WAR BIRDS

Hokitika Guardian, 13 August 1927, Page 4

WAR BIRDS

A lceent publication ."War Birds,” hears as a sub-title "The Dairy ol an Ununiuvn Aviator,’" bul the description is rather misleading. Obviously his

identity could have been disclosed had that been desired. The author was an American who was shot down some tits tame behind the German lines in die autumn ol 1918. lie was given a decent burial by the Germans, anti his grave was found by the Red Cross. Also tlie book teems with allusions to comrades who could have supplied his name. The diary, which is entirely free from any irate of self-conscious-ness, and is written in a racy style, is a most interesting document, both in subject matter and as a revelation of personality. The writer was a highspirited lad. given to occasional moods of seriousness. He had a keen sense of humour, and an unbounded zest in existence, hut perhaps his most outstanding characteristic is Iris intense I admiration for Britain and for «the British. Travelling to Oxford after disembarkation, lie passed through “the most beautiful country ” he had ever seen. It made him think of Grimm’s Fairy Tales. At Christchurch College, where his-unit was quartered, the mess-room is “like a shapcl." Everyone seems more than glad to see them, and more than cordial. " Everyone over here is so damn polite. 1 know now why they ; always think of us as savages. This | is the most charming country 1 ever, dreamed of.” In Scotland, where they j were subsequently transfered. he. with j a friend, went to pay a dentist an I account owed by a comrade who had j been killed. The dentist, on bearing j the circumstances, refused to accept a j penny. They explained that they had 1 been directed by tile Court of Inquiry to settle the dead man’s bills, but lie still refused. "He said that he couldn’t take money from a man who had died for his country. Yet they crack jokes about the Scots loving money above all else. I'm glad that my blood is Scotch.” The author, indeed, got on better with the British than with many of his own fellow-countrymen. He much pre- j ferred the British officers to the Amen-

can. The former took every opportunity of helping the cadet-aviators. The latter showed off their authority by “ cussing us out ’’ lie lore the British, who. he adds, resented it as much as the victims. lie and his friend went to the American Officers’ Club for a meal. ‘•They ought to cai'i it the majors’ and admirals’ free lunch. They think we have leprsov. . f’d rather I eat. one meal with Bishop (ihe Ace) l than have Admiral Sims and General | Biddle pay my hoard eternally. Thank God the British can recognise a gontlenmn. despite his rank." And .more than once he asserts with emphasis that these little tip majors give him a pain.

In 1017 air training was a hazardous proceeding. Many of the planes were old: the course was an intensive one, and casualties were frequent-. In England alone two or three were killed in a week, and at the front the losses were very heavy. This induced in the service a fatalistic outlook and a spirit of *■ carpe diemn.” These lads, most of whom seem to have had money to burn, resolved to enjoy life while it was theirs. Leave was a hilarious affair, and one of the writer’s grievances against the American authorities was that they did not grant it more often. From various passages in the diary it would appear that their 'parsimony was not unjustified. He was sent to tin' French front in May. BBS. and the book gives a series ot vivid impressions of aerial fighting, punctuated by terse statements mentioning that so and so was killed at such and such a place. The last entry discusses the relative merits of various luck charms. For his pari, “ a C oi'umhian half-dollar and that last sixpence, and a piece of my first crash seem to take care of me all right, though 1 am not superstitious." Here the diary ends.