Show I I I I I I NAVY OFFICER PROVES HERO Commander Saves Lives of Two ro Daniels Commends By Bj- Universal ertice Washington lul July luly 14 Another Another thrilling example of ot the thc I sterling grit g and courage of ot officers of the tho American Ameri Amen can naval forces Corces oper operating in European waters was wag disclosed today in the he an announcement an- an b by the lie na navy department of oC the tho commendation of oC Commander Commander Com Corn mander Louis H IJ Maxfield or Norfolk Va and Frederick P. P Culbert of oC Orange N. N J J. J Secretary Daniels has recommended that lint a lifesaving medal be awarded Commander Tho Tue naval officers won their commendation commendation com corn In iii a spirited and half hour following the lie fall fail of a a. na navy dirigible balloon The Tho balloon of oC French manufacture was acting as part of or a a. convoy to a fleet Cleet of or merchant ships being in a position far In advance ance o of thi th the vessels With the crew and the aeronautical officers who were In the large car beneath the lie balloon was Lieutenant Commander Maxfield commandant of a a. naval air station making makinI the flight to observe e and Inspect the time handling of oC th the balloon b by the thc American crew Time Tho flight progressed well and amid the dirigible was within a mile tulle and a half haIr of or shore shone when an accident caused the loss of ot gas from sonic some of oC the lie forward compartments of the time balloon The big big- ba bag at once be began an to plunge nose noso downward toward the s sea a and all efforts efforts ef er- ef- ef forts of oC the men to JI lighten the time load failed to have hao an any effect As 8 the dirigible struck the thc water Chief Gunners Gunner's Gun Olin ners ner's Mate Lee and antl Quartermaster Quartermaster Quartermaster Quarter Quarter- master n II Elliott fearing that time the car ar would be swept under the thc balloon leaped clear Other members of or the party remained In ii the car cal which was not upset The two men who had leaped Into the sea were dressed In InI heavy woolen lined costumes known as Teddy Bears ears They were vere bare barely able to keep themselves es afloat The Themen men In tho the water w waited patiently for tor help hll but as the they waited walled the bl big bag was WI cau caught ht in a R stron strong landward breeze and ani began bean to creep toward short hort rap rapidly hI The men menlo In the water yelled for help Two ans of oC gasoline were emptied by hy bylie bythe hythe the lie crew amid throw out as life preservers preservers pre pre- servers while willie Comman Commander er Maxfield pulled off ort his clothes and leaped to th thaid time the aid of or the fast weakening men inca lIe He was quickly followed into the lie water ater by Lieutenant Culbert By swimming first to one man and then themi to the other and b by his stirring lIh cries of oC encouragement Commander was able to sustain the he men until a motor boat from Crom shore horo arrived ed Although h all three men were on the verge er c gc e of going oln down and were In a state o of collapse when hauled aboard the boat the recovered reco motor motol they soon and aided their companions In preventIng pre pre- I ventIng further damage to the balloon balloun which had been blo blown n upon the beach |