FRENCH AIRMEN'S OATH.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 251, 27 November 1914, Page 3 (Supplement)

FRENCH AIRMEN'S OATH.

SECRET SOCIETY TO RAM

ZEPPELINS

TMK PRICK-A LIFE

There exists in France a secret soclety of airmen .sworn to dash into tl.c body of hostile airships and I'estroy them should their country ever d<. nanJ the sacrifice. This group of heroes comprises some of the most skilled and foremost aeronauts of Fiance. They know that what they propose to do means instant death to themselves, but they also know that the Zeppelin airship is the most dreaded engine of war that Germany can bring against their beloved cou'iiry. _ While German Army and Navy officers- toasted "Der Tag" in every mess this band of patriot al-o thought of •'the day."

This was the pledge they took:When " the day" comes we will sacrifice our lives> in the destroying of the most terrible engines of *ar which the Germans possess—the Zcp-

pelin airship. Germany before the war had thirtythree of these giaut airships, not all of them equipped as elaborately as the latest ZepjK'lm. but all capable of dropping bombs. .Some of the latest monsters are said lo be able to carry V 4 A Zeppelin machine costs £3O,<MX>, and requires i'our months to construct. Then it has to be manned with picked men who have been trained over long periods, for these Zeppelin pilots cannot become efficient in the scientific manoeuvring of these airships until after voars cf continuous practice. The trench patriou v ho have sworn to dash into the gas envkopes ol these monsters of the sky and destroy them will count the cost of a life and a £IOOO monoplane well spent in ridding their beloved France of this aerial danger. Already one case has hem reported where an intrepid member of this secret Bociecy has kept his word and gone to his death. It is something to make the nerves tingle to think of. The giant Zeppelin, floating over a city to ram death upon its people—and a solitary human in a tiny monoplane soaring hi"h above i ( to swoop down and crash into the mammoth body, mortally Hounding it. but at the same tune going hini-clf to absolutely certa.lll death.

War a-, il Uiu':> out in torn* aatunw nil tli.it is brstial and ignoble, others to ilwd.- of the Mii>reiu<«; wlfsacrifit'Hj and glory.