ITALY'S WAR HERO.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11755, 20 July 1916, Page 1

ITALY'S WAR HERO.

REMARKAPLE EXPLOIT AGAINST HEAVY ODDS. "With & multitude of efficient airmen iu her service, Italy has one air hero. Captain Oreste Salomone, a Jew, had bo oftcu confronted death in the performance of notable 'military- undertakings that his name* was becoming a household word throughout. the- peninsula when suddenly the Italian public was electrified by the announcement of a new and astounding exploit which put Captain Salomone in the very first rank among the aviation leaders of tho world. THROUGH HAIL OF DEATH.

The piloting of the great three-motor aeroplane far into the enemy' country, with three passengers and half a ton of explosives; the carrying out of his mission to drop the explosives on the supply sheds ,at the headquarters of the Austrians in Laibach, through a hail of projectiles from the'two attacking air squadrons aloft and from aircraft guns below, and the return to his own base, wounded himself and with all his passengers dead: tho body of one lying over his shoulders and that; of another ever his arms as he steered the air machine, constituted a feat of coolness, courage and endurance such as rarely has been paralleled. Modest and simple in demeanour, Captain Salomone before the war Was quietly and obscurely working at his vocation and" preparing himselt for the performance of eminent service when the hour should arrive.. He is thin and seemingly frail, with an emaciated, pallid face and bony hands. It is not easy for tho superficial observer to" conceive him as a n>an of almost superhuman spirit and endurance and of nerves or steel, who refused to be turned, back by overwhelming edds from the path, cr duty which led through a thick iiail of death, and who miraculously returned to his own camp with a cargo or dead bodies-, his military task, however, accomplished. DEATH AVOIDS HIM.

It has indeed become , a saying that death avoids Captain Salomo'ne. At Centocello he gave an exhibition flight on a monoplane before.tho Queen Mother Margherita. h'rom a heights of about a hundred feet his machine sudi denly turned 'over hi the air and fell headlong the ground. "• The moment it turned.' 5 he • later narrated, " I said .to'myself, 4 This time I'm done for.' The monoplane was smashed and I had great trouble in pushing my way through . the debris. Arising slowly and gingerly, I felt my legs, ,my aims, my..breast, my. head, .believing, that I could not possibly have escaped injury. . " , - " Alany persons rushed up and .I was placed' in an automobile aud driven to tho Quecn'f;; presence. ; ' Where is . the pilot?' eho' asked with concern. . • " 1 Ho is isriey-I replied. '"'lmpossible!' sho e::okimed. M'lt is really the case, your Majesty, for I anivthc pilot.' ... -• " The Queen congratulated me earnestly on my escape from what she thought wag death. Death really does not stern to want me,' Captain Caioinono added with a .smile. "It has been almost to induce the aviator tc speak in'any detail on the exploit whicii has made him an international figure. An Italian writer, who has,been a, friend' of his for years, tiigrior Qttavio do Sica, has finally succeeded in drawing from him some interesting) facts regarding,the great raid, publishes tnem in the ltomo ' Tribunes.'• '* The first of my companions in the machine to die,'' said Captain Salomotic,_ was Colonel Barbieri. His body fell on the steering .wheel. He had'a wound hi th«. neck from which the blood-was spousing. The strong wind, blowing a gain si me, sprayed the warm blood all over mv face. Tho weight of his body interfered with my movements, and I had .to keep throwing him forward with my elbow. It was positive anguish for me to have to repel by force that body.' which I would .have liked to lift tenderly in my arms. WOULD NOT BE DISSUADED-. " And to think, 1 ' he added, pensively, •" that Colonel Barbieri should not have taken part in' that flight. On'the previous day he had asked me to take iiirn | with me on the trip which he knew was i intended, and I begged of him not to think of such a thing. "'.'■' You weigh 1801b,' I said. '' and I would-have to leave four large bombs behind.' " 'You would have four bombs less, but you would have two eyes more.' he answered, and as I persisted in requesting him to give up the idea he turned away rather aggrieved. He had big mind set- on the trip, so he address©"! himself to Captain ~Bailo,_ who was to take part in the raid, and the latter promised that arrangements would be made lor the colonel to accompany us. "We had to reduce the cargo of bombs and to'' take some of smaller.dimensions. t About five o'clock next morning, half an hour before we were to set out, the colonel came to me smiling'and rubbing his hands. " 'I am going to fly with you in spite of your opposition,' he said jokingly.