Flying for France: With the American Escadrille at Verdun

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have made holes through the roofs with pickaxes. All the cross-roads are blown up at the junctions, and when the trees bordering the roads haven't been cut down, barricading the roads, they have been cut half way through so that when the wind blows they keep falling o

country. The boches are retreating to very strongly fortified posi

d Genet in a bad position, so he (Genet) piqued down about a thousand meters and got away from the boche. He looked around for Mac but couldn't find him, so he came home. Mac hasn't yet shown up and we are frightfully worried. Genet has a dim recollection that when he attacked the boche, the other boche piqued down in Mac's direction, and it looks as if the boche got Mac unawares. Late this afternoon we got a report that this morning a Nieuport was seen to land near Tergnier, which is unfortunately still in German hands. This must have been Mac's, in which case he is only wounded, or

cer

gned Walte

nectedness of this letter, but I wrote it in frig

20,

AR RO

out the disappearance of Jim, so perhaps you might k

yet. He and Genet were attacked by two Germans, the latter, who received a slight wound o

t took place. The worst I hope has happened to our friend is that perhaps he was wounded and was forced to land

ould be a severe blow. I can't and will not

wis

cer

MARS

. 124, Secte

21,

EAR

o tell you how I felt when he wrote on Monday and that I would try and write in a day or so. I am not feeling much better mentally but I'll

ch opposition, of the territory now in the hands of the French and English. The advance began last Thurs

gion of Ham. Mac was leader. I came second and Parsons followed me. Before we had gone very far Parsons was forced to go back on account of motor trouble, which handicapped us greatly on

By this time I had gotten to 2,200, the boche was almost up to me and taking a diagonal course right in front. He started to circle and his gunner--it was a biplane, probably an Albatross, although the mist was too thick and dark for me to see much but the bare outline of his dirty, dark green body, with white and black crosses--opened fire before I did and his first volley did some damage. One bullet cut the left central support of my upper wing in half, an explosive bullet cut in half the left guiding rod of the left aileron, and I was momentarily stunned by part of it which dug a nasty gouge into my left cheek. I had already opened fire and was driving straight for the boche with teeth set and my hand gripping the triggers making a veritable stream of fire spitting out of my gun at him, as I had incendiary bullets, it being my job lately to chase after observation balloons, and on Saturday morning I had also been up after the reported Zeppelins. I had to keep turning toward the boche every second, as he was circling around towards me and I was on the inside of the circle, so his gunner had all the advantage over me. I thought I had h

ilians in the villages around there are being left by the Germans as they retire. We can likewise hope that Mac was merely forced to land inside the enemy lines on account of a badly damaged machine, or a bad wound, and is well but a prisoner. I wish to God, Paul, that I had been able to see Mac during his combat, or had been able to get down to him sooner and help him. The mists were thick, and

undoubtedly a prisoner. I know how badly the news has affected you. We're all feeling mighty blue over it and as for myself--I'm feeling utterly miserable over the whole affair. Just as soon as any definite news comes in I'll surely let you know at once. Meanw

showed me the postal you wrote him, which he received yesterday. Pleas

ithfull

C. C.

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ve our troops advancing in the direction of Saint Quentin report immediately any particulars about a

ions in the States on my behalf. I am placed in a peculiar position in the

wis

cer

MARS

. 124, Secte

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ing and that they saw Mac brought down inside the German lines towards Saint Quentin after being attacked by two boche machines and at the same time they saw me fighting a third one higher than

ormally or fell. Possibly he was too far off really to tell definitely about that. Certainly he had been already brought down before I could get down to help him

rite and tell her about Mac? She'll be mighty well grieved to he

. Best regards t

GEN

24th

que, Noyon

AR RO

s, in the opinion of the doctor. His pockets appear to have been searched, for no papers were found on him. The Bois l'Abbe is two kilometers south of Jussy. T

y, E. A.

. 124, Secte

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days and had been stripped of all identification papers, flying clothes and even the boots. They got the number of the machine, which proved without further question that it was poor Mac. They gave t

arcely distinguishable so badly had it smashed into the ground, and there is scarcely any doubt, Paul, that Mac was killed while having his fight in the air, as no pilot would have attempted to land a machine in the tiny rotten field--no more than a little orchard beside the roa

e had struck the ground so hard that it was half buried, the motor being totally in the earth and the rest, including even the machine gun, completely smashe

nd we are going to get a good picture we have of Mac enlarged and placed on this with a frame. I suppose that Thaw or Johnson will attend to the belongings of Mac which he had written are to be se

whom he died so gloriously, just as it is looking up to your fine brother and t

regard

thf

C. C.

al for a citation for Mac, and also one for m

e N. 124,

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ritten you sooner about poor Jim but haven'

l and college together, and for the last four or five years h

but I think we have given them more than we have received. The boys who have gone made the name for the escadrill

later we took the territory Mac fell in and they were unable to distinguish who he was. The swine Huns had taken every paper or piece of identification from him and also robbed him--even took his shoes. The captain went over and was able to identify him by the number of his machine and uniform. He had lain out there three days and was smashed

which I am copying

Paul A. Rockwell, 80 rue, etc. Shoes, tools, wearing apparel, etc., you can give away. The rest of my things, such as diary, photos, souvenirs, croix de guerre, best uniform [

e Place, Chicago. It would be kind to follow same by

knows about it and can attend to the shipping. I would appreciate it if the committee

ion and do not care for any service. If the omission would embarrass you I presume I co

of you. God damn Germ

ig

McCON

oposed for the Croix de Guerre with pal

can think of, but if there are any omis

ion, destruction and misery the Huns have left is a disgraceful crime to c

nd luck. All join in the above.

alw

les Choutea

o your place in Paris to-morrow, so yo

C