CRUSADING FOR PEACE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21277, 2 September 1932, Page 12

CRUSADING FOR PEACE

AIRMEN'S NOVEL TOUR BRITISH AND GERMANS , LONDON. Aus. 23 Four former British and German aces are touring Britain, crusading for peace. They are Major Draper, whose flying licence was taken away from liira for performing daring feats at the Tower and Westminster Bridges, but has since been restored; Major Bridgeman; Captain Baron Gunther von Richtofen, a cousin of the famous pilot whom Australians shot down; and Major Baron von Schleicli. Tho airmen appear in their former uniforms, speaking several times daily in theatres, and at Rotary &nb3 and other institutions, each telling stories of and German chivalry. Major Draper concludes by denouncing war. Major von Schleich relates an amusing experience when he went up one morning in pyjamas in a great hurry to repel a British raid. He was forced down by an Englishman, whom he landed to assist, as he seemed badly damaged. The Englishman, clambering from his wrecked aeroplane, laughed at von Schleich's pyjamas, but he himself was dressed only in dirty flannels. Another story concerns a daredevil Englishman, swooping on a German aerodrome, and riddling a notice-board declaring, "No unauthorised persons admitted." Captain von Richtofen narrates adventures with his cousin. Major Draper reads beautifully worded messages which the Germans dropped behind the English lines, asking for new 3 of missing airmen. Neither German could speak English when he arrived a few weeks ago in England. Now they talk ,well.

Major von Schleicli, relating how tho Reyston branch of tho British Legion elected them honorary president and vicepresident, respectively, pointed to hi 3 badge,_f*ying, "I am very proud of him." The airmen are shortly going to America. Major Draper and Major von Schleicli will race across tho Atlantic if they can securo aeroplanes.