The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-08-03
BOMB DROPPING By a
ZEPPLIN IS DESCRIBED

THE skipper climbed in and after
after q brief Inspection, expressed MS
satisfaction with nod, and then
descended to the ground
There was silence In the great
lhaIl. The men who hold down the
vessel were In their places. The
crew were at their stations.
THE ofncer In charge reported
all IN order to the skipper. who
called out instructions to discharge
the water ballast. There was rush
rose above the props and hoated.
swayed by Gust.
THE captain paced the whole
length. scanning with careful eye
Then he climbed into the front gon-
dola and ordered to Be taken out.
The lieutenant repeated the order
'airship forward, and the men with
the moortng ropes towed it into the
open. A gust of wind outside caused
her to sway. It tugged at Its moor.
ling ropes like an impatient sted
fchamping at its bit. j,
"a cry Of attention long shrill
blast from the boatswa1n's WnistAei
the last ropes were dropped. and
almost simultaneously the engine
room telegraph signaled motor full
speed ahead.
with a noise like thunder the
propeller sprang into life. the Vessel
shot forward and upward.
The forward gondola resembled
nothing so much as the bridge OF a
warship, and as in the chart-house
of cruiser, 50 the skipper now
bent over his maps.
Must Reckon Wind.
THE ship in It's ascent soon cleaved
its way through banks Of clouds.
The sun shining through them upon
the sea facilitated steering. With
his eyes upon the shadow OF the
vessel and piece of wood hanging
loose at the end of string. the
skipper was able to reckon his speed
and the strength Of the wind. II the
weather is dull and the airshtp is
above open water. only practice and
seamanship instinct can help the
commander to knowledge of his
only with the prevailing wind but
with threatening changes. A strong
current from the direction of home
might make his return very difficult,
This time. however, the vessel ad-
vanced In straight line to the north
west. A number of fishing vessels
could be seen at sea, all flying the
Dutch dag, but the skipper thought
his own thoughts. He knows thai
British fishermen even close under
their own coasts now seldom fly any
thing but the Dutch co1ors.
by 3, D. m. his mission was at an
end. He had received orders to be
back at the hangar before dusk. but
the weather being 50 favorable he
Geographically asked permission tc
act on his own initiative, sid profit
4 by the favorable opportunity
t.Agreed' was the reply.
Destroyer Sighted.
Continuing his digit to the nor
thwest he determined to deliver 9
blow against the English coast. u
twas yet twilight when he approached
England and assembled to a height OF
1890 meters in order to keep out Of
sight of the watchful eyes on board
Bngland's guardships. Through
| rift in the clouds a destroyer coulc
be seen of the land, but a blacklist
mistfness on the distant horizon wa:
recognized by trained eyes as smoke
from the chimneys of an industrial
district. The skipper now knew that
he had steered true course. ano
that his Destinations harbor with
enemy dock yards-was before him
Bombs Are Dropped.
sHe remained above the clouds
until dark. then pushed on to the
coast. he detected in the dying day
light the two moles marking the
mouth Of the river which he was
seeking. Almost simultaneously
came flashes of artillery fire from
below The rudder swung round, and
i the airship's gunner lay on his face
by the sighting apparatus, and fired
1T the targets over which he was
being steered There were now
flashes beneath us which did not pro
coed from the enemy artillery. The
displacement OF air, due to q ire
mendous explosion, was felt in the
gondola. Below us q large factory
was seen to collapse upon itself. The
windows of the other workshops sud
denly became dark.
The men in the gondolas were
under the Impression that tey could
see policemen hurrying through the
streets with cries Of warning. he
cause house after house was suddenly
swallowed in darkness. until the town
and suburbs were in complete OBJ
security.
But the work was done. After
making observations for half an
hour the return journey was begun.
The weather was clearer but bitterly
cold The skipper sank to an altf-
tude of only 100 meters above He'll
goland, and was helped by the moon
light along the German coast. Above
Norderney the maps were again re-
Questioned. and then straight for the
hangar. z
-- n
The Clerk Guaranteed 1t.