The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1914-06-24
Mimic Warfare Met With
Fatal Results.
AN AEROPLANE AND OIRIG|BlE
Balloon In C0lliSiOn-Men and
Machines Crash To
Earth Below.
MANEUvERS AT GREAT HEIGHT

Vienna, June 2O.--Nine terribly
burned and mutilated bodies, the
splintered fragments of an aeroplane
and the charred remnants of big
dirigible balloon are the mute rec
ords of one of the most tragic, GER
tainly the most sensational disasters
which have occurred since man
learned to fly.
The catastrophe, which resulted
in the death of all concerned, fol-
lowed a mimic attack by the aero
plane on the dirigible at great
height during the Austrian maneu-
vers, and it serves to show more than
any previous accidents to flying ma
chimes have done, the horrors that
would be likely to attend aerial war
fare.
The dirigible military balloon,
Koertling, left Fischamend, a mar
ket town eleven miles from Vienna,
at o'clock in the morning. She
was manned by Capt. johann Haus-
wirth, in command, Lieut.. Ernst
Hofstetter, Lieut.. Bruer, Lieut.. Hal
dinger, Corp. Hadima, Corr. Weber
and Engineer Kammerer.
After half an hour military ae-
roplane Of the biplane type. with
Lieut.. Flatz and Lieut. Hoosta
aboard, started in pursuit. 1t was
the intention of Capt. Hauswirth 10
take photographs of the movements
of the troops below and then TO Join
in the maneuvers. At the same time
he was to keep out of range of any
of the mosquito craft which ,n;ight
seek to attack him.
The news had gone abroad that
something in the nature of a sham
aerial fight would take place, and at
Koenigsberg, the scene of the en-
gagement, big crowd had gathered.
Very quickly the smaller but speed
Ter craft overlook the big airsbip
and then the spectators witnessed a
thrilling sigh.
AS might wasp bent on attack
ing some clumsy enemy, the aero
plane circled several times around
the balloon, now darting close to
her. and then away, always appar-
emily steering off just in time to
avoid an actual collision.
Meanwhile, the balloon continued
to rise until it was-about 1900 feet
from the ground. The ,aeroplane, at
a still greater height. Unanswered
until it appeared to be nearly over
the airship. Then il began its de-
scent. 1t was the evident intention
of the pilot of the aeroplane to take
up position directly above the dir
igible, within striking distance, but.
owing to a fatal miscalculation of
the distance separating the two
craft. or of speed. the nose of the BIZ
plane struck the envelope of the air.
ship and ripped it wide open.
A tremendous explosion followed;
the balloon burst into flames which
enveloped the biplane. and in a mo-
ment the wreckage began to drop.
crashing at length like lead to the
slope of hill. Almost at the same
moment the wife OF Lieut.. Hofstet-
ter. who had been married only
month. arrived in motorcar.
The envelope of the balloon was
still burning when II struck the
ground. Lieut.. Flatz when extri-
Gated from the yreckage of the aero
plane showed faint signs of life; his
body quivered, and he seemed to be
an effort to raise himself,
but almost Immediately he expired.
All the others were killed.
Military officers who witnessed
the disaster said that the maneu-
vers had been undertaken with in
structions to carry out as far as pos
sible actual war conditions, in which
an aeroplane was attacking a diri-
gible, the latter trying to repel the
assault The occupants of both craft
had been ordered to conduct them
selves as they would in an actual
According to some experts, the
seemingly was caused
by the aeroplane being caught in the
eddies from the balloon. They at
tribute the accident to species OF