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CHAPTER 6: RESOURCE UTILIZATION
1. Resource-limited scheduling will not extend the project completion time if necessary in order to keep within
the resource limits.
a. True
b. False

ANSWER: False
FEEDBACK: Correct Resource-limited scheduling will extend the project completion time if necessary
in order to keep within the resource limits.
Incorrect Resource-limited scheduling will extend the project completion time if necessary
in order to keep within the resource limits.

2. The statement, "Network diagrams illustrate the technical constraints among activities," means the activities
are constrained because
a. each of the activities are independent from the other activities.
b. one activity cannot be started until the predecessors are finished.
c. the activities use different resources to be completed.
d. some activities use the same resources that may not be available.

ANSWER: b
FEEDBACK: a. Network diagrams illustrate the technical constraints among activities because one
activity cannot be started until the predecessors are finished.
b. Network diagrams illustrate the technical constraints among activities because one
activity cannot be started until the predecessors are finished.
c. Network diagrams illustrate the technical constraints among activities because one
activity cannot be started until the predecessors are finished.
d. Network diagrams illustrate the technical constraints among activities because one
activity cannot be started until the predecessors are finished.

3. Why are activities drawn in a serial relationship in a network diagram?

a. The activities use different resources.
b. The activities are independent of each other.
c. From a technical standpoint, the activities must be performed in that sequence.
d. The order of completion doesn't matter.

ANSWER: c
FEEDBACK: a. Activities are drawn in a serial relationship because, from a technical standpoint, they must
be performed in that sequence.
b. Activities are drawn in a serial relationship because, from a technical standpoint, they must
be performed in that sequence.
c. Activities are drawn in a serial relationship because, from a technical standpoint, they must
be performed in that sequence.
d. Activities are drawn in a serial relationship because, from a technical standpoint, they must
be performed in that sequence.

© 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Chapter 6: Resource Utilization

4. In addition to showing the technical constraints among activities, how does the network logic also take into
account resource constraints?
a. Activities that use the same resource may not be able to occur in parallel to each other.
b. Activities that use different resources may be shown in a serial relationship.
c. The activities could be shown in a loop relationship.
d. Resources that are unlimited are not shown in a resource assignment.

ANSWER: a
FEEDBACK: a. In addition to showing the technical constraints among activities, the network logic can also
take into account resource constraints. Activities that use the same resource may not be able
to occur in parallel to each other.
b. In addition to showing the technical constraints among activities, the network logic can also
take into account resource constraints. Activities that use the same resource may not be able
to occur in parallel to each other.
c. In addition to showing the technical constraints among activities, the network logic can also
take into account resource constraints. Activities that use the same resource may not be able
to occur in parallel to each other.
d. In addition to showing the technical constraints among activities, the network logic can also
take into account resource constraints. Activities that use the same resource may not be able
to occur in parallel to each other.

5. Select which of the following does not describe how the sequence of activities can be drawn to reflect
the availability of a limited quantity of resources.
a. The activities using the limited resources are shown in a ladder relationship as they are available.
b. The activities using the limited resources are shown in a loop relationship as they are available.
c. The activities requiring the limited resource are assigned at different times.
d. If there is no technical constraint for the activities, the activities could be arranged serially by the availability
of the resources.

ANSWER: b
FEEDBACK: a. The sequence of activities can be drawn to reflect the availability of a limited quantity
of resources.
b. The sequence of activities can be drawn to reflect the availability of a limited quantity
of resources.
c. The sequence of activities can be drawn to reflect the availability of a limited quantity
of resources.
d. The sequence of activities can be drawn to reflect the availability of a limited quantity
of resources.

© 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Chapter 6: Resource Utilization

6. A resource requirements plan illustrates

a. who is responsible for which activities.
b. the amount of labor expenses for the project.
c. the expected utilization of resources by time period during the time span of the project.
d. the budget for material and cost resources.

ANSWER: c
FEEDBACK: a. If resources are to be considered in planning, it’s necessary to indicate the amounts and types
of resources needed to perform each activity.
b. If resources are to be considered in planning, it’s necessary to indicate the amounts and types
of resources needed to perform each activity.
c. If resources are to be considered in planning, it’s necessary to indicate the amounts and types
of resources needed to perform each activity.
d. If resources are to be considered in planning, it’s necessary to indicate the amounts and types
of resources needed to perform each activity.

7. If resources are to be considered in planning, it is necessary to

a. when each is taking vacation time or time off.
b. know the name of each resource on the project.
c. list all the projects to which the resources have been assigned.
d. indicate the amounts and types of resources needed to perform each activity.

ANSWER: d
FEEDBACK: a. If resources are to be considered in planning, it’s necessary to indicate the amounts and types
of resources needed to perform each activity.
b. If resources are to be considered in planning, it’s necessary to indicate the amounts and types
of resources needed to perform each activity.
c. If resources are to be considered in planning, it’s necessary to indicate the amounts and types
of resources needed to perform each activity.
d. If resources are to be considered in planning, it’s necessary to indicate the amounts and types
of resources needed to perform each activity.

© 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Chapter 6: Resource Utilization

8. Resource utilization charts based on each activity’s earliest start time are said to be based
a. on availability times.
b. an as-late-as-possible (ALAP) schedule.
c. on an as-soon-as-possible (ASAP) schedule.
d. on a limited schedule plan.

ANSWER: c
FEEDBACK: a. Resource utilization charts based on each activity’s earliest start time are said to be based on
an as-soon-as-possible (ASAP) schedule.
b. Resource utilization charts based on each activity’s earliest start time are said to be based on
an as-soon-as-possible (ASAP) schedule.
c. Resource utilization charts based on each activity’s earliest start time are said to be based on
an as-soon-as-possible (ASAP) schedule.
d. Resource utilization charts based on each activity’s earliest start time are said to be based on
an as-soon-as-possible (ASAP) schedule.

9. Resource utilization charts based on each activity’s latest start time are said to be based
a. on availability times.
b. an as-late-as-possible (ALAP) schedule.
c. on an as-soon-as-possible (ASAP) schedule.
d. on a limited schedule plan.

ANSWER: b
FEEDBACK: a. Resource utilization charts based on each activity’s latest start time are said to be based on an
as-late-as-possible (ALAP) schedule.
b. Resource utilization charts based on each activity’s latest start time are said to be based on an
as-late-as-possible (ALAP) schedule.
c. Resource utilization charts based on each activity’s latest start time are said to be based on an
as-late-as-possible (ALAP) schedule.
d. Resource utilization charts based on each activity’s latest start time are said to be based on an
as-late-as-possible (ALAP) schedule.

© 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Chapter 6: Resource Utilization

10. Given this project and the requirement that the number of resources working on a task cannot be less than the
number assigned to the task, answer the following question. What is the least number of resources that can be
assigned to the project if all five tasks occur in parallel?
a. 24 workers
b. 1.5 workers per day
c. 7 workers
d. 2 workers

ANSWER: c
FEEDBACK: a. Parallel tasks means that all the tasks are assigned at the same time. The total resources
would be the total of all those assigned to the tasks. 2+2+1+1+1=7 workers.
b. Parallel tasks means that all the tasks are assigned at the same time. The total resources
would be the total of all those assigned to the tasks. 2+2+1+1+1=7 workers.
c. Parallel tasks means that all the tasks are assigned at the same time. The total resources
would be the total of all those assigned to the tasks. 2+2+1+1+1=7 workers.
d. Parallel tasks means that all the tasks are assigned at the same time. The total resources
would be the total of all those assigned to the tasks. 2+2+1+1+1=7 workers.

© 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Chapter 6: Resource Utilization

11. Given this project and the requirement that the number of resources working on a task cannot be less than the
number assigned to the task, answer the following question.
If the tasks were placed in a serial relationship with Task 1 first and the others in numerical order, on what
day would Task 3 be done?
a. day 18
b. day 3
c. day 10
d. day 9

ANSWER: c
FEEDBACK: a. Tasks assigned in serial order are in a list with Task 1 taking days 1 to 5, Task 2 taking days 6 to
8, Task 3 taking days 9 and 10, Task 4 taking days 11 to 14, and Task 5 taking days 15 and 16.
b. Tasks assigned in serial order are in a list with Task 1 taking days 1 to 5, Task 2 taking days 6 to
8, Task 3 taking days 9 and 10, Task 4 taking days 11 to 14, and Task 5 taking days 15 and 16.
c. Tasks assigned in serial order are in a list with Task 1 taking days 1 to 5, Task 2 taking days 6 to
8, Task 3 taking days 9 and 10, Task 4 taking days 11 to 14, and Task 5 taking days 15 and 16.
d. Tasks assigned in serial order are in a list with Task 1 taking days 1 to 5, Task 2 taking days 6 to
8, Task 3 taking days 9 and 10, Task 4 taking days 11 to 14, and Task 5 taking days 15 and 16.

© 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Chapter 6: Resource Utilization

12. Resource leveling, or smoothing, is a method for

a. developing a schedule that attempts to minimize the fluctuations in requirements for resources.
b. making sure all the resources do the same amount of work.
c. making sure every task has the same number of resources.
d. extending the project to have the least number of resources used per day.

ANSWER: a
FEEDBACK: a. Resource leveling, or smoothing, is a method for developing a schedule that attempts to
minimize the fluctuations in requirements for resources.
b. Resource leveling, or smoothing, is a method for developing a schedule that attempts to
minimize the fluctuations in requirements for resources.
c. Resource leveling, or smoothing, is a method for developing a schedule that attempts to
minimize the fluctuations in requirements for resources.
d. Resource leveling, or smoothing, is a method for developing a schedule that attempts to
minimize the fluctuations in requirements for resources.

13. Resource leveling, or smoothing, levels the resources so that

a. equal number of resources is assigned to each task.
b. an equal number of tasks are completed each day by the resources on the project.
c. they are applied as uniformly as possible without extending the project schedule beyond the required
completion time.
d. the costs for the resources are even as possible across the project.

ANSWER: c
FEEDBACK: a. Resource leveling, or smoothing, levels the resources so that they are applied as uniformly as
possible without extending the project schedule beyond the required completion time.
b. Resource leveling, or smoothing, levels the resources so that they are applied as uniformly as
possible without extending the project schedule beyond the required completion time.
c. Resource leveling, or smoothing, levels the resources so that they are applied as uniformly as
possible without extending the project schedule beyond the required completion time.
d. Resource leveling, or smoothing, levels the resources so that they are applied as uniformly as
possible without extending the project schedule beyond the required completion time.

© 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Chapter 6: Resource Utilization

14. The start of noncritical activities are delayed beyond their earliest start times (but not beyond their latest start times)
in order to
a. schedule with a technical constraint.
b. schedule with a resource constraint.
c. level the costs of the project.
d. maintain a uniform level of required resources.

ANSWER: d
FEEDBACK: a. The start of noncritical activities are delayed beyond their earliest start times (but not beyond
their latest start times) in order to maintain a uniform level of required resources.
b. The start of noncritical activities are delayed beyond their earliest start times (but not beyond
their latest start times) in order to maintain a uniform level of required resources.
c. The start of noncritical activities are delayed beyond their earliest start times (but not beyond
their latest start times) in order to maintain a uniform level of required resources.
d. The start of noncritical activities are delayed beyond their earliest start times (but not beyond
their latest start times) in order to maintain a uniform level of required resources.

15. Activities can be delayed only to the point where all their positive slack is used up, as any further delays would cause
the project to
a. increase costs of all the activities in the project.
b. extend beyond the project completion time.
c. be completed ahead of schedule.
d. increase its requirements for additional resources for all activities.

ANSWER: b
FEEDBACK: a. Activities can be delayed only to the point where all their positive slack is used up, as any
further delays would cause the project to extend beyond the project completion time.
b. Activities can be delayed only to the point where all their positive slack is used up, as any
further delays would cause the project to extend beyond the project completion time.
c. Activities can be delayed only to the point where all their positive slack is used up, as any
further delays would cause the project to extend beyond the project completion time.
d. Activities can be delayed only to the point where all their positive slack is used up, as any
further delays would cause the project to extend beyond the project completion time.

© 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Chapter 6: Resource Utilization

16. assist with the complexity of generating a resource-leveled schedule and resource requirements graphs and
tables.
a. Project management information systems
b. Formulas and techniques
c. Trial and error techniques
d. Calendaring systems

ANSWER: a
FEEDBACK: a. Project management information systems assist with the complexity of generating a resource-
leveled schedule and resource requirements graphs and tables.
b. Project management information systems assist with the complexity of generating a resource-
leveled schedule and resource requirements graphs and tables.
c. Project management information systems assist with the complexity of generating a resource-
leveled schedule and resource requirements graphs and tables.
d. Project management information systems assist with the complexity of generating a resource-
leveled schedule and resource requirements graphs and tables.

© 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Chapter 6: Resource Utilization

17. Given this project and the requirement that the number of resources working on a task cannot be less than the number
assigned to the task, answer the following question.
What is the least amount of time that the project can be completed and how many resources are required to
complete the work?
a. 16 days, 7 workers
b. 7 days, 5 workers
c. 5 days, 7 workers
d. 8 days, 3 workers

ANSWER: c
FEEDBACK: a. The least amount of time is if all the tasks start on the same day. The longest duration task would
be shortest time the project could be finished. The sum of the number of workers necessary for all
the tasks to be completed in parallel is the least number of workers required.
b. The least amount of time is if all the tasks start on the same day. The longest duration task would
be shortest time the project could be finished. The sum of the number of workers necessary for all
the tasks to be completed in parallel is the least number of workers required.
c. The least amount of time is if all the tasks start on the same day. The longest duration task would
be shortest time the project could be finished. The sum of the number of workers necessary for all
the tasks to be completed in parallel is the least number of workers required.
d. The least amount of time is if all the tasks start on the same day. The longest duration task would
be shortest time the project could be finished. The sum of the number of workers necessary for all
the tasks to be completed in parallel is the least number of workers required.

© 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
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Chapter 6: Resource Utilization

18. Which of following would allow for level resources on the project?

a.

b.

c.

d.

ANSWER: c
FEEDBACK: a. The project requires 24 worker-days to complete the project. Three workers working for eight days
totals 24 worker days. This makes the number of resources level. There are no combinations to
have four resources for six says nor for six resources for four days.
b. The project requires 24 worker-days to complete the project. Three workers working for eight
days totals 24 worker days. This makes the number of resources level. There are no combinations
to have four resources for six says nor for six resources for four days.
c. The project requires 24 worker-days to complete the project. Three workers working for eight
days totals 24 worker days. This makes the number of resources level. There are no combinations
to have four resources for six says nor for six resources for four days.
d. The project requires 24 worker-days to complete the project. Three workers working for eight
days totals 24 worker days. This makes the number of resources level. There are no combinations
to have four resources for six says nor for six resources for four days.

© 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Chapter 6: Resource Utilization

19. Resource-limited scheduling is a method for

a. developing a schedule that attempts to minimize the fluctuations in requirements for resources.
b. making sure all the resources do the same amount of work.
c. making sure every task has the same number of resources.
d. developing the shortest schedule when the number or amount of available resources is fixed and cannot be
exceeded.

ANSWER: d
FEEDBACK: a. Resource-limited scheduling is a method for developing the shortest schedule when the number or
amount of available resources is fixed and cannot be exceeded.
b. Resource-limited scheduling is a method for developing the shortest schedule when the number or
amount of available resources is fixed and cannot be exceeded.
c. Resource-limited scheduling is a method for developing the shortest schedule when the number or
amount of available resources is fixed and cannot be exceeded.
d. Resource-limited scheduling is a method for developing the shortest schedule when the number or
amount of available resources is fixed and cannot be exceeded.

20. When several activities need the same limited resource at the same time, the activities with
a. the least slack have first priority.
b. the longest duration have first priority.
c. the near term have first priority.
d. use the most resources have first priority.

ANSWER: a
FEEDBACK: a. When several activities need the same limited resource at the same time, the activities with the
least slack have first priority.
b. When several activities need the same limited resource at the same time, the activities with the
least slack have first priority.
c. When several activities need the same limited resource at the same time, the activities with the
least slack have first priority.
d. When several activities need the same limited resource at the same time, the activities with the
least slack have first priority.

© 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Chapter 6: Resource Utilization

21. In resource-limited scheduling, the lower priority activities get delayed. How does the delaying of activities affect the
project?
a. The delaying of activities increases the costs of the project.
b. The delaying of activities decreases the acceptance of the project deliverable.
c. The delaying of activities may delay the project.
d. The delaying of activities helps give others more time on their tasks because they won't affect the project
schedule.

ANSWER: c
FEEDBACK: a. In resource-limited scheduling, the lower priority activities get delayed. The delaying of
activities may delay the project.
b. In resource-limited scheduling, the lower priority activities get delayed. The delaying of
activities may delay the project.
c. In resource-limited scheduling, the lower priority activities get delayed. The delaying of
activities may delay the project.
d. In resource-limited scheduling, the lower priority activities get delayed. The delaying of
activities may delay the project.

22. This example has level resources of three resources for eight days. If the project is limited to two resources, how
should the project be organized to meet the resource constraint and finish the project as early as possible? The tasks
with the least slack have the lower number.

a. Paths would be 1,2,3,5 and 1,2,4

b. Paths would be 1,2,3,4 and 1,2,5
c. Paths would be 1,2 and 3,4,5
d. Path would be 1,2,3,4,5

ANSWER: a
FEEDBACK: a. The total number of worker-days for the project is 24. If the project is limited to 2 workers per
day, then the project must take at least 12 days. There is one combination that gives 12 work
days and 2 workers per day and holds true the constraint of priorities for the project.
b. The total number of worker-days for the project is 24. If the project is limited to 2 workers per
day, then the project must take at least 12 days. There is one combination that gives 12 work
days and 2 workers per day and holds true the constraint of priorities for the project.
c. The total number of worker-days for the project is 24. If the project is limited to 2 workers per
day, then the project must take at least 12 days. There is one combination that gives 12 work
days and 2 workers per day and holds true the constraint of priorities for the project.
d. The total number of worker-days for the project is 24. If the project is limited to 2 workers per
day, then the project must take at least 12 days. There is one combination that gives 12 work
days and 2 workers per day and holds true the constraint of priorities for the project.

© 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
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 VIII
DOWN AND OUT AND IN

E ddie Rickenbacker told me a story while we were a part of the

Army of Occupation which about expresses my idea of this
narrative, the fact that I lived through it being what I consider my
greatest accomplishment.
“Rick” had in his famous 94th Pursuit Squadron, a hair-lipped
pilot with whom I was earlier associated in the equally prominent
12th Observation Squadron. This lad was one of the few of our many
airmen who realized that the flyer at the front plays ninety per cent
in luck and not on good judgment. His flying was daredevilish and
reckless, which, while it might be considered good form in pursuit
work, was such that it involved entirely too great a risk for the two-
place, or observation plane. So, the kid was transferred to Pursuit
where he made good right off.
It was the day of the Armistice. The boys were talking it all over,
reminiscing and the like. Several of the famous pilots of the 94th had
given accounts of some particular thrilling fight in which they had
finally won, naming it—their greatest accomplishment of the war. So,
as that was the topic of conversation, Eddie asked our friend what,
after all, he considered his greatest accomplishment. The boys all
listened attentively for the kid usually sprang something. The hair-
lipped lad puzzled for a moment, then answered with his inimitable
impediment, “Well, Captain Rickenbacker, the war is now over, isn’t
it?”
“Yes,” replied Eddie, hopeful that this was the correct reply.
“——which means no one else will get killed, doesn’t it?” he added
solemnly, and Rick solemnly attested to this fact. “Well,” the lad
went on, “you see me; I’m still here.”
 “That’s right!” said the great Ace of Aces. “What about it?”
“Well, Captain Rickenbacker,” replied the boy with evident
surprise at Eddie’s apparent density. “Look me over, Captain, I’m
still alive. That is my greatest accomplishment.”
And after all, I am sure that all of our fighting men who have done
actual service at the front—going through its hazards and dangers for
any length of time, will agree that their greatest accomplishment is
the fact that they came out of the thing alive; for while the code of
military ethics at the front taught that one’s own life should be
secondary to the accomplishment of one’s mission, yet there could
not help but be a justifiably selfish pride after the mission was
accomplished, that the participant was also alive to tell the tale.
The 30th of September was a terrible day—there was very little
flying, it was foggy and the clouds were low, irregular and uncertain,
while the wind was almost a gale. We had no business going out—our
over-anxiety, which the French say is the greatest fault of the
American soldier, to get our work accomplished was the only
justifiable reason for the trip.
But even at that on the morning of September 30th the Flying
Corps had no reason for being in the air unless the mission was of
grave urgency, and fortunately ours was urgent for I was still
adjusting our artillery on important enemy moving targets. Here is
how my greatest accomplishment happened:
I arrived at the hangars shortly after daybreak and found Davis,
who was assigned to fly with me, ready and waiting. I had never
flown with him before, but I had heard of him and his reputation,
and it was a relief to know I was to get a genuine pilot, such as
Lieutenant Raymond Davis, whom we called “Uncle Joe Davis, of
Danville,” since he hailed from the same well-known town as Uncle
Joe Cannon.
At first, the weather was impossible, so, we had to wait for the
atmosphere to clear a trifle and for the clouds to lift some, as a high
ceiling in heavy artillery adjustments is not only advantageous but
necessary. So, we hung around and hobnobbed and got acquainted.
At about eight o’clock we decided we would try it—for the importance
of impeding the retreat of the enemy as much as possible was
imperative. The advance through the Argonne was proving itself to
be a hard enough tussle for the doughboys, and we all felt that they
certainly merited all the assistance it was possible for aviation to give
them.
Luck was not our way, for it was not until after trying four different
planes, all of which failed for one reason or another, that we found a
bus that would buzz. It looked like an off-day, for the gale was so
sweeping that we almost had a serious accident even in taking off.
There is safety in height, so, when we got up three or four hundred
feet our morale also went up a trifle. The ground station signaled that
my radio wireless was O.K., so I jokingly called to Davis, “All aboard
for Hunland.” He answered “Check,” and we headed toward the line
for our last mission of the great war.
I knew the wind was high, but I did not actually realize its true
velocity until I happened to look toward the earth and to my surprise
saw to our right the familiar ruins of the village of Montfaucon sitting
high and distinct amid the surrounding ruins and desolations. I had
never flown so fast, for a strong wind behind the airplane adds
marvelous rapidity to its speed. We were swept along like a feather in
a gale. In front, on the Bois de Beuges, there was raining a
tremendous artillery barrage, which we knew extended all across the
Argonne front. Almost instantly, it seemed, we were over Romange,
which was Boche territory, and hastily I picked my target. We would
again pile up the German traffic by adjusting our heavy artillery on
their cross roads in front of our own 91st Division, whose batteries
were around Epionville. We would repeat our previous successful
adjustment and when the traffic was heaviest, would call for fire.
Imparting this information to Davis, he turned the machine and we
started back toward the line to call our batteries and start the fatal
ball rolling.
A favorite trick of the Hun’s anti-aircraft artillery, and our own, as
far as that is concerned, is to allow the entrance of observation
planes to a considerable depth within the lines without molesting
them, closely following it all the time with finely adjusted sights, and
just as the plane turns to go back toward the lines the artillery opens
up with everything available.
I knew it was going to happen as soon as we turned into the wind
and that in bucking the wind we would practically stand still in the
air, making us an easy target, especially since we were skimming
along low, heavy clouds upon which the artillery could easily get
accurate data as to range and direction. It happened. The Archies
opened up. As luck would have it they realized our position and had
us in their deadly bracket. One high-explosive shell burst directly
under our tail, whereupon the plane reflexed like a bucking broncho.
The airman is bracketed when the archies have bursts on all sides
of him, for in such a case he knows not what direction to go for one is
about as bad as the other. One thing was certain, we did not dare to
stand still in the air hanging on the propeller, as we were doing in
fighting the wind. We must slip the deadly noose of the bracket and
do it before it was too late.
Realizing the necessity for quick action, Davis sharply slipped the
plane into the wind, and amid a deafening applause of exploding
shells, we plunged to momentary safety behind the curtain of the
low, dark clouds with which the sky was filled. We were in the cloud,
perhaps, for five minutes and the wind was with us. I knew we were
covering a great deal of territory and in the wrong direction. So,
when we emerged I quite well knew we were completely off our
course. I asked Davis if he knew his location. He answered frankly
that he did not—that it was away off his map. I was in the same
predicament exactly as to the location, it being off my map as well,
but fortunately I recognized the bomb-shattered town nearby as
Dun-sur-Meuse, as I had many times studied it as a very prominent
bombing objective.
“Head due south along the river,” I cried through the
communicating tube, “We’ve got to hit the lines sometime.”
Dun-sur-Meuse had been bombed very heavily in the drive and I
am sure the remaining inhabitants thought we too had that
intention, for in heading south they certainly let us know we were not
welcome. This time it was not only artillery, but machine guns in
such a hail of fire that we would have been brought down with little
effort had we attempted to fly a straight course. We didn’t attempt it.
We answered by sharp zig-zags, and it was the master job of my life
to keep up with the snaps, jerks, slips and dives of Davis’, in dodging
the archies; and to still keep our direction in mind. We attempted
this for fully ten minutes, but we were making no appreciable
headway. The firing was too heavy—we must get higher as we could
not expect to live at nine hundred feet at a very long period. We had
been lucky to survive this long.
Davis headed due south by his compass which was east by mine. It
looked all wrong to me.
“Is your compass pointing south?” I asked feverishly, for it was a
question of life and death.
“Yes, due south,” he replied.
I knew one of the two was considerably off, but it might be mine as
well as his, so I decided to try his. A constant mist of rifle fire and
archies followed us in our ascent into the clouds, which fortunately
was not long—thanks to the climbing power of the Salmson airplane.
We were in and above the clouds for fully twenty-five minutes, and
believe me, those twenty-five minutes were prayers that Davis’s
compass was unerring.
Finally, considering the wind velocity, our probable distance from
the lines, and the speed of the motor, I was convinced that if the
compass were true we should be well over the French lines, so,
hoping to encourage Davis, I called, “Well, Davis, if that old pointer
of yours is right we are in La Belle France again. Let’s go down and
see.”
He put the boat into a dive and we came out of the clouds in a long,
straight glide. In a jiffy I quite well knew we were not in France. A
German balloon with the Iron Cross was directly beneath us firmly
moored to its bed on the ground. Here we were at less than a
thousand feet. The excitement around that balloon bed could easily
be imagined when out of a cloud, in such terrible weather, a huge
and awkward two-place enemy plane unexpectedly dropped. I have
been on the ground at our balloon beds when they were attacked and
know something of the awful fire the attacking plane goes through in
attempting to burn the balloon even at the ordinary height, but it is
many times worse when it is moored to its bed, for the lower the
plane must come the greater the hazard. It is for this reason that
most armies consider it a greater feat for an aviator to destroy a
balloon than an airplane. There we were like a great ghost suddenly
manifesting itself, and take it from me, if the machine gunners were
asleep on their work at our unannounced arrival, they mighty
suddenly showed signs of speed for almost instantly, from every
angle came the put-put-put, while we helplessly tried every
conceivable maneuver to dodge the many guns which were firing
upon us at full force. It is not strange that the airman does not worry
much over the regular steel ammunition of the machine gun, for like
other similar dangers, while they are the most fatal, they cannot be
seen, so, he is oblivious to their presence; but when the guns are
using tracer and incendiary bullets, the stream of fire is not unlike a
miniature fire rocket and behind each of the pretty fire rockets comes
two silent, fatal ball cartridges, for, indeed, the very object of “tracer”
ammunition is to show the path the bullets are taking. If there is
anything that gets a flyer’s wind up, it is tracer bullets from the
ground. Our wind was up and had been up for some time. But, Davis
did the right thing and again headed with the wind, while “tracers”
saw us, met us and almost conquered us. It certainly is terrifying to
watch them come up at you for the helpless part of it is that they
come so fast you cannot even try to dodge them. They were all
around us; our right wing was perfectly perforated with several
accurate bursts and in the diving and slipping I had been thrown
around in the cockpit like the dice in a dicebox. My seat had slipped
from beneath me about three times, but the condition of my mind
was such that I was positive that it had been shot from beneath me.
The sharp turning with the wind left a wake of disheartening tracers
in our trail. It resembled a billion small rockets for the flaming
trajectories were easily followed. The Fourth of July was not in it. I
thought at the time that it was a sight well worth seeing, but
dangerously unhealthful. Soon though as we shot along we were
again greeted by the high explosive bursts of the artillery which was
some relief for they were considerably behind us and we were at least
away from the machine guns at the balloon bed.
The painful fact was that while we were going through the air at a
terrific speed, that speed was carrying us farther and farther into
Germany. The situation was becoming more and more serious. What
could we now do? We could not possibly fight the wind below the
clouds and make the long distance home, so I told Davis to go into
the clouds again; at least, we would not be such an easy target. This
time we would try my compass, for while it might be slightly untrue,
if we went long enough we surely could not fail reaching France at
some point. He started to climb and, well—those were long
moments. The climbing greatly decreased our speed, while the
machine guns again played upon us most cruelly. But that climbing
was a most wonderful piece of work; poor Davis twisted that boat in
every conceivable manner, but the best part of it all was that he
continued the climb at all costs. There was nothing so dear to me as
those clouds—so near and yet so far. Anything to again get out of that
constant and swarming bee-hive of fire bullets. Then we penetrated
the ceiling. My heart was again almost normal for a few seconds.
Here was the supreme moment it seemed—truly to err was to die, or
worse, to finally land from shortage of gasoline and be made
prisoner. Hugging close to the compass, oblivious to all else, lest we
deviate a jot from its true south reading, I slowly and distinctly called
the directions. For fully a half an hour we followed this procedure—
sometimes above the clouds and most of the time in them, but never
below them. At last I was absolutely certain that we were well over
dear old France again; at least, somewhere between Paris and Nancy,
so, after another three minutes to be sure, I called to Davis again.
“This time we have sure foxed the Hun,” I said; “let’s go down and
look over the scenery.”
We had climbed quite a lot farther in the clouds than we thought,
and it took longer to come to light, so, in our anxiety to see France
again he put it into a steeper dip and soon we emerged in almost a
straight dive. Below us to the right was another balloon at its bed. It
was our own balloon line, of course. It could be no other for my
compass had been undoubtedly true and somehow the ground
looked like France. Furthermore, we had not been fired upon.
“Davis,” I said, “look out for a place to land and we’ll find where we
are, then after dinner we’ll fly on home.”
I had no more than gotten the words out of my mouth when a
machine gun started to fire at us, again using tracer ammunition. I
was convinced that it was all a mistake and that when they saw who
we really were they would quit, so, I told Davis to tilt the plane and
show the colors of our cocarde as the weather was not clear and any
one might make a similar mistake.
Our own aviation never, under any circumstances, approached our
balloons suddenly, for the reason that the Germans one time used
some allied captured planes in the Château-Thierry offensive, and
with the French colors on their cocarde, approached one of our
balloons and, unmolested, burned it. Since then all balloons had
adopted the policy of firing on any machine which came suddenly out
of the clouds toward them. I was positive that this was the case here.
Suddenly other guns vigorously began to take up the firing and by
the time I saw the foreboding black, German Cross painted on the
side of the sausage, the whole balloon machine gun crews had us well
in hand. When we went down on the first balloon I was pretty well
convinced that it was all up with us, but this time there was no doubt
about it, for we had lost far too many of our best pursuit pilots in
attacking balloons at low altitudes for me to even hope otherwise,
and our pursuit planes were smaller targets, were faster and more
maneuverable. What chance in the world, I thought, has a lubberly,
two-place observation plane in a hole like this when few of the
pursuit planes even ever emerge with their lives?
Here I again hand it all to Davis, for with a bravery and grit that I
have seldom seen equaled, and a skill that was uncanny, he did
everything imaginable with that plane, but wisest of all he again
headed with the wind, our only chance to get out of the mess. That
second in banking into the wind was actually the longest of my life—
the ground had surely anticipated it for we were truly the apex of the
cone of lead and fire from the circular base of guns surrounding the
balloon bed. The plane was almost a screen where so many bullets
had perforated it. I heard a snap with a dismal twanging sound. One
flying wire had been already cut by the barrage, but Davis kept right
on twisting the boat as if nothing had happened.
We still had life—something for which I had almost ceased to
hope. Like persecuted souls weak from exhaustion, but strong in
determination, we went on, still with the wind unrelentlessly driving
us farther into Germany. Already we had been up about two hours
and the thought occurred to me that we would soon be out of
gasoline. We could not take another chance. My calculation, which
later turned out to be accurate, was that we were then about fifteen
kilometers from the line.
The known splendid liaison of the Boche was already in action;
this we well knew and undoubtedly several German planes were
already up after us. The solution was simple. There were only two
things we could possibly do. We knew the wind direction when we
left France, so, we could pick up our direction from the smoke from
locomotives, chimneys and the like and fly below the clouds toward
the line. At best the condition of our plane would but permit
elementary maneuvering and at that we stood but little chance of
getting through the continual machine gun fire at such constant low
altitude. Then, too, it was certain that if we kept below the clouds on
such a course we would soon have enemy planes hot on our trail,
although, personally, I thought we would never get through two
more minutes of the gun firing even with our plane in the best
condition. The alternative was to land, destroy the plane and try to
escape. It all ran through my mind like a flash. I thought of Davis. I
admit I thought of myself. One was justifiable life for the reason that
the destruction of the plane, at least, would be guaranteed, while if
we were shot down we would both die in the crash and the Boche
would get the salvage and design of the plane. The impelling fighting
chance of the second proposition was enough. There was no more
hesitation.
“Davis,” I shouted, “can you pick up the direction from the smoke
on the ground?”
He looked around doubtfully.
“I’ll try,” he more doubtfully replied.
“All right, head into the wind again—beneath the clouds. This is
our last chance. Fly straight into the wind. We will have to scrap for
our lives, but luck is with us.”
Nodding his head with characteristic determination, he swiftly
steered the bus into the wind. For several minutes the combined fire
of anti-aircraft artillery and machine guns played upon us. I will not
attempt to describe the horrors of those minutes that seemed years—
how we lived through it I do not know. A piece of my tourelle was
shot away and my wireless reel was torn completely off. I could hear
the plane whine in its flight, the broken wires even dolefully singing
our requiem. Through it all the motor was not hurt—it was turning
like a top. Indeed, it seemed just like the last moments of the poor
fowl which, with its neck wrung, will continue to flop about.
Veritably it seemed we were flopping—it was the wonderful Davis
doing his best to dodge the myriads of deathly bullets coming at us
from all angles.
Then suddenly all became quiet. The machine guns and the archies
had for some reason stopped their firing. I had been there before—I
knew. The time had come. Looking over to the right I saw what I
expected—four German Fokkers had already taken off the field and
were coming up after us. We could even see their airdrome and other
planes ready to take off if necessary. It was a sad day. I had been in
scraps before but such odds as these had not faced me. This was,
indeed, foreign—ten miles from home, about out of gas, with a
bunged-up plane and yet forced to stand there with hands on the
guns and patiently await the seconds until they steadily climbed up
to get us. I wanted to throw up the sponge in the worst way; it
seemed but useless murder of the two of us, for there could be no
possible chance to live through it. On the other hand, we might get
one or even two of them, so it was the big game—the call of chance.
We must give combat—now to break the word to Davis. I laughed
hysterically.
“Davis,” I called, “have you ever had a fight?”
Puzzled as to the significance of this question he turned around
and answered, “No. Never.”
“Well,” and I again laughed for no reason in the world, “you are
going to have one now.” Of course, the airplane did a strange
shimmy, after which I continued, “There are four Boche coming up
to the right rear. Fly straight ahead, and don’t worry. Only keep me
in a position to fire.”
Davis said nothing, but turning around he calmly eyed the
oncoming Germans, then I saw his jaws set in fierce determination
and without another sign of emotion he directed his attention to the
damaged plane.
While the Huns were in formation and at twelve hundred feet, I
leveled the guns and fired a burst of thirty rounds in order to scatter
them for I have found that the Boche is not half so bold when he
knows he is seen. It had the effect I wanted; they scattered and began
firing at me from about one thousand feet, hoping to get us by a
chance shot, or better, of frightening us into landing. They kept this
position for several minutes. I did not fire another shot; I could ill
afford to waste a single cartridge and ever hope to make the lines.
Seeing that we intended to fight to a finish they separated; one plane
came from the left, the other three from the right, and attempted to
close in all at the same time. At nine hundred feet they again began
to fire, and steadily close in. Still I did not pull the triggers. At my
reticence they became bolder and when the right three got to about
six hundred feet from me I carefully leveled my right gun and turned
loose a well-directed burst of about fifty rounds. To me the real fight
had now begun for soon they would be at close range where real
fatalities occur. The lad at my left required my attention so I swung
the tourelle and carefully laying the bead, I pulled the trigger. It did
not fire. Thinking perhaps the locking mechanism had been caught
by the sudden swinging of the guns, I reached down to pull it into
place. The lock was O.K. It was nothing else than a plain jam. I did
not feel so bad for I still had my other gun untried and there was
sufficient ammunition yet for a good fight. So, as the left plane closed
in I aimed with unerring accuracy; and I was sure I had him unless
something unusual happened. Something unusual did happen. The
left gun fired about seven shots and stopped. It was no time for
child’s play—team work was the one thing necessary to save the
situation. Davis realized it, for the moment the guns stopped firing
he knew something was all wrong, and he took up the fight by a
series of remarkable acrobatics, in a vain effort to get his own guns
into play.
After many strenuous efforts, by brute force I succeeded in
clearing the jam. At least, I thought I did, although things happened
so fast from then on that the gun never had a chance. Amidst the
violent jerking of the plane I frantically attempted to aim, then there
was no more jerking—the plane seemed to be falling on its side
toward earth and glancing forward I saw flames. There was only one
solution—they had not only gotten Davis and we were rapidly falling
to our death, but they had also set us afire. There were but the
fractions of a second, and then the crash, for I was powerless—I did
not know how to fly and, furthermore, the plane was not fitted with a
dual control. A multiplicity of active and concrete thoughts took form
in my brain in that short space of time from the beginning of the
descent to the crash. I closed my eyes—the horror of it was too much
for me. It was bad enough to face certain death, but the thought of
burning to death closed the picture.
The plane struck and the next thing I knew we had stopped; at
least, I thought I knew it. To be perfectly frank I was so scared I did
not know whether I was dead or alive. But, looking out, I saw Davis
already on the ground; Davis, who I was sure had been killed. This
brought me to my real senses and in a second I was out of the plane
and running top-speed toward the crest of a hill which was directly in
front of us. Fifty feet to my left and running in the same direction
was Davis. and swooping down from the skies, at an altitude of from
thirty to fifty feet, the four Fokkers continued to fire upon us. This
brought me still closer to the realization that we were still very much
alive, though how long we would be I did not know. I would run
along about five yards and then fall on my stomach, then jump up
and scramble on for another five yards and slide, the idea being that
the planes, sweeping down, could very well judge our speed while
running steadily, but when we stopped suddenly they could not
quickly dive their planes to shoot straight down upon us, for in so
doing they would crash headlong on the ground.
The hill was not steep, but at the same time it was not easy
running. I think I beat Davis to the top, even at that. As I got there I
will never forget the sight that met my eyes. Approaching us from the
other side was the proverbial mob, coming out to get us. There were
officers on horseback, officers on foot, soldiers, men, women and
children with every means of conveyance, from artillery trucks on
down to the antique oxen. There must have been five hundred of
them. Of course, the fight had easily been followed from the ground
and I suppose they were all anxious to come out to see what was left
of us. Believe me, I had real stage fright when I saw that crowd, so, I
turned around and as I started to run back down the hill to my
surprise I saw that the airplane had not burned.
There is one hard and fast rule that all flyers are taught to follow
and that is when shot down in enemy territory, their duty is to burn
the plane at all costs, for otherwise the enemy not only gets the
airplane itself, but also the latest designs, inventions and
improvements which are a hundred times more valuable.
“Davis,” I yelled at the top of my voice, as I started running toward
the plane. Instantaneously he saw and followed. It was a bad trip
back—the Fokkers, surmising our mission, came down to where they
practically skimmed the ground, absolutely intent upon taking our
lives.
When we finally reached the plane I was puffing like a steam
engine, for my lungs were raw from exhaustion as I still had on this
heavy flying suit which covered my entire body. The Fokkers were
able to very well judge their shots for they made it extremely
unpleasant.
“A match! A match! A match!” I kept calling, running around and
not knowing what to do. Davis hauled forth a box with about eight in
it. We had lost our heads absolutely for we were too excited to
remember that we had such a thing as gasoline on board. Jumping
around like a pair of ducks on a hot stove, we blindly tried to light the
fabric on the wings which through the expenditure of a million
dollars on experimentation had been made practically fireproof on
the surface by the application of noninflammable varnish. We were
too dense to take any cognizance of the fact that they continually
failed to burn, so, we went ahead making repeated attempts to light
the wings. In a minute the last match was gone. There was no hope. I
felt like breaking down and crying like a baby. The right side under
the motor was still smoldering from the flames in the air, which had
been caused by an incendiary bullet striking the carburetor, but had
been extinguished by the violent side-slipping of the plane, just as a
match is smothered out by being swept through the air. Then Davis
had a brilliant idea.
“Hell,” he said, “We’ve got gasoline.” And he jumped up into the
pilot’s pit and broke the main gasoline lead and in a second gasoline
was spluttering all over the plane like a bubbling fountain.
“Look for another match!” I cried to Davis, and although he knew
he had no more, he began to throw things out of his pockets right
and left. Among these things there fell a smudge cigarette lighter.
These instruments were devised by the French on account of their
extreme shortage of matches. The gadget consists of a tiny steel
wheel, which strikes a piece of flint, which in turn ignites the
smudge. The only trouble with these things is that they do not always
work. However, when this fell before me, it was Heaven itself, for I
made a high dive and grasping it, began to strike the wheel. It would
not ignite. Running back and forth, trying to get the smudge to burn,
I began to strike it, pray over it, and do everything else. My kingdom,
such as it was, for a light.
“Soak it in gas! Use your bean. Let me have it,” cried Davis, and he
snatched it out of my hand and soaked it with gas, but still it would
not work. Disgusted, he threw it on the ground with a vehement
oath, and took his spite out by trying to kick the rubber tire off one of
the landing wheels. Snatching it up again I struck it sharply against a
piece of the metal cowling on the motor with the hope that by some
miracle this hasty remedy might help it. It was just luck, for
something did the work. Whether it was hitting it on the metal or
not, I do not guess, but when I gave it a brisk turn it bursted into
flame, and my hands also being covered with gasoline, began to
burn, too. I dropped it like a piece of hot steel and Davis snatched it
up and threw it into the gasoline soaked cockpit. Soon the $20,000
plane was a roaring furnace. It was like the last act of a big motion
picture—the criminals at bay were fighting for time against the mob
and like the hardboiled leader of the villains laughs in the face of his
pursuers while he goes to his self-inflicted death rather than deliver
himself, so I turned around, knowing there was no escape from the
mob, determined to die in the wreckage. Already Davis was beating it
across the field to the left, crying “Come on! Come on!” and so, while
I did not have much pep left I started to run toward a sort of rude
embankment over toward the left center, which was not over two
hundred yards away. Fortunately the burning plane momentarily
threw the crowd back, for they knew if there were bombs aboard they
would soon explode.
The heavy flying suit was causing me trouble, for I was stumbling
through the mud like an intoxicated elephant, but even at that I am
inclined, now, to think that I beat the intercollegiate record for the
one hundred yards dash. As I rushed around this embankment, I hit
something which landed me on the ground in a puddle of mud. What
I hit was a horse, which was one of five being ridden by four officers
and one sergeant, who had come from another nearby village to get
us. These horses stepped all over and around me, and I thought at
the time how ironical it was to have endured and lived through the
hardships of the morning and have my life crushed out by a horse’s
hoofs. It was the same disgustingly disgraceful death that I have
always feared since the war, namely of being hit by a Ford
automobile on a quiet, country road after coming through the war in
safety. However, the horses showed true horse sense and did not step
directly upon me. Of course, I stopped. I was already stopped—if not
by this sudden impetus, then surely from sheer exhaustion. I got up
literally covered with mud.
 The senior officer of the party was a true Hun, who had
undoubtedly been drinking, for I do not believe otherwise any one,
regardless of nationality, could have been so cold-blooded and
terrible. He could not recognize that I was American as my flying suit
hid my uniform, so, he spoke up in French:
“Qui de vous a brulé l’avion, et ou est votre comrade?” I quite well
understood his French, but I felt it would be better policy to say
nothing, so I looked absolutely blank. Again he demanded who
burned the airplane and where was my comrade, which ultimatum
he sharpened by a threatening “Vite! Vite!” I realized that something
was necessary on my part, for deafness would be a very lame excuse
for any flyer, so, I told him in English that I did not understand him.
“Ah,” he smiled in delight, finding his prize had been even greater
than he had expected, “then you are English or American. Which?”
He said this in perfect English, which upset my whole scheme of
reticence, for it did not occur to me that he spoke still a third
language. I said nothing, but looked at the ground, contemplating my
reply.
“American or British?” he demanded.
I was proud of my nationality, so, looking up, I threw out my chest
and exclaimed, “I’m American.”
I expected him to immediately recognize the strength of my
citizenship, just as the wise old Biblical character, whoever he was,
got out of a tight hole by saying that he was a Roman. I had a
surprise awaiting me, however, for he gave me a cynical laugh that
gave him an opportunity to divert from the subject in mind.
“So you are an American, are you?” he sneeringly went on. “Well,
I’ve lived in your America ten years, myself, and I know you all.
You’re a rotten bunch of lying hypocrites.”
Strange as it may seem I did not see fit to take issue with him
under the circumstances, so, he went on with another little round of
abuse of the Americans that made my blood boil, but again I failed to
go to the bat for my country. Thinking he had sufficiently riled me,
he started on the subject of more vital importance.
“Now, which one of you burned that plane?” he sharply demanded.
Again I said nothing, but I thought a lot, for since he was getting so
individualistic about it, I was convinced that we were in a pretty
serious situation; yet I knew I was going to have to answer that
question. I was hoping that if Davis was caught he would say that he
did it and I knew that Davis was human, and was hoping that I would
say that I did it.
He interrupted my silent study. “Are you going to answer?” he
growled.
What would I say to get by? I decided to spar.
“It burned itself,” was my brilliant repartee.
“Don’t lie to me,” he hissed. “It might have been afire when you
started down, but we saw you go back and burn it.”
“Well, if you saw me go back and burn it, why did you ask me who
did it?” I unthoughtedly retorted, and then I was sorry for if at first I
thought him fierce, he had now become an irate demon.
“You did do it then, eh?” he said persuasively, as he slowly looked
around to his companions in order that they might bear witness to
my confession.
“What’s the use,” I thought to myself, so, I looked him squarely in
the eyes and said, “Yes, I did it.”
“Ah!” and he again looked around, shaking his head with
intermingled scorn and pride that he, the Prussian, had been able to
bulldoze an American. “Didn’t you know that the moment that plane
hit the ground, it became German property and that you wilfully
destroyed German material?”
I most emphatically told him that I did not know it, for while I
convicted myself on my previous confession, I didn’t intend to sign
my own decree of execution. He assumed a slightly conciliatory
attitude.
“Now,” he continued, “where is your partner, or comrade?”
I told him that I did not know.
“Oh, yes you do,” he argued, coaxingly.
After a little dickering dispute, I looked him squarely in the eyes
and said, “I do not know.”
Then he became fierce again. “Don’t lie to me,” he snarled in rage.
“You do know and you are going to tell me.”
 I became pretty well convinced that my days were done for, so
consequences momentarily did not matter. It was more than I could
stand, for this was a matter that not only insulted my character as a
soldier, but my integrity as a man—that he should call upon me to
divulge the hiding place of my friend and my comrade-in-arms. In
spite of the effort to control my temper, it flared up like a tire-
pressure indicator and in a daring attitude, I exclaimed, “I don’t
know and if I did know I would not tell you.”
He flew into a white rage. “Is that so?” and he quickly reached back
to his hip and pulled out a Leugger, the most deadly German
automatic pistol, and with fiery eyes he put it right at my heart, the
barrel even touching my clothing. I admit I inwardly swooned; in
fact, I almost fainted for, while all the time I thought I was going
eventually to be killed, I had no idea that there was going to be any
snappy action like this. He meant business; there was no argument
about that. His very attitude and the decisiveness with which he drew
out the gun and the way he put his finger on the trigger convinced
me that to spar was to die. If there was any chance at all, it lay in
silence. He must have time to cool down or something else must
intervene; so, like a weak sister I looked at him, just hoping.
“Are you going to talk or not?” he began quietly and I have never
heard words uttered more decisively. I knew quite well that Davis
had gone over to the left. One thing was certain, while above all
things else I would not tell where he was, at the same time I was not
exactly prepared to die. Since I was to die some time it could just as
well be later, so, looking over to the right, in exactly the opposite
direction in which Davis had gone, I noticed a clump of trees about
three hundred yards away. In an attitude indicating that I was only
telling to save my own life, I pointed to the clump and breathlessly
whispered, “Over there.”
He hastily gave some directions in German, and leaving me with
one officer and the sergeant, he and the other two officers hurriedly
galloped off toward the location I had pointed out. During this little
entertainment quite a crowd had gathered around and as the
tenseness was relieved, they immediately began ejaculating and
mumbling in great fashion, completely surrounding me. Looking
through the crowd my gaze was following the horses and surmising
what my next move would be when they reached there and found I
had deliberately lied.
When they were almost to the spot I had designated, we suddenly
heard quite a noticeable scramble over to the left and looking over
that way I saw that they had caught Davis and he was being escorted
toward town, followed by a portion of the mob. Hearing the same
noise, the arrogant Prussian stopped his steed and wheeling around,
saw Davis had been caught in just exactly the opposite direction from
that to which I had pointed. He knew instantly that I had deliberately
pranked him at pistol’s point. In Western cowboy fashion he gave his
horse the spurs and drawing his Leugger back over his shoulder
came madly galloping toward me. I knew what was going to happen.
There was not a chance in the world; and the crowd around me also
knew what was going to happen because they made a clearing just as
the gamblers miraculously disappear when some one pulls a revolver
in the game. Standing alone I awaited the inevitable.
As the fatal moment approached—suddenly there came from
somewhere a sharp voice and from the crowd there rode forth
another officer with a flowing purplish-gray cloak about him, the
kind German officers sometimes wear when mounted, crying “Halte!
Halte!” or something similar. It was a voice of command. The
onrushing Prussian, riding past at his terrific momentum,
dismounted and saluted. In a fast and furious manner this superior
officer spoke to him in a well-modulated voice, but with a manner
and expression, which, though I could not understand a word of
German, I quite well knew was nothing else than a plain balling-out.
After about three minutes, in which our would-be assassin saluted
ten or twelve times, he put his gun in its holster, re-mounted his
horse and slinkingly rode away. Then this superior officer addressed
something generally to the crowd, in reply to which one soldier
stepped out, saluted smartly and after some directions by the officer,
proceeded to explain to me, in broken English, that the officer
wanted to apologize for the uncalled for conduct of the first German
officer. After a little hesitation, I was surrounded by a proper
German escort and marched over toward Davis—going where and for
what I did not know—but trembling like a cur dog with delirium
tremens—too afraid to be frightened.
 IX
THE COURT OF INQUIRY

L ike many other brazen Americans I felt throughout the war that
in spite of the loss of my friends all about me, and the
precautions repeatedly urged, that I was the one bird, who, alone,
was exempt from mishap and misfortune. Undoubtedly the good
fortune that always attended me caused me to adopt the viewpoint
that my good luck was perpetual. Well, as a matter of fact, I still
think that way to-day.
Such a thing as my ever becoming a prisoner of war in Germany
was absolutely foreign to me. It had not even interested me, so, I had
paid very little attention to the reports on the treatment of prisoners
and I honestly did not know whether the prisoners were slowly
starved to death or killed for some act which they had or had not
individually committed, or what not. It was terrible at best. At any
rate, I was convinced that it was bad enough that one could well
afford to be desperate in taking chances to escape. So, when I finally,
in spite of my confidence in my continued good luck, was taken
prisoner on September 30, 1918, I immediately decided that I would
escape no matter what the cost.
Upon being captured Davis and I were first marched down to a
nearby airdrome—the den of our captors. There they dragged out a
German automobile, which had steel, spring wheels. A very young
and fat German boy, who, by the way, was an officer, climbed in first
and told us to follow. Of course, we did; and soon we were off for
somewhere. This youngster was a genuine pighead—he tried to be a
Hun but did not know how and reminded me very much of a newly
made Second Lieutenant. Like all other German officers he had the
Iron Cross, which he wore complete and as he spoke a little English, I
decided that the wisest move for me, was to find out just how much.
 I had a hunch that the kid had probably just recently gotten his
Iron Cross and might be glad to make a few remarks at the proper
opening. So, pointing to the Cross and speaking rapidly, I asked,
“What does that signify?”
He did not get me. His answer was a cool stare as if I had
transgressed sacred laws. So, I again smiled and tried this time very
slowly, “What is that?”
“Ach,” and his flabby cheeks shook like a mold of jelly on a frosty
morning, as we bounced along, “dot iss der Deutschen Iron Cross.”
“Oh, my! The Iron Cross,” and I smiled with evident pride at our
association. “You are very valiant.”
The youngster was flattered by my expression, though he did not
grasp the words. This was what I was after. I could now converse
safely with Davis, my pilot, if I spoke fast enough. So, turning to
Davis I started to talk, but the kid rose up in all his dignity of rank
and called a halt. In painful English he told us that communication
between prisoners was absolutely “verboten.” We, of course,
acquiesced most gracefully. I wanted to ask Davis especially if he had
yet admitted burning the plane, because I already had admitted that
I did it myself and if there was any one to be killed for the offense I
could see no reason for both of us dying. This was information so
vital that it had to be gotten to Davis in spite of any rulings of any
school kid, German officer accompanying us. At the same time it was
not my intention to purposely antagonize our friend at this particular
time, so with a very sweet smile I turned to this German and looking
directly into his eyes as if speaking only to him, I rapidly, but
convincingly orated:
“Davis, while I’m talking to this distinguished young Prussian,
looking him straight in the eye, and I am talking so fast he has no
idea what I’m saying, I want to ask you an important question and I
want you to answer it right away and look at him as if you were
speaking to him when you answer it, for he can speak about as much
of our language as a clam. These Germans claimed that when that
plane hit the ground it became German property and that in burning
it, we have wilfully destroyed German property and the penalty is
probably death. Now I’ve already admitted that I burned it, so, if they
ask you who destroyed it you must say that I did it, in order that we
may not both get stuck for the same offense.”
 Meanwhile I was making motions with my hands, shoulders, face,
brow, mouth, nose, and ears, and looking directly at the German
officer, as if I were performing for his benefit. The kid was
dumbfounded—things were happening fast. Davis played his part
like a trained actor and began to address this German, speaking very
rapidly, and in a similar manner, while the poor German was shaking
his head and hopelessly crying, “You are talking too fast; I do not
hear you; I cannot understand what you say.”
But Davis told me that I was a damned fool, that he had told them
he had burned the plane and that if there was going to be any
suffering done we would both do it together. Believe me, that boy’s
actions all through our experience endeared him to me forever, as a
brave man and an honest, genuine fellow. However, when we got
that one across our first custodian, I felt pretty much relieved for a
great burden had been lifted from my mind. After all, I guess, there is
a great deal of comfort in companionship even in trouble and misery.
We shot along those roads on that steel-wheeled bus at a
remarkable speed. Quite soon we were at Montmedy, which was the
headquarters of the 5th German Army. Undoubtedly here we were to
be interviewed and sure enough we were taken into the large room in
the front of the headquarters building, but, to our great surprise we
were left for a few moments by ourselves as the force was out to
lunch. I immediately threw off my flying “teddy bear” and hastily ran
through my pockets and in spite of standing orders for flyers never to
have written communications on their person, while flying over the
lines, I found one order which would have given a great deal of aid
and comfort to the enemy. I took this order, which was on very thin
paper, and rapidly folding it, taking a match from the table I lighted a
cigarette and then burned the order. The few other things I had were
not important, but at that I wanted to destroy everything. I had
thrown my map in the burning plane, so my conscience was clear
that I had done my duty all around as far as I was able. We were
quite sure that the room had audiphones so we said nothing. As I was
about to throw such other stuff as I had in the stove, the kid came in.
I simply slipped my hand in my pocket and looked innocent. Then a
very suave, English-speaking German Lieutenant came in and told us
that he had been a prisoner of war in Russia and had just been
released; that he felt sorry for all the prisoners of war, and wanted to
tell us not to believe everything we had heard about the German
atrocities and that since we were Americans we would be well taken
care of, fed, etc., for Germany wanted America to feel that America
and “Deutschland” were the best of friends. His line was so smooth
that I was sure that he told the same gag to everyone else, regardless
of nationality. This intelligence officer was a very smooth article for
instead of talking shop, he stated that if we would be so kind as to
give him such things as we had in our pockets there would be no
necessity to search us. By this time, he was welcome to everything I
had on me. Then he told us that he wanted us to be his guests at tea
that afternoon at five o’clock. We had no choice in the matter, so,
told him we would be very pleased to accept his kind invitation.
It was about one o’clock then, and the kid took us in our steel-
wheeled “lizzy” to the prison camp, which was to be our new home. I
must say that ostensibly they treated us lovely in every way, and
outside of the fact that our home was not in the same class with
Riverside Drive or Orange Grove Avenue, it wasn’t so bad. We were
incarcerated without ceremony and the kid left us after many
assurances of his kind offices. No one came in to attend to us, so, I
finally pounded on the door until some one did come. It was the
interpreter, who informed us that we were too late for anything to eat
as only enough food was prepared for those on hand and they did not
know we were coming, whereupon Davis and I sat down to wait until
night for something real to eat, meanwhile anticipating, with a great
deal of pleasure our tea we were to have in the afternoon.
As I sat there on that old bench I really had my first opportunity
for quiet reflection. In spite of the convincing environments I could
not bring myself to believe that I was actually a prisoner of war.
This camp at Montmedy was some place. It was a rectangular
affair, enclosing about an acre. Around this rectangle was a very
heavy barbed-wire fence about twelve feet high, and about four feet
within this was another big high fence and within this enclosure, at
the four corners, were four separate buildings, each of which was
surrounded by two huge wire fences, similar to those on the outside.
In one of these houses lived the lord of the domain, the Director of
the Prison Camp, a Sergeant in the German Army; in the second was
the kitchen where they prepared the luscious food for the prisoners,
and in which there was also located the quarters for the guards,
where they lived, slept and smoked their German tobacco; in the
third building there were bunks for enlisted men who were taken
prisoners; and in the fourth were the Non-Commissioned and
Commissioned officers who were prisoners, and in this last named
building were Davis and I.
We had been so down in the mouth upon actually entering this
prison camp that we had little to say. Finally I arose from my old
bench, shook myself like a dog after his nap, and in a graveyard tone
of voice said, “Davis, we’re prisoners of war,” and we wept on each
other’s shoulders like sob sisters. When we got tired of that I walked
to the door which was solid, turned the latch and, since no one
interfered, walked on outside.
Walking about I took occasion to examine the heavy barbed wire
surrounding us. There was nothing else to do, so, I kept walking
along, glancing at the wire. It looked rather solid and was sunk
rather deep in the ground. It was not encouraging. Then I had a real
treat for as I walked along I saw a bunch of American doughboy
prisoners, most of them privates, part of them barefooted, being
escorted by the camp guard. Believe me, they looked good. I hollered
to them and asked them how long they had been in and they
answered they had been taken only a few days before, so, I told them
I had been taken only that morning. In great eagerness, they
demanded to know how the drive was coming along.
“Oh, boy,” I yelled as they passed along, “we’ve sure got the Hun
on the run.”
About that time the German Sergeant Interpreter rushed out
—“The Hell you have,” he madly screamed. “Get inside.” I took
orders from a Sergeant.
He came after me and I didn’t know whether he was going to
browbeat me or not, but I had a strong hunch that it would be an
advantageous idea to change the subject, so, I started to talk about
what we were going to have to eat and he again surely informed me
that we were too late, that they had not made any preparations for us
and that we would not get anything to eat until that night. That
subject apparently didn’t interest him. I tried another.
“Where’s the barber shop?” I asked
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