TREATMENT OF CAPTURED BRITISH AIRMAN.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15208, 20 February 1915, Page 9

TREATMENT OF CAPTURED BRITISH AIRMAN.

GERMAN OFFICER TO THE RESCUE.

LONDON, February 18. Tho Press Bureau states that the American Ambassador at Berlin forwards a eworn declaration about tho treatment, of Commander Brigrrs. the British aviator, who "was captured in November, in the raid on FriodrichsImfcn. After he landed, a German soldier, at a distanco of forty yards, fired five ineffective shots. Commander Briggs then lifted up his hands, and soldiers and civilians dragged him out of his machine. While he was bent face downwards, ho received a bea\*y blow, it is supposed, from a rifle butt.

A German officer saved his life by standing between the aviator and tho crowd, which was rushing on to him, and threatening to shoot anyone who touched the Britisher.

Mr C. C. Grey, editor of the "Aeroplane," give.* this examplo of a German officers treatment of another British aviator, whoso machine was crippled:— as far away as possible from the Gorman cam:), he jumped out of his aeroplane, tired a couplo of bullets from his revolver into his petrol tank so as to let the petrol out. and then firod his revolver into the stream of petrol, and set. the whole thins alight. It is also said that he emptier! the rest of his revolver into tho engine, co as to damage it enough to prevent it from working. Then ho turned round, prepared cither to bo taken prisoner or shot, as the Germans might fopl dispos<*d. As ho did so a German officer tapped him on tho shoulder and said. "When you have quite finished, come and have some lunch."