In another part of the article the writer observes that attacks on trains are very popular with the R.F.C. ‘In spite of the bad weather Lieutenant Owen Tudor Boyd one day descended to within 350 metres in order to drop bombs on a passing train. Lieutenant Gordon Kidd descended from 2,200 metres to 300 for the pleasure of dropping a bomb on a munition train, which caught fire and blocked the line with wreckage. Lieutenant Taylor derailed a troop train. Lieutenant Gordon Gould, attacked during a reconnaissance, was wounded in the leg. In spite of the intense pain, he brought down one enemy machine, severely damaged another, and then calmly continued his appointed work.’ Special reference is also made to Captain Gerald Speim, who, one day, observed four enemy machines. He attacked three, one after the other, and put them to flight, the fourth in the meantime being engaged by another Englishman. The following day he fought two enemy machines, brought one down, forced the other to recede, and continued his successful career by again bringing down a German machine the next day. Other British airmen referred to in the article are Lieutenant Evans and Lieutenant MacLaren. Lieutenant Evans, during one flight, conquered four German machines, crashing them to earth. A remarkable feat was accomplished by MacLaren. Flying over an enemy aerodrome, he noticed a machine about to rise. Pilot and observer were in their places, mechanicians held the wings. MacLaren came gently down to within thirty yards and dropped a bomb. Aeroplane, pilot, observer, and mechanicians were vanquished. Then MacLaren went serenely on his bombing way, set fire to a hangar, and destroyed the Fokkers it contained. The French writer of the article concludes by saying that among the many heroic deeds performed by British aviators there is one which would have inspired the admiration of Edgar Poe: ‘An English aeroplane was soaring 3,000 metres above German territory on reconnoitring work. Suddenly a shell burst near it, killing the pilot instantly, severely damaging the machine, but not injuring the observer, Lieutenant Howey, in any way. The aeroplane tipped nose downwards, and fell 2,000 yards. Howey, during this terrific fall, performed a veritable gymnastic feat. He succeeded in slipping from his place to that of his comrade, unclasped his dead hands, sat upon his knees, and, in spite of the appalling situation, seized the control-lever, and in a miraculous manner righted his machine just at the moment it reached the earth after a seeming plunge to death. Howey was taken prisoner, but he was uninjured.’ CHAPTER XXIX THE EYES OF OUR ARMIES IN THE FIELD