The Sentinel=record., 1914-06-21
UNDER ORDERS TO MIMIC FIGHT BETWEEN AERoPLANE AND
 DlRIGlBLE, ALL KILLED.
BRIDE WITNESSED TRAGEDY
AeropIane Maneuvered About the Dir igble and Was Apparently About to Swoop Down Close Over it to Command Situation.

Vienna, June 2O.-Nne burned and mutilated bodies, the splintered frag- ments of an aeroplane, and the charred remnants of a big dirigible balloon are the mute records of one of the most tragic, and certainly the most sensational, disasters since man learned to fly.
 The catastrophe, which resulted in the death of all concerned nine off cers and men, followed mimic at tack today by the aeroplane on the dirigabe at a great height during the Austrian maneuvers, and served to show more than previous accidents to flying machines have done, the horrors that would be likely to at tend aerial warfare.
 The dirigible balloon Coertling early today left Fischamend, eleven miles from Vienna, manned by Capt Johann Hauswirth, in command; Lieut.. Ernst Hofstetter, Lieutenant Bruer, Lieutenant Haidinger, Corpo- ral Hadima, Corporal Weber and En- gineer Kammerer.
 At the elapse of half an hour a military biplane with Lieutenant Flatz and Lieutenant Hoosta aboard, started in pursuit
 It was the intention of Captain tiauswrth to take photographs of the movements of the troops below and then to join i'll the maneuvers. At the same time lhe was to keep out of range of any of the mosquito craft which might seek to attack him.
 The news had gone abroad that something in the nature of an aerial fight would take place and at Koe- nigsberg, the scene of the engage ment a big crwd had gathered Very quickly the smaller but speedier craft overlook the big airahip and then spectators witnessed a thrilling sight.
 Like a wasp bent on attacking a clumsy enemy. the aeroplane circled several times around the balloon, now darting close to her, and then away always apparently steering off just in time to avoid an actual col lision.
 Meanwhile the balloon continued to rise until it was about 1900 feet from the ground. The aeroplane, at still greater height. maneuvered until it appeared to be nearly over the airship. Then it began it's de- scent. It was the etident intention of the pilot of the aeroplanea to take up a position directly above the dirigible, within striking distance, but owing either to fatal miscalcu- lation of distance, or speed, the nose of the biplane struck the envelope of the airship 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 like lead to the slope of a hill Almost at the same mment the wife of Lieutenant Hofstetter, who had been married only a month, ar rived in a motor car
 The envelope of the balloon still was burning when it struck the ground Lieutenant Flatz, when ex- tricated from the wreckage of the aeroplane, showed faint signs of life but almost immediately expired. All the others were killed.
 Military officers who witnessed the disaster said that the maneuvers had been undertaken with instructions to carry out as far as possible actual war conditions, in which an aero plane was attacking dirigible, the latter trying to repel the assault. The occupants of both craft had been ordered to conduct themselves as they would in an actual combat.
 According to some experts the catastrophe seemingly was caused by the aeroplane being caught in the eddies from the balloon. They at tribute the accident to a species of whirlwind caused by the airship's propeller, which drew in the small machine.
 Archduke Charles Francis and sev- eral other officials of the ministry arrived shortly on the scene and an aide-de-camp of the emperor also pro ceeded there to seek information for