The French High command today [1 February 1916] announced the promotion of its leading air ace, Dax Bonnassie, to captain!
The outspoken Gascon, Bonnassie, known in the Army as "L'homme Preservatif," recently received confirmation of his 11th aerial victory. His long established "history" with the women of the 18th arrondissement, combined with the fact that of his 11 aerial victories, 9 were German observation balloons, apparently led to his somewhat unusual moniker--"L'homme Preservatif."
When asked for comment about the secret to his success by a reporter from Le Figaro, Captain Bonnassie replied: "Be assured that mercury treatments are NOT the secret to my success in the air; I do not recommend them to anyone. Those are dastardly rumors spread by German agents, whose desire is to make me look like a fumier compared to those two altarboys--Immelmann and Boelcke. !"
Bonnassie, now a captain, will soon transfer to a new squadron and his first command. His current Escadrille, 38, already has a captain commanding.
