QUEER SURRENDER

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 79, 28 December 1918, Page 9

QUEER SURRENDER

ECHO OF THE WAR IN THE AIR. (By "Wing Adjutant," in the "Daily Mail.") Having just destroyed one machino, the pilot was in good humour and ready for anything which might'turn up. Consequently when he sighted i\ fat two-seater he swung round the scout and went "all out." .".•:■- On the face of it the combat was , absurd. A fast, well-armed prettily-handled British scout, on the ono side, and a fat, cumbersome, old .reconnaissance machine, manned by two frightened Huns on tho other, did not promise the prospect of a good fight. The pilot expected tliat one divo would finish the aftair, even if tho Hun waited for the'one dive, which was unlikely. It seemed more than: probable that the Bocho would put down Iris noso a(id run for home or spin to earth in a effort to avoid tho combat. To the astonishment of tho pilot tho Hun did neither. He just awaited tho arrival of the British machine and even turned to moot him. The pilot suspected a trap'and edged away. It was all very well to bag a "sitter," but ho did not want to find tliat he had merely swallowed the bait, and that when ho was engaged in finishing off the Bocho a strong patrol of D'okkers'was diving.at him from above. Ho was an (Id pilot and not'to be caught sleeping. Ho therefore; ascended into tho clouds and waited. For a while he cruised about in the mist seeking his foes, who ho was'..convinced lurked there. Finding none, he again dropped to look at the two-seater. She was still cruising about and looked uiore suspicious ' than ever. The pilot was puzzled. 'He had searched ' everywhere for a trap and had failed to discover it. Even "Archie" was silent and not harking furiously to mask the approach of Huns. " ■•■ He decided to risk it, and with an eye over ono shoulder rushed at tho Boche. Firing furiously ho pumped burst after burst into tho unfortunate machine.' The latter made no attempt to reply; but to tho astonishment of tho pilot tho Gorman observor hung cut a whito flag. • Ajjain tho pilot, looked round in vain for tho approaching cloud ■ [«t hostile wonts. The air wn.s dear and Hid flag .still hung from the machine. Moreover, tho Hun was flying straight towards the British lined. Grasping tho situation, tho pilot herded his charge, turnmg.it as occasion.iccniired. The'trenches wcvp safely crossed,.the men below evidently boing afraid to firo in case they hit their own machine. .Mile after mile was flown i-ntil the aerodrome was reached. Obediently the Hun throttled back hid engine rnd landed, closely escorted by tho British scout. Then the pilot landed and climbed out. of his machine. The Huns followed suit. • .

He wa« ..a very astonished squadron commander who received tho pilot's talo and his two prisoners asoviddnco of'tho truth of tho affair.