The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1914-10-09
BY RAYMOND E. SWING.

the person of Feldwebel Werner, one
of the hundreds of German aero
nauts, who has the distinction Of be-
ing one of the first Germans to fly
over Paris and to fight a remarkable
battle in the air with two Of the
enemy's aeroplanes. He was pas
Benger for a short distance in the
special car put at the disposal Of cor
respondents on their way to Liege and
told US graphic story of his expert
ences.
Werner's first assignment was to
find the English army near Mons.
The army was about 100000 strong
nd was retiring before a German
force Of double its strength.
Where Were French AViators2
Here, at the start, one wonders how
the French could have allowed their
allies to be so misled about the
strength of the opposing forces.
Where were the French aviators? /
know of a man who had been over
the field and who told the war office
in France that at least 100000 Ger
mans were in the flanking army ad-
vancing through Belgium, but he was
told: Impossible! There is only
cavalry"
The French were completely out
witted by this flank movement. The
flower OF their army was at the Al
SAGE frontier. Their mistake will cost
them Paris.
At Mons the English forces took
up a strong position, filling houses at
the edge OF the city with troops and
machine guns and covering the road
OF the advancing German troops.
When the enemy approached they d.
rected terrific fire upon them and
could be dislodged only at heavy cost.
They then retired to position be-
hind great mountains of Stag behind
the city, where the Germans were
unable to dislodge them with howitzer
fire.
Flyer Watches the Battle.
Again, they could be driven back
only by fanking movements from both
sides. This time our flyer, who
lish retired hastily along the road in
the direction Of lie Cateau.
"The English have reached their
new position successfully" said a
London report in its account of this
retreat. And out Of breath" added
a correspondent on reading the dis
patch.
The fighting at Mons was furious
and the Germans were enraged by the
British method Of fighting, which
throughout at Mons was done under
cover. Never had German soldiers
fought with such frenzy as against
this foe.
Attacked by Two Alrshlps.
When the enemy retired Airman
Werner was assigned to the duty Of
following and discovering their new
position. He found the army near lie
Cateau, where, at the edge of wood,
he saw them taking up a strong po-
sition In semi-circle before the for
est. While watching these operations
from height of LOO yards Werner
suddenly saw double-decker Bristol
aeroplane coming down on him from
the clouds. The Bristol is a faster
but a less sure machine than the
Taube which Werner was plotting.
There was no safety in running away;
the Bristol could overtake him. He
could not alight, as the English we're
underneath. There was nothing to
do but to face the worst and to fly
gradually lower and lower In the d.
rection of the German army. AS the
Bristol came nearer Werner espied
second aeroplane, little Bleriot, an
other swift flier, also bearing down on
him.
Revolver Battle In Air.
The Bristol drew closer and closer
flying down upon Werner in large
circles, gradually getting within
range. With one hand on the wheel
the German officer drew out his re-
volver and emptied his magazine at
the approaching foe. But the Bristol
continued, coming always nearer.
when they get over me they will
drop a bomb" thought Werner, and
felt most uncomfortable. His OBJ
server reloaded Werners revolver and
both kept on firing. But the Bristol
kept always coming closer in its cir
eles, firing cons" ntly on the German
monoplane. The Blerlot had come
close enough to fire also and bullets
punctured the wings Of the German
machine at intervals OF seconds only.
There was no sound reaching the
Germans except that Of their own mo-
tors. They only knew the English
and French pilots were shooting from
the vivid flashes from their revolvers.
But no bombs fell; It was evident that
the English and French were not
carrying them.
Escaped to the German Army.
Firing continued as Werner de-
scended gradually, reducing his eleva-
ton from LOO yards to $50, always
coming closer to the German army.
Every moment he faced the risk OF |
being wounded or Of bullet striking |
his steering apparatus.