River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-12-10

place and found him all he could de-
sire. In fact. the interest which he
manifested in the work was second
only to Stillman's own.
Between them they took the precious
substance Meade had brought from
the oasis and began to fashion it into
the screens.
By now another task was added to
Meade's already heavy burden. In an
other part of the city the magnetic
bombs, which were to furnish the am
munition of the destroyers, were being
prepared. Each day now Stillman en-
tered speedy machine and was driven
to the ammunition factory to supervise
the most important of the details at
tending their production.
Sometimes he stopped and took Ber-
nice with him that her presence. the
sound of her voice. might rest him and
give him back something of poise.
More than she knew her influence help
ed to perfect the mighty engines of
war.
1t was the middle of February, and
it had become evident that Japan in
tended to precipitate an engagement
from the base the orientals had estab-
lished. With somewhat anxious minds
an inquiry was sent from the strategy
board to Meade on the 18th asking for
a definite date of completion for the
aero destroyers He replied that he
would finish by the night of the 21st.
Bernice and Darling and he had even
chine, the first laid down was to be
called the Miracle, and Meade had been
specially commissioned to command
her. The second would be captained
by Darling. with Arkel as his lieuten-
ant. and the third was to be named
the Stillman. with Monsel, who had
resigned from the board for the pur-
pose, as her governing head.
Throughout the morning Of the Goth
Japan massed her fighting men along
the front of the American position.
About p. m. on the Goth Japan
opened her attack by turning move
ment directed against the American
right flank. Until nightfall the battle
ragged fercely with frightful loss on
the American side, due mostly to the
long range work of the aerial bombs.
which burst above their positions with
telling effect.
Finally the japanese army shattered
the right wing of the American army.
and our forces were compelled to take
a new position.
The result was that the engagement
of the Dist was fought a good many
miles nearer the historic town of Get
tysburg than that of the preceding day.
And the second day was greater eX-
hibition of unrestrained slaughter than
the one before.
1t was decided to fall back still fur
Their toward Gettysburg and compel the
enemy to follow. in the hopes that the
inevitable defeat might be postponed
or the aero destroyer arrive during the
next day, as promised.
The morning broke heavily OverclOud-
ed, with a mistlike cloud of chilled
vapor shrouding the lower swales and
holloWs The first of the aerOplane
scouts darted up and Whirred off to the
south on the outlook for the Japanese
advance Tiny fires sprang up along
the American position, where the
troops were making some sort Of shift
at warm drink or bite to eat.
All commissariat arrangements ehad
fallen inadequate in that hurried re-
treat to this new and final position 1t
was this row of twinkling fire flares
through the mist which first met the
eyes of Meade and Monsel. as they
swan high above the plain.
They descended slowly in front or
General Broderick's headquarters. and
the news that the Miracle had arrived
created a profound sensation New
hope rose in the hearts of the nations
defenders. General Broderick inform
ed Meade that he could proceed against
the invaders at once.
The Miracle rose and sped away on
it's errand Of death
The japanese planes came In sight.
Stillman nodded to Monsel. use the
small canister Shells" be said.
The captain turned. His voice rang
through the interior Of the destroyer
in crisp command:
'Load-tubes!'
Ten men leaped into action like
hounds from the leash. Prom the am
munition boxes, standing ready with
open lids, they lifted numbers Of the
magnetic bombs and thrust them into
the pneumatic tubes which were to
vomit them forth.
The Miracle was rising. She shot up
TO 800 feet above waere the japanese
fiers were circling over their army's
advance.
Monsel's lips snarled back. "Firey'
rang his command.
Plop! Plop. Plop! coughed the side
tubes, the bottoms. the rear. A ven
Omous swarm of little shells darted