The Washington herald., 1915-01-31
GERMAN SOLDIERS IN LETTERS HOME DESCRIBE SCENES OF CARNAGE
aT dTm Marine

came on so early that many made good
their escape. only however to fall into
our hands a week later at Tannenburg.
Russians kept on arriving the whole
night through, sometimes one man and
sometimes several. all-without a word
gave themselves up as prisoners Heaps
Of ammunition, mountains of guns,
machine guns. flag and General with
300 Rebels in his possession. this was
the first large spoil the 7th company had
to report
Hamburger Fremdenblatt.
November II. 1914O
About the Air Fleet.
Yesterday morning got orders. to ny
over W. and throw bombs on the rail-
way station Of P.-I could have jumped
for joy-Forward!-The weather was
fearful. rain and high wind. so it took US
some time. Cevery bombs weigh 10 kilo-
gramm) to reach an altitude Of 100
meters, thus getting above the rain
clouds, but there, we came into others
which reached up to 1900 meters. and it
was impossible to rise above them. So
We had to get through-we managed it
but how, 1 shall not describe! After
hours. we glided down smoothly. While
We were having a short rest, We could
hear the roar OF the cannons from G..
which Is not far off. where We were to
take the field positions. At noon. We
started off again. the weather having
cleared somewhat-when We had got
about 500 meters high, We looked about
fer a clear spot to ascend. as We did not
relish having to get through the clouds
once more. Suddenly blue patch Of sky
peeped out from between banks OF
clouds and We both said: Now or
Never" 1t was just splendid. gradually
getting higher and higher between the
clouds. At last. hurrah, We had reached
the height We wanted. l turned round
laughing to my pilot 1t was a magnif-
cent feeling-fying above the clouds,
with that grand white-flaked mass un-
derneath US. Soon We could see more
In the meantime We had flown over c..
where the battle had been decided in our
favour. Burning farms threw strange
lights on the magnificent view We had
from above, on our marching troops and
the fleeing Russians. But the most cx-
citing moment was to como yet-We
dashed on tOv V..Now We could see
1t. You can't ne what il Is, to fly
over a fortrC II the ramparts spread
out before you like on a tray. My heart
thumped with joy / got out my paper
and quietly noted down all that was to be
seen. But why didn't they shoot at US?
We were 1900 meters high! Now on to
the station Of P. the object Of our
bombs We came nearer to the W.
Now We have crossed wide river-we
opened the safety gear. nearerAa little
more to the left-a tug-the works give 4
little snap. and down falls the bomb.
We waited a few seconds looking out
for the notwithstanding TO be
seen. I am sorry to say We don't know
where II exploded. Now We went on a
bit and then turned back. wanted to
throw the second bomb on the railway
bridge. AS we turned back by pilot
pointed dOwnwards and underneath US
at least 800 meters deeper, I saw little
white clouds. Ha, ha-at last they had
Weakened Up and were shooting at US, the
smoke was caused by exploding shrap-
nels and shells. What did We do? Flew
right over the town. they could not shoot
al us there, as the falling splinters
would have been too dangerous for the
inhabitants. So We had to face duo
north. as the bridge was not quite under
US the frs time. We came on nearer,
now we have a direct course. The lever
in front,-a jerk-an anxious wait OF
about a moments duration-Bum-It is
just on the bank. a little too much to ono
side. What a pity! A few inches further
and the bridge would have been rendered
impossible for some time at least. Now
we had done our duty and flew home to
...... where We landed at $50 p. m.