PEGOUD’S EXPLOITS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144712, 22 June 1915, Page 5

PEGOUD’S EXPLOITS.

, A BRIGADIER GERARD OF THE AIR. (Daily Chronicle Special Correspondent) PARIS, April 6. I have already narrated some of the daring exploits of the French aviator, Pogoud, the man who moped the loop on a summer day in England, when groat crowds assembled at Brooklands to watch him weave magic circles in the blue sky. Since this war began lie has been a sort of “Brigadier Gerard” of the air, and his audacities have made him a terror to the enemy. Ho has now added two now adventures to his record. On Saturday last a German Aviatik, as their machines are called, flew over towards Saint Monehould. The pilot’s objective was the railway line, on which ho hurled nine bombs, without, however, doing any damage. The Gorman flew at such a great height that ho was beyond the range of the French guns which fired at him. It was then that Pegoud went up, cheered by soldiers and civilians, but the Aviatix, suspecting that Pegoud : was in pursuit, flow off on swift wings and would not fight, so that the French airman, after a hard chase, returned without his prey. Pegoud was angry and vowed in his laughing way that he would not rest until ho had swooped upon another bird. PEGOUD LYING IN WAIT. He had his chance that evening when a Taubc appeared. Pegoud was waiting for him, and rose at once like a hungry falcon. He swept so quickly upon the German that ho was able to swoop upon him from above. The two airmen manoeuvred almut each other as though playing a game of hide-and-seek in the sky, but Pogoud kept close with splendid airmanship, turning and tacking in hardly more than his own length of wings. Then ho fired several shots at the enemy's machine,- piercing it vitally, so that it staggered in the air like a wounded bird. The Gorman pilot, however, was a man of skill and cool nerve, and he succeeded in making a steep volplane to earth, while Pogoud followed hot upon his downward flight, landing at too same time to receive the surrender of the German aviator and observer, who were unwounded. Pegoud had a fine appetite for dinner, and his good humour was restored.