The day Germany declared war on France, Gunther Hensel, the
twenty-two-year-old son of Ernest Johannes Hensel, a wealthy real
estate operator in Berlin, offered his services to his Fatherland.
As he had been engaged in the automobile business in Berlin he was
enlisted in a motor car battalion, where he became what is known in
Germany as a "benzine lieutenant," with no immediate prospects of ever
becoming anything else.
However, last October, after driving military motors at the front for
more than a year, an opportunity presented itself which won Gunther
Hensel his coveted promotion.
While driving behind the lines near Arras he caught sight of a French
aeroplane which had landed because of motor trouble. Young Hensel's
only companion at the time was an orderly, so it was a question of
acting without orders.
Without hesitation he drove at full speed toward the aeroplane. The
Frenchmen opened fire with their revolvers, but their shots went wild,
and before they could prevent it the heavy motor car crossed the field
and crashed into the flying machine, wrecking it beyond all hope of
immediate repair.
Both Frenchmen were caught in the wreckage, and the orderly, who of
course had a rifle, forced them to surrender. Thus in one fell swoop
the young benzine lieutenant captured a valuable French aeroplane and
two enemy soldiers. In all probability this was the first aeroplane
ever captured by an automobile.
As a reward for this exploit he received an Iron Cross and was
transferred to the officers' college, where he is now getting
instruction in the duties of a full-fledged infantry officer.