The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1914-11-27

King still Is heard tho heavy stroke
Of the wings Of the gigantic bird
but behind the mountain the Ger.
mans are on the lookout The guards
az the aviation post don't know sleep.
The YES OF the officer nj the tele-
graph are a. bright now as at noon
Now a spark and the writing lever
splutters dashes dots.
lie has sighted the Republique' A
shrll whistled signal gives the alarm
IN the station
The Republique must not pass over
tho mountain They vii try TO
catch her or drive her back al least.
Brief commands are given precise
Instructions a few minutes later a
heavy biplane stands ready TO start
A short examination Of the wires
and supports, then the pilot and Oh.
server take their places The motor
is started. the apparatus agger in
vide jumps over the ground and sud.
denly Il shoots Up with a last power.
fl pull Il disappears into the dark.
The compass needle shows the way.
They fly higher and higher the
ridges ot the mountain become visi.
bic as a long. dark strip Now the
oiplane passes over them in smooth
flight Il keeps IN the dark The
WIND blows against Il The apparatus
goes still higher Now the moor
breaks through the clouds for a mo.
ment, giving a quickly disappearing
track OF light. enough 10 show the
Republtque az a distance
The enemy Is discovered
Now caution and courage are need.
ed Perhaps the French airmen have
likewise seen the German. Then there
will be a life and death struggle.
But as a matter Of fact the Repub-
lique has no warming OF the approach
OF the German biplane. which is flying
as wifi as an arrow going higher and
ever faster.
Like two birds OF prey ~svooping
upon u another they come The bi.
plane Is more easily handled The OBJ
server looks into the darkness with
sharp eyes the apparatus moves for
ward In roaring and rushing flight.
Where Is the Republique'
HurlS Bombs on Town.
Another hour passes. Then the
German biplane Is directed earthward.
Below lies the little town like a dot
The apparatus descends lower and
lower The searchlight sends a fash
over the ground like lightning
The mayor, who has not yet gone 10
bed, hastens 10 the window Another
fash OF light lie looks up. sees only
a shadow hut they in the aeroplane
have seen enough-men and guns.
And nov something falls down from
the height. like a stone. not aimed.
bur yet q hit The missile bursts. a
mr.. shea' throws up sparks, splinters.
cracking The mayor starts back.
thunderstruck, cries. rushes out
Flames break out on the market more
cries walls fan into ruins The people
are ho~Vildered
Soldiers receive commands Now
shots go vhigzlnF mp toward the Ger.
mar biplane a..
Another bomb is thrown To- The
ground causing death and desfrlc.
ton aud leaving paralyzing horror
The German biplane however. has
disappeared in the aerial ocean II Is
In full flight u tries to come up with
the R~epubliQue Il ascends In a wide
curve. suddenly there IN a buzzing
noise before a.. Il must be he
Frenchman II seems that be got lost
IN the dark A yell OF triumph es.
oapes the observer. The apparatus
mounts quickly in a spiral curve. In.
deed, II is the Republiquel
The German alrship Victoria now is
like O hawk. measuring the distance
Now the searchiight plays. and II
sends flashes Of liSht over the Repub
lique
Bombs are thrown. The observer
watches them in the quick light. On,
sinks into the night: another on,
also; but the third one make n hit
Il strikes the stern!
The R%epublique, unable 10 fly owe
the enemy, moves along with dimin
ishing speed.
Now the Victoria Is preparing 10
the finishing stroke. Il swoops dow
like an eagle. sure OF It's pre-. TN
airship seems 20 stand on end.
: And now bomb after bomb drop
: down with almost mathematical o.
aetness. The ~Republique groans an
wTfthes from her gaping wounds. sh
0 10 mortally hurt. The linen GOVERN
the wings hang about the rods lk
i fesh cut TO shred. Now II blazes up-
a gigantic fireworh. Then the ENreno
airship goes out IN darkness an
; night