AIRMAN RAMMED.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 828, 5 October 1916, Page 6

AIRMAN RAMMED.

FRENCH PILOT'S HEROISM.

BOTH CRASH TO DEATH. The records of aerial sclf-sncri-h're furnish no more stirring narrative than tin- story of how Sergeant Maquart dc Tcrline gave up his life rather than allow his enemy to escape from him, writes \V. L. McAlpin in the "Daily Mail," under date, Sunday, August 0. At I o'clock last Thursday morning the sentinels in the trenches saw a German Albatross traverse tho French lines at a great height, flying in the direction of Cralons. Tho enemy airman's presence was immediately telephoned to the base and some miles from the town the audacious pilot, a red-haired giant nicknamed "Arminius" by the French poilus, met with such a warm reception from the anti-aircraft artillery that he and his companion turned and made off. In the interval the alarm had been given in the adjoining camp, -where the chasers are always ready to give battle to enemy pilots. A few minutes later three French airmen were mounting rapidly through the morning mist, impatient to get at close quarters with the invader. The German had the start, and if the Frenchmen were to prevent him from getting back to his lines only 10 miles away they must not lose a second. In 10 minutes it would be all over. At a height of from 1000 to 1200 feet the breakneck race began, the Albatross speeding for home and the three Frenchmen, one behind and one on each Hank, hotly pursuing. The Xieuport chasers had the advantage of superior speed, and every moment they were overhauling "Arminius." Soon they were near enough to open fire, anil while they cleft the air at ".") miles an hour their machine guns opened on the fleeing Albatross.

Watched by Thousands.

But the German kept on. Safely for him lay in flight. So far he had not been hit. Thousands of men in the trenches and camps strained their eyes and watched the evolutions of the fight. Rising, falling, veering, swaying from side to side, the four airmen jockeyed for position, their machine guns firing all the while, until one wondered why the aeroplanes did not crash into one another and come tumbling to earth. By a miracle "Arminius" was still alive, and while he forced along the Albatross at an amazing speed his comrade served the machine gun, turning it to right and left upon his pursuers.

The distance was gradually lessening. In a few seconds they would be over the German trenches and then the light would be finished. Ammunition was running low. A moment later the chasers, having spcnl the last cartridge in the band, with one consent took a supreme resolution. Rather than waste time for recharging and allow the enemy to escape they would close in on him and go down to death together. "Arminius," grasping their ioten* lion, began to descend. The Frenchmen did the same, drawing swiftly nearer. Those below gazed motionless at the tragedy going on GOflft above them. Suddenly two of the French pilots, in their eagerness to overtake the flying enemy, swerved 100 close to one another. There was a violent shock, a sinister cracking and tearing, and the spectators saw the two broken Nienports turn over and over and fall to Ihe ground. Later it was learned that their pilots had suffered only slight injuries.

The Death-lock. But Sergeant de Terline and "Arminius" were left to fight it out. At that moment the Frenchman's comrades, watching the combat in the air through their glasses, remembered his words of the day before, "If in a fight with a Boche my machine gun should jam I would ram him." Fear chilled their hearts. Would he do it? They were not left long in doubt. In another second, while the German officer was spurting bullets at him 20 yards away, the Frenchman bore down upon his adversary and cut him almost in half. Locked together, the two machines dropped headlong. A moment later they separated, and those who witnessed tho final act of the drama state that as the crippled aeroplanes fell to earth 100 yards apart in the French lines they saw the figures of "Arminius" and his enemy still upright among the shapeless debris. De Terline was 24 years of age and obtained his pilot's certificate barely a year ago. He had the reputation of being one of the best and bravest airmen in France.