The Washington herald., 1914-11-01
RUSSIAN CANNON
DESTROY AIRSHIP
Zeppelin No. 5 Brought to
Earth Near Soldau by
Cars Horse Battery.
ENTIRE CREW IS TAKEN
Apparatus Badly Damaged and Hull
Later Blown Up-Capt. Gruener
and Lieut.. Rehling Prisoners.
,,.i,I C,hle n me- Ny,sbinrtnn He-,Id,

Special Gable to Tue Washington Hrrald.
Petrograd. Oct. 3l.-A Russian corre-
spondent tells today the details Of the
destruction Of Zeppelin No. 5. A Russian
cavalry brigade with a horse battery
was proceeding in marching order from
village near Soldau. in the direc-
ton Of suburb --. As the brigade was
approaching the frontier Gordon a Ger
man airship was seen steering straight
for the Russians from the direction of
Mlava. AS the commander of the bat
terry at that moment was with the chief
Of the division at the tail of the col
umn. fire was opened at this enticing
target. but the shots appeared to fall
short.
The range was increased. and at the
third volley the airship began to as
sumo a vertical inclination. This. as
was shown later, was due to the break
ing of the stabilizator and rudder by our
fire. However the airship continued on
its course toward the German frontier,
though travelling slowly. and disappeared
behind a wood to the left OF the bat
terry.
Bombs of No Effect.
Without losing a moment the guns were
taken round the wood at a gslIop, and
renewed their fire. While they were on
their way the airship flung bombs at
them, but without success. 1t then d.
reCted a machine gun upon them. but
the bullets fell short. and did no dam
age.
From the new position only one volley
was fired, as the dirigible now stopped
for a moment and then was carried back
by the, Rind toward the south. Quickly
the battery galloped back to its first
position, whence the airship was finally
10 aFzrpnd-TH-ith n h
in three miles OF the village OF Lipo-
vitz
Several Cavalrymen with the senior
officer of the battery. were sent to re-
ceive the prize. but when they reached
the airship they found they had been
anticipated by a CossaCk patrol. which
seemed TO have sprung out Of the
ground.
The prisoners taken were the COM
mander of the Zeppelin. the captain Of
the airship battalion. Gruener: Lieut..
Wilhelm Rehling. the mechanic. and four
soldiers One officer and two lower
grades somehow had time TO hide in
the neighborinE village. but were dis
covered on the following day.
Lieut.. Rehl'ng had torn on his officers
epauIets in order to conceal his rank.
Only one officer and soldier were
wounded. but the apparatus had been
badly damaged in the air. The rudder,
propellers benzine tuues. motors and
stabilizatOr had all suffered and the hull
had been pierced in several places.
Under Cannon Fire Before.
According to the admissions of Capt.
Gruener. the airship was vitality injured
by our first discharge but its dirigibil
ity was completely destroyed by the fire
from the Second position. When our ar
tillery commander asked. How could
you dare TO steer so impudently direct
for our battery Gruener replied that
he had more than once been under can
non fire. and had always come out sue
cessfully.
The hull was eventually blown up by
the Russian cavalry, but large num-
ber OF trophies were carried on. They
included an army flag with the name
Zeppelin Five" and the embroidered
Prussian eagle insignia Of the order
Pour la Merite." two machine guns.
a machine rife. four motors, many plans.
maps. sketches. documents. Photographic
apparatus. and forty signal rockets.
All the bombs had already been used.
Some of them had been thrown onto
Mlava Station. where several Russian
soldiers were killed by them.
When the prisoners were escorted to
the staff, and the senior officer of the
battery learned that Capt. Gruener had
no money with him, he offered to lend
him till the end - IT, war all that he
had available. namely. a hundred roubles.
The Germans accepted the Offer with
He wished to give a receipt for
the sum. and was greatly touched when
he received the answer that Russian Of
icers were not accustomed to take such |
from officers. even OF
-he enemy. Capt. Gruener, indeed, shed !
.ears at this consideration. Not less af- |
rected was the mechanic on receiving |
back a photograph of his wife whom he |
had married only a few weeks earlier.