The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1896-07-02
THE AIR SQUADRON.

"Have another cigar, lieutenant"
said, pushing the box across the table
tow ard him.
"No, thank you," he replied. "But,
with your permission. I'll fill my pipe
from your bowl. Indeed, when came
up to your room, it was only for a lit
tie tobacco-ran out myself-cigars all
gone. And here it is already 12 O'Clock.
My, my, how time flies when one gets
notwithstanding But to continue"-
Now, when my good friend Lieuten-
ant Swash takes possession of me and
my room at II p. M, do not always
consider it my duty to listen to him.
He has been such frequent visitor Of
mine since he has been staying at our
boarding house, and then he is one OF
those individuals who so lose them
selves in their own narrations that they
even forget they have an audience. So,
when the lieutenant said, "Now, to
continue" l sank deeper into my big
chair and gazed absently into the fire.
He was talking warfare of the future.
What cared for that, who possessed
neither stocks that would 60 down nor
food products that would 60 up? My
eyelids closed wearily. How wished
he would go! Then he made statement
90 absurd that laughed.
1T took place on July 16, 1885,"
heard him say.
Eighteen forty-six, corrected.
"Now, see here, said the naval man
testify. "How old do you think am
80? Pshaw! was 80 then. 1t was 1946,
and, please, don't contradict me. 1t was
80 years hence it all happened.
"If you will have it so, all well." l
said.
"Now the date is settled and you
thoroughly understand the cause Of the
war. Great Britain claimed the atmos-
pheric covering Of the earth to a height
of 10. 900 feet, basing the claim on the
fact that as far back as 1899 an English
balloonist had disappeared from view
at that height. He was never seen
again. Such claim as this, had it been
recognized by other nations, would have
given her too great control over man.
kinds supply Of breath. We claimed up
to an altitude Of 1000 over the United
States, but she would not recognize this
and refused to arbitrate. The result was
war-terrible war;.
took my pipe from between my teeth
and fixed a cold eye on the speaker.
Lieutenant Swash," said i'll low
but distinct tone, you have explained
one cause Of the war five times. l have
always swallowed your dates and may
be able to gulp down your facts, but
ask that you desist from repetition.
"Well, we'll, if you'll have it SO, I'll
go ahead. Having the cause straight in
your mind, you will remember that it
was July l6, 1946, that the fight occur
red. There We're three battleships in our
fleet-Admiral Wad flagship, the Swal-
low, carrying 10 tons of dynamite and
machine guns; the Lightning, Cap
tain Blower, 10 tons Of dynamite and
two inch rifles; the Hawk, Captain
Wood. IL tons of dynamite and pneu-
matte gun, used in throwing explosives
at the enemy in case she got above us.
"O WCAO esSSOAlPtsAAOu WV oAAo4A WI
pedo boats and the swift unarmored
cruiser Kalamazoo, which we expected
to be Of little service, since a bullet
could have punctured her and sent her
to earth forever. We lay about 500 miles
east Of New York for four days await
iag the approach Of the enemy's flying
dquadron. It was 10 o'clock ON the
morning Of July l6 when we sighted
them. about 200 miles away, running
toward MS at q rapid rate. They must
have seen us at about the same time. for
they sheered of little toward the north
and began to rise.
Admiral Wad, at whose side was
standing ON the quarter deck Of the
Swallow. at once understood their ma
neuver. In modern warfare it's the fel-
low who gets above the other and drops
dynamite ON him that wins invariably.
We were then at an altitude Of about
8. 200 feet and did not lose any time
getting higher. ! can zee the grand old
admiral now as he stood at the switch
board coolly putting his cigar a. il he
was at his club down in New York.
These was NOS . tremor observed On his