The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-14
A o UMBLE HOMES SIN oNDoN wREcKED BY THE NcUssI OF M
EXPLODING zEPPEL H Eel IN H NEIGHBoRHooD

calling. rarely make use of the pro-
vided FOR them. All aboard wear fur lined
leather suits and heavy felt shoes. for the air
is cutting and bitterly cold, especially at high
attitudes. To protect their eardrums from in
Jury by the deafening noise Of the engines the
officers and men put antiphones in their ears.
From the very start the compass Is used as a
guide To navigation and the Zeppelin gets her
bearings by shooting the sun" But when the
day is overcast and the vast sen beneath gives
no hint rs to the whereabouts. then only perfect
airmanship and the instinct bred OF training
come to the Rescue II the skipper. He takes
not only the prevailing wind into consideration
but also the changes to follow. because n strong
gale blowing from the direction Of his base may
jeopardize his return home. With his eyes on
the shadow OF his ship and on a hit Of drifting
wool suspended beneath the car the officer. by
aid OF n stop watch in his hand. can soon de-
termine the speed at which his craft Is travelling
and the nature ~ the wind.
Captain y is bound straight toward the north
west. Dotted on the waters beneath him are
fishing smacks flying the Dutch cplors. At 3
o'clock that afternoon his task Is finished and
according to orders his craft should be safely
housed In its she'd before nightfall. But the
weather Is most favorable; the temptation to
make the best Of II strong. May I use my
discretion as to the I-76's further movements"
reads the message just sent to Berlin by wire
less. Act on your own Initiative" Is the an-
swer that comes flashing back through space.
Continuing In II northwrsterly direction Cap
tain y decides to make for the British Isles. and
to escape detection aScendS to an altitude Of
$500 meters. Land Is not yet in sight, hut far
beyond on the distant horizon hangs n heavy
pail IT smoke that indicates a manufacturing
town to the practiSel eye. Through an occa-
sional rift In the clouds the airmen can see the
dcstroyrrS Iatrnllin. the long chain OF battle
ships guarding the coast ~ England The Yep
pelin has been guided Alright and the goal Is
reached.
Keeping close To the shore line the L-76 no.
vprS over the town at great height awaiting the
shelter ~ dusk before making an attack. The
favorable moment has arrived. The loud report
craft has been observed. While the Captain is
carefully guiding the dirigible over the targets
far below. the officers In charge are prone on
the floor alongside their sighting Instruments
dropping bombs in quick succession,
Many guns are now trained upon the invader.
One bomb has struck home and the air pressure
caused by the resulting explosion rocks the cars
Of the Zeppelin. Lights are being eXtinguished
everywhere and soon the fires that have broken
out here and there are the only distinguishing
ma rks In the town. The days work Is done.
Rising again to a protecting height the L-76
soars over the city for purposes of observation
and then makes straight for home, The night Is
clear but bitterly cold, On reaching Helgoland
the Captain hcsccnds 100 meters, and by the
light OF the prevailing moon and his knowledge
Of the coast line he steers his craft surely to the
shores Of NOrdcrney. There he spreads out the
official aerial map and by its aid flies overland
to Halle.