The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-10
BATTLE IN CLOUDS
 THRILL CROWDS Pains Spectacle Is Marvel
 0us Sight IS ATTACK FROM MARS Fleet of Airships From Mars Attack City and Is Repulsed by
 Fleet Using Radium

l The night programme of the Alabama State Fair was the best ever seen in
 Birmingham. Although the weather was 1 threatening and some rain had fallen, 1 tremendous crowd assembled and gave evidence of their appreciation of the great performance by loud and frequent i applause. The free acts given in front of the grand stand were viewed by the assembled thousands. 1nnes' matchless band added much to the pleasure of the occasion by the rendition of high class musical numbers.
 The big feature of the night perform ance twas the great pyro-aero-military marvel, Pains masterpiece, "The Battle 1 in the Clouds
 This proved to be one of the most gof- geous creations of a spectacular nature that has ever been presented in the south, far surpassing In completeness of detail all former pyrotechnic effort of the Pain concern, including their famous pro duction, The Last Days of Pompeii' It was a wonderful exposition of the pyrotechnical art, and thrilled the as selmbled thousands by it's realistic and
 
 with an immense scene $50 feet long, rep resenting a seacoast town, as 1t is sup posed to appear in the year 2012. Tall skyscraping buildings, beautiful parks, roof gardens and passenger carrying air. ships are all in evidence, while promi- nent in the foreground are the haroor, forts and gunboats, with a fleet of air ships in the distance
 While the citizens are in the midst of joyous festivities, a wireless message is received that the inhabitants of the planet Mars are preparing to attack the city. Immediately the land forces are gathered together to repel the invasion. Then follows the most realistic battle effect that has ever been witnessed in the south.
 The scene is a brilliant one. Previous to the attack the people are seen nov ing about the city. children are seen romping at play, and men and women are passing to and fro as on pleasure or business bent. Then comes the news Of war, and the preparations for defense. The attacking forces are in the air and the citizens are made aware of proximity of the enemy when an airship appears and drops bombs and other missiles on the town Then it is that the battle be- tween the forces in the air and those on land begin in earnest. The terrible ef- feet of an attack from the air is vividly shown and the spectators are thrilled as they look with awe on the scene before them Then 1t is that the land defenses against an enemy from above are truth fully depicted, as the radum guns ara trained on the aerial feet either destroy ing them or compelling them to land their forces on earth. A most realistic land fight is shown, the enemy approaching by regulation skirmish rushes and finally routing the invaders and driving them from the city.
 Following the conclusion of the battle scene so splendidly portrayed a magnifi- cent display of fireworks, a fitting cli- max to a brilliant and splendidly exc cuted spectacle.
 This great feature of the Fair must be seen to be appreciated, language is all most inadequate to do justice to it. There are about 200 people in the cast and slCOo worth of fireworks will be displayed each night.