Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-09-10
A ZEPPELIN RAID
German Writer Describes an Airship
Raid on England.

coast:
Intelligence cruises by airships and
aeroplanes almost daily increase our
knowledge of the enemy. The air
ships float in their hangers ready to
sail at a moments notice.
1t is barely growing dusk when
Lieut.. Commander x, in command of
airship L, receives an order over the
telephone to cruise on the morrow in
a northwesterly direction in the lati-
tude of Terschelling. He gives the
necessary orders, lies down, and early
next morning enters the hanger.
The crew Of two deck officers and
twelve non commissioned officers are
already at work with a group Of men
under the orders Of the officer Of the
guard. The lieutenant looks to see
that everything is in order.
Sailors in the gondolas test the
motors. One of the officers satisfies
himself that the supply Of petrol is
complete, while the other superin-
tends the placing Of bombs and in
cendiary missiles in the gondolas. The
skipper climbs into the gondola and
after a brief inspection expresses his
satisfaction with a nod Of the head.
Food Carried for Crew.
He is very particular to note that
light refreshments. warm tea in their
mos TASKS and bread and butter, have
been shipped. On longer trips he Is
accustomed to take sausages also,
They are easily warmed IN the ex-
haust in a tiny aluminium pot. The
necessary maps being also In order, he
descends to the ground.
There is silence in the great hall
Of which the doors have been opened.
The men who hold down the vessel
are in their places. The crew are
at their stations in the gondolas. The
officer in charge reports: "All in order
to the skipper, who calls out instruc-
tions to discharge the water ballast.
There Is a rush Of water, and the
vessel gradually rises above her props
and floats in the air. The captain
PAGES her whole length, scanning her
with careful eye. Then he climbs into
the front gondola and orders her to
be taken out.
The lieutenant repeats the order
"Airship forward" and the men with
the mooring ropes tow her into the
open. A gust Of wind outside causes
her to sway, and her lose is pointed
in the direction Of the wind. The
breeze increases now, as though it had
only been waiting for the airship to
venture outside. A squall seems
to threaten.
The skipper has to wait patiently
and squats on the bulwark Of the gon-
dola waiting for a more propitious mo
ment. The wind goes down. Spring
ing to his feet, he shouts. Loosen"
and the mooring rope at the bow is let
go.
The Start is Made.
one Is HOW Helu olly ny lHc gun
dolas, into which the lieutenant climbs
like an impatient steed champing
at it's bit the airship is Juggling at its
mooring ropes. There Is a cry Of
"Tention!" and a long, shrill blast from
the boatswain's whistle. The last
ropes are dropped, and almost stimuli
taneously the engine telegraph
signals Motors full speed ahead"
With a noise like thunder the pro-
pellers spring into life, and the vessel
shoots forward and upward.
The forward gondola resembles
nothing so much As the bridge Of a
warship and as in the chart house of
a cruiser so the skipper now bends
over his maps. But the occupation OF
an aviator is harder than that Of the
s~eafarer.
Clad in fur lined leather clothes, he
has to protect himself against cold,
which particularly attacks his feet,
He also has to protect his ears from
the noise Of the motors, so nerve
racking is their throb. No matter how
long the cruise lasts, the officers never
quit their posts, and although ham,
mocks are provided for the crew it is
seldom that they are used.
Already in the ascent the ship has
cleaved it's way through banks of
clouds. The sun shining through them
on the sea facilitates steering. With
his eyes on the shadow of the vessel
and a piece of wood hanging loose at
the end Of a string, the skipper is
able to reckon the speed Of the vessel
and the condition Of the wind.
If the weather is dull and the air.
ship is above open water without any
landmarks in sight only practice and
seamanlike instinct can help the com.
mander to a knowledge Of his position.
He must also reckon not only with the
prevailing wind but with threatening
changes. A strong current from the
direction Of home might make his re-
turn difficult.
This time, however, the vessel ad-
vance in a straight line to the north
west. A number Of fishing vessels can
be seen at sea, all flying the Dutch
flag, but the skipper thinks his own
thoughts. He knows that British fish
ermen, even close under their own
coasts, now seldom fly anything but
Dutch colors.
BY 3 p. m, his mission is at an
end. He had received orders to be
back at the hanger before dusk, but
the weather being so favorable he
asks permission by wireless to act on
his own initiative and profit by the
favorable opportunity. Agreed" Is the
reply.
Continuing his flight to the north
west he determines to deliver a blow
against the English coast. 1t is yet
twilight when he approaches England,
and he ascends to a height of 1000
feet in order to keep out Of sight of
the watchful eyes on board England's
guardships.
Through a rift in the clouds a de-
Stroyer could be seen making the
round Of the guardships. There is
nothing yet to be seer Of the land,
hut q h1ackiSh m~istineSs on tho die