The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-05
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mander OF the Zeppelin from being over
taken by the enemy.
The machine which I was plotting was
the second TO rise above the fire zone,
though one ragged wing showed a wound
of the fray.
As a balloon the Zeppelin could rise no
higher. for all her ballast had been sacri-
feed. The captain decided to bring his
elevating planes back to normal and stake
ali on "a high speed flight in n horizontal
course. He was encouraged in this by the
sight of his German lines below. with the
landmarks which he knew SO well. puffs
Of smoke told him that the aefoplancs were
being shclicd by German gunners. that the
born1ardInent lowered upon us might re-
licvc him at any moment Indeed some OF
the shots burst SO near the Zeppelin that
the commander must have had an indiffer-
Pnt opinion OF the gunners' marksmanship.
Rut the firing on land soon ceased. An
omlnous sign to the commander 81 the Yep
pelin.
When I talked afterward with n cornrade
IN a machine below the level of the Ieppe-
lin he told me Of the intense agony which
the Zeppelin crew suffered as they looked
al each other with horror stricken eyes.
without doubt their one possessing though,
was. What is happening above u.s." From
their little cabins there was no possibility
II an upward survey. for the grea. body OF
the ship doomed above them. shutting out
the overhead view.
Bu, the crew of tho Zeppelin could pic
'urc in their minds eyes those two raunt
birds. Of which | happened to he plotting
one. living after them rcmorselossly az
Fate. ana inch 10y in,s gaining on them.
We'll did the crew know tha, tho Icppe,iu
would soon be beneath the a.roplancs. 4
bomb Will drop on the great sh ps back.
and then
IN II frenzy the aptain plunged his shin
downward and swurg her to the right with
Il swerNc that threatened t. break 'lcr
spine. But tie elcphpntino mlnmuvrc
awaited aim little. W. IN the acroplancs
could dive and sw"rvc with To-" grace Of
swallows. white the giant ship numbered
Ike q d.rcl.yt balloon.
But what was p,ssrg through tho III nd
~ In" ,ommander of that X"ppclia? Fan
within his view down there on land was
ais lIarhor of safety. his hangar. only so>-
cral thousand feet away. Ills fat" Was IN
the balance and he knew it. His transit to
land would he only Il matter If seconds. but
what Of those ouzzard aeruplaur> above
HIM? In Ito fierce conflict ~ the air IN
Europe ,her, is no quarter. True. t = a
more man t. man combat than any other
phase Of the war. but II il RELENTLESS.
We Of the aeroplsnes summoned up all
our remaining nerve energy. our prize
was just wi,hin our grasp he mast not
escape. " he did We would most easily
become the prey II the anti-aircraft guns
hat were waiting treir chance Ia send
nloft th'ir deadly hail of shrapncI.
Down swept our bombs with uuc~r ug
accuracy. There was "A dun ,huG trd tIcr
- sheet = ii4r". spreading VITA lightning
speed. IN a moment envel"piug ,Gc "ut.ro
mass" vessel. The burnin s h,drug,n
consumed II with appalling fury. ANA ~ u
Few ins;ants tine great ship. crumh,.nS aud
melting. hIrtlcd To- earth Ike a blazing
meteor.
From the earpl many guns spokc. They
cut served for the firing salute over the
",YoS q the fallen.
our machines rockc uad,r Tho coucGs-
sion e bursting shells. Int ", managed TO
koc,, o1 our way.
only a German knows VIVA il; is to s.c
Il I"pr" in fan. II = an omen If doom.
Wha; = tremendous impression that inst
aerial encounter with a Zeppelin left upon
my IN nd And while tried t. De- my
l+t n the encounter WAS glad that II
Ms rot my bomb that had s,rUck the
backbone of the monster airsh.p.
Thu Irppelins .av. had their day. which
! h"li'N" u fast passing. or al the COM
bat1nts at the outbreak f hostilitirs the
Germans a!un" possessed an effective acrlli
voapoH Z offence IA Their ~ ,.lu,. :lc.r
m, & superiority In this respect i, ,i~t
I,dinr away. and the Wur der = that the
q mans hitherto have uu, made hct.cr usr
Z thc.r opportunities q. this respect. trr
The Gaul.@o they have wrought has been
from 3 military point { view Totally IN
si-N.h. an.
Thee ,i' ~" means of d|,fcrsc a-ains,
tac Z, p,ti.u Vhivn have roc. we'd ltf,r-