Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 222, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 September 1915 — CHIVALRY NOT DEAD [ARTICLE]

CHIVALRY NOT DEAD

Old Spirit of Knighthood Main- * tained Among Aviators. British and German Air Raiders Notify Enemy of Fate of Rival Aviators —Flyers Are Type With Marked Characteristics.

By FREDERICK PALMER.

(International News Service.) British Headquarters, France.— “Though it has been repeatedly stated that chivalry does not exist in this war,” said a British aviator, “this does not apply to the British and German aviation branches. Whether it is the individualism of our work and its novelty, or whatever it is that is responsible, something of the old spirit of knighthood maintains among the flyers of the air. When a British aviator has to descend in the German lines, whether from engine trouble or because his engine or his plane has been damaged by antiaircraft gunfire, the next day the Germans report to us his name and whether he survived, and if so, whether he is wounded. We always do the same. It has come to be a custom.”

The reports are made in a manner worthy of airmen and they are the only communications that ever pass between the two foes, which watch for heads to snipe at from their trenches. What is called a “message bag” is dropped over the British lines by a German or over the German lines by a British aviator—sometimes when he is in the midst of bursting shells from the antiaircraft guns. Long streamers are attached to the little cloth bag. These, as they pirouette down to the earth from a height of seven or eight thousand feet attract the attention of soldiers in the neighborhood and they run out to get the prize when it lands. It is taken to battalion headquarters, which wires the fact on to the aviation headquarters, where the fate of a comrade may be known a few hours after he has left bis home aerodrome; and, in another few hours someone in England may know the fate of a relative.

“That is one of the advantages of belonging to the flying corps,” sky the British aviators. “It may be week? before his relatives and comrades know whether a man who is missing after a trench attack or counter-attack is a prisoner or dead. Such little kindnesses as this don’t Interfere with you fighting your best for your cause; at the same time they take a little of the savagery out of war. Of course, the rule could not apply to prisoners taken in trench fightingonly to airmen. There are relatively few airmen on either side and only an occasional one ever comes down to the enemy’s lines.”

With the first flush of dawn the British planes rise from the aviation grounds. All day they are coming and going, and in the dusk of evening they appear out of the vague dis* tances of the heavens returning home _to roost.

The flyers become a type with certain marked characteristics. No nervous man is wanted; and it is time for any man who shows any sign of_ nerves to take a rest. Thqy seem shy, diffident, men of the kind given to observation rather than talking: men who are used to using their eyes rather than their hands. It is a little difficult to realize that some quiet young fellow who is pointed out has had so many hairbreadth escapes. What tales worthy of "Arabian Nights” heroes who were borne away on magic carpets they bring home, relating them as matter-of-factly as if they had broken a shoe lace. Up in their seats, a whirr of the motor, and they are away on another adventure They shy at the mention of their names in print; for that is not considered good for the spirit of this, the newest branch of the service of war. Anonymity is absolute. Everything is done by the corps for the corps Some members have luck, as they put it, and some do not. L —’s name may not be given, but his is the most dra matlc of recent experiences. He was a pilot flying in Belgium, far away from the British lines, when an antiaircraft shell mashed his leg.which was hit by fifty bullets and fragments, the doctor estimated, as the story was told to the correspondent He collapsed In his seat unconscious. His machine dropped at right angles to the line of flight, with ths concussion. The observer who was with him mapaged to hold on by clutching at the machine gun. They were careening down to ths earth, with the observer helpless from his position to do anything, when L— re* frvered consciousness and mustered strength and presence of mind eno ugh to right the machine and to turn it round in the midst of a cloud of shrapnel smoke. He was not going to be taken prisoner, despite his shattered leg, when he found that the shell which had so nearly done for him had not injured »hfes englne 01 the plane. So be made for the near est aerodrome. There he managed to land safely. But, as he said, he did not. dare to get out of his seat until the doctor came, for fear that his leg would fall off He will get well.