Navy, now known as "ap-
prentice seaman'o. this young "goo
saved the day for the Navy, rescued his
commander from death or capture.
| fought off a superior force OF the enemy
| and then closed his performance with
display of flying skill seldom equaled.
This was the first daylight raid un-
dertaken by the American naval air
| force in Italy. An hours night across
the head Of the Adriatic brought the III
tie squadron above Pola. where they
! were at once attacked by anti-aircraft
artillery and a swarm OF Austrian land
ulanes which largely outnumbered the
Americans. Ensign George H. Ludlow.
the patrol commander. ordered his
bombing plane TO retire from the hope
less contest, and gallantly dived with his
fighters to create a diversion so thar the
slow bombing ship might have chance
to escape.
The machine gun on one OF the
American planes Immediately lammed.
putting the ship out OF action for the
moment Ludlow himself shot down
one Of the Austrians. but was attacked
by two other Austrian planes whose fire
damaged his engine and set his ship
.nrf1
taiispin. extinguishing the fire, but
ALT helpless on the water barely miles
from the Austrian batteries. Hammann
was In retreat with his comrades OF the
patrol when he saw his commander TO
down: turning he attacked five Aus
trian planes, and. after driving them
back. fell in a nosespin to the water.
bringing his ship TO stop alongside the
wreck OF Ludlow. The Austrians as
Suming from the abruptneSs OF Ham,
mann's fall that he had been shot down,
hastened back to the comparative safety
of the land, as none of them was
equipped TO make landing on the
water.
Hammann's seaplane was a very
small single seated flying boat with no
excess space or lifting power beyond
| that needed for the pilot. Knowing this,
he. nevertheless. joined his commander
on the water with the determination 70
| do his best 10 effect a rescue. They
could hope for only very few minutes
before the land batteries would open IRE
on them at close range, and they had 10
| do whatever they were going 10 do with
out delay for planning or consultation.
| Ludlow opened the camera slot In the
bottom OF his crippled seaplane ana
kicked holes in the wings and nun so
| that 1t would sink before the Austrians
could recover the engine and machine
gun. Then he swan 10 Hammann's sea-
plane and crawied under the engine.
the only possible space in which he
could ride II Hammann succeeded In
getting the plane into the air.
Hammann's plane had been riddled
with bullets and the hull was Milling
rapidly: The waves were feet high
when the young sailor opened MS
| throttle. pulled back the stick and began
| his fight 70 get the seapiane into the
air with It's double load, first firing
hundred rounds OF ammunition INTO
| Ludlows ship 10 make certain OF us
destruction.
The battered and overloaded seaplane
pioughed through the waves, gathered
speed slowly while the two flyers held
their breaths and prayed. Both yelled
madly as the game little plane slipped
of the top OF wave and skipped
heavily to the top OF another without
sliding down between. The next wave
| was slapped more lightly. and the next
one was not touched st all. They were
In the airi
0rimiy Hammann fought for altitude
and climbed inch by inch. and then
more rapidly as the water he had
taken on streamed through the riddied
| Af hA
came In sight Of Porto COrsini and
giided down 10 the water. The little
ship had given all II had, and when II
struck the smooth water Of the landing
place the front of the hull collapsed
and the boat turned over ON It's two pas"
sengers willing hands dragged both
ashore, but not before they had both
/ been severely bruised and almost
drowned.
A. Ludlow wrung the hand Of his
Tesetier, Hammann said. 1T WAS lucky
for YOU that We didn't get into another
night I'm afraid my fifst dive would
have sent you oVerbOaFd!"
Hammann was promptly recommend
ed for the Distinguished Service Medal
but the awards board, after considering
the evidence, decided that this would
not be sufficient recognition of his nero"
ism Going a long step beyond The
recommendation of his immediate sli'
periors, they awarded him the Congres'
si0nal Medal of Honor, the highest deco
ration within their power. Win the Ioi'
lowing citation;
Medal of Honor.
by direction of the President. and in
the name ~ Congress. the Congressiona
Medal of Honor 0f the Navy was award.
[ ed t1 the following Ofiieers and enlisted
. men Of the United States Navy and TIA
. United States Marine Corps IN Tia
: World war for extraordinary hsroisni u
sctsoa above and be sond The call ~ duts