of Dorme, he was not credited with fully a third of
his distant triumphs, too far away to be officially recognized; so this
German also vilified Guynemer's fighting methods, Guynemer the
foolhardy, the wildly, madly foolhardy, whose machines and clothes were
everlastingly riddled with bullets, who fought at such close quarters
that he was constantly in danger of collisions--this Guynemer the German
journalist makes out to be a prudent and timid airman, shirking fight
and making use of his comrades. What sort of story had the German who
brought him down told? Was it not obvious that if Guynemer had engaged
him at 4000 meters, and had been killed at 700, that he must have
prolonged the struggle, and prolonged it above the enemy's lines?
Finally, the German journalist had the unutterable meanness and infamy
to saddle on imprisoned French aviators this slander of their comrade,
insinuated rather than boldly expressed. After all, this document is
invaluable, and ought to be framed and preserved. How Guynemer would
have laughed over it, and how youthfully ringing and honest the laugh
would have sounded! Villiers de l'Isle Adam, remembering the Hegelian
philosophy, once wrote: "The man who insults you only insults the idea
he has formed of you, that is to say, himself."

As a whole army (the Sixth) marched on May 25 towards that hill of the
Aisne valley where Guynemer had brought down four German machines, and
acclaimed his triumph, so the whole French nation would take part in
mourning him.

At the funeral service held at Saint Antony's Compiegne, the Bishop of
Beauvais, Monseigneur Le Senne, spoke, taking for his text the Psalm in
which David laments the death of Saul and his sons slain _on the
summits_, and says that this calamity must be kept secret lest the
Philistines and their daughters should rejoice over it. This service was
attended by General Debeney, staff major-general, representing the
generalissimo, and by all the surviving members of the Storks
Escadrille, with their former chief, Major Brocard. His successor,
Captain Heurtaux, whose unexpected appearance startled the
congregation--he seemed so pale and thin on his crutches--had left the
hospital for this ceremony, and looked so ill that people were surprised
that he had the strength to stand.

A few hours before the service took place, Major Garibaldi, sent by
General Anthoine, commander of the army to which Guynemer belonged, had
brought to the Guynemer f