HERO OR ?

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16462, 14 June 1919, Page 3

HERO OR ?

AMERICAN AIRMAN COURTMARTIALLED. AMAZING CLAIMS. LONDON, April 3. When the historian comes to unwind the war tales with which tho civilised world has been regaled, it is very doubtful whether ho will feel justified in including many of the most thrilling adventures chronicled by the newspapers of to-day. A largo proportion of the “prettiest” stories that found world-wide circulation during the war, have already been proved to have no foundation whatever in solid fact, and many other “thrilling episodes” have been shown to have been prosaic, every-day incidents “dressed to suit the public taste.” One of the stories now under very grave suspicion concerns an American captain whose fame was being spread to the four corners of the earth some eight or nine months ago in connection with aerial exploits on tho Western front. Tho ■story of his marvellous deeds was first set forth in a report issued by the American Public Information Committee. To the ordinary newspaper reader it seemed impossible to doubt the truth of the story, but even at the time it was first circulated those who were in possession of the most intimate knowledge of aerial work on the British sectors were frankly sceptical concerning tlj© American’s astonishing feats as reported by tho A.P.I.C. at two columns’ length. Here is the essence of the tale that was told of the American’s “crowded hour” of life on July 27, 1918 Took part in a fight with 12 German planes. Smashed five of them, while his own machine was badly crippled. Shot down two others. Enabled his British companions to escape. Swooped out of tho air, charged into a detachment of Hun infantry and routed it. Bluffed three. Germans with a fake grenade, and took one of them prisoner. Borabod and blew up a train. Rescued a wounded French soldier. Swam a river under fire while he drove tho German prisoners before him and carried tho wounded Frenchman. Landed right-side up with both trophies in tho Allied lines. Declined to give his name for fear of being scolded. And to-day the “hero” of this amazing story is tho subject of a courtmartial because tho American naval authorities have an uncomfortable notion that the story told is not “the truth, the yhole truth, and nothing but tho truth,” but to a greater or lesser degree sheer fabrication, for which the “hero” himself was responsible. Yet it was presented to the British public by tho A.P.I.C. as “absolutely authentic,” and received all tho publicity it would deserve as such. Also it appears to have been credited sufficiently in high quarters for inquiries to he instituted with a view to the “hero” receving his due reward in the shape of honours. The result of those inquiries is that Captain E. G. Chamberlain, of the U.S. Marine Corps, the “hero” in question, became suspect, and was this week arraigned in London. The accused is said to com© of a well-known and very rich Texas family, with very influential connections in America, and is alleged to be engaged to tho daughter of Mr. Bernard Baruch, o close friend of President Wilson. Chamberlain is charged with scandalous conduct tending to the destruction of good morals,” in that ho fabricated certain reports of his aerial exploits whilst on an unofficial visit to a Brtish R.A.F. Squadron Headquarters in France last July. It is stated by the prosecution that on the strength of the reports the commander of tho U.S. Naval Forces, Foreign Service, forwarded to his superiors a recommendation that Captain Chamberlain “be recommended, for distinguished service and extraordinary heroism for the combats and exploits described in the said'papers and reports.” Among the reports with which Chamberlain supported the tale of his exploits were two alleged to bo signed by British officers. Unfortunately for Chamberlain one of those officers swears that he never signed the report attributed to him, and the other happens to have died in Italy a fortnight prior to the date of the report he is supposed to have signed. Also several British 'aviators from different squadrons operating in the locality Chamberlain claims as the scene of his exploits at the time the story fixes .for them have been called, and not one of them was able to identify the accused as haring been with his unit at tho time indicated. We have, of course, still to hear Chamberlain’s defence, but so far as the case has gone—the rest of it yill, it is understood, be heard in France for the sake of the convenience of essential service witnesses—-it looks as though the gallant captain’s story will require considerable amendment before it can be used in ally serious work dealing with the war in the air.