Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1906-05-26

when one took note Of their enormous
turrct guns-twcnty-inch. without
doubt. capable OF hurting a ton or
more OF metal every FIVE minutes. 1
counted ten oatuCships. Ave or six tor
pedo-bOat dcstroycrs recognized by
their Quadruplicate funnels) and sew
cral cruisers. Two huge coal bargcs
were being tOwcd several miles 90 the
rear This much was visible TO the
naked eye. Looking through my glass
could see swarm OF torpedo boats.
only their coming towers showing
above the water. lowering around the
Hanks and leading the advance.
The fleet was proceeding vc~y slowly
In great curve TO the north. evidently
. not desiring 20 advance nearer the
coast. By late afternoon IL had turned
and was heading west at the same
pace.
As the sun drew near the horizon and
the wind freshencd I turned the nose
F OF my airship 90 the east and prepared
/ 90 spend the night aloft. I had been
sailing leisurcly back and forth over an
/ area ~ perhaps nifty miles. IN hope OF
seeing the German fleet. Except for
the many passenger steamers coming
/ and going there was nothing 90 bc seen.
/ was leaning over the edge OF my
I IN sxCt smoking idly. I had just chris
/ tened my ship "L'Aimcc.' and was
+ wishing I had the original with me.
4 when a voice came down upon me from
the clouds.
who are YOU" 70 called. in French.
looked up ia establishment. and
there hoatcd the strangcst airship
had ever seen. II was merely an aero
plane. supported by great saucer-like
metal cOutriv1ncCs. with n small bas-
lSct-car hung by slender cables. II
. swept by. some hundred feet above me
. and I had "a glimpse Of a white face
/ looking down upon me. l sped up tht
7 motor. and rising as 1 advanced soor
/ drew up alongside my fellow traveller
i Then ensued "a brief conversation.
Where are you going I shouted
4 lie was not moro than hundred yard!
away.
pose ] shall have 20 consider myself
bound for America"
. "Can YOU descendE''
YES"
Drop 70 the sea. then. and I WI
pick you up My ship steers perfectly.
We were now far beyond the fleet
descended by degrees. The other tppe'
his planes slightly and started dow
! on a long slant. like boy coasun'
, down a hill When within twenty Zee
or less OF the water ne tipped the plane
, sharply IN the other direction. and 81
, ship stopped with a shudocr. hovcrc
for n time like "a hrooding gun. and set
= tied slowly into the sea. ] WAS clos
> behind him with a small ropc-laddc1
4 and minute later. dripping wet. bu
|, cheerful. ne clambercd into my CA
: Then we rose again 90 the twc-thou
7 sand-foot level and with just cnoug
+; Roadway on 10 overcome the wind, Ia
i as In a calm.
I found that my guest was none oths
4 than Emil LoFcyrc. son OF the great ~
2 Vcntor OF submarines and explosive
:. When ne had disrobcd and hung h
T. wet clothes 10 dry in front OF the rad
intnrs. swathing himself in rug meas
i while. he gave me "a brief account 81 "a
- tourney The world was ringing Wit
- the news OF the great battle on a
4 Cataiunian FiMn: how the French IA
l. been an but whipped when their fie
Il Of airships. bclatcl by some mismai
IL acemcnt. came upon the scene with q
new explosive. glycolite, and sent q
d Germans back upon their camp, XII
r. Ing and manning thousands. The
t. had been no movement on land SIN
a. that. All eyes were NOW turned iowa
er the sea. where the fleets were watchli