The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-19


 ported to us,. and the defense guns began
 their deadly work, throwing a ring oi | German shrapnel around them. The at | tempt cost them dearly. Badly damaged and crippled. one escaped, while his com panion is still considering the usefulness | of the undertaking in a detention camr for prisoners of war
 | Of course, these attacks have not been entirely abandoned. The dangerous pro- ject was far too important for that. Ana
 when they found an honest raid in all open way was not possible, they tried means less honorable. A few weeks after
 the war started and soon after the un- successful attack by enemy aviators. if occurred. Night had fallen and a heavy
 fog lay over the lake. Silence prevails l everywhere. The small waves are spiasn- ing against the pontoons which, like pre- historic monsters, were stretched far out into the lake. The propeller of the pa trol boat is heard beating the water The searchlights endeavor to penetrate the solid, grey wall.
 1 The sentry on land paces over his given beat. Two hundred steps this way and two hundred back again. The heavy damp air is depressing Tn a few minutes, his coat is drenched. No sound is heard Nothing is suspicious.
 I peering out into the night. Was not that | the splash of oars?
 MULTIPLIED NOISE HEARD | But in the same rythme. the waves are 1 splashing against the shore. Had he been mistaken? But again the sound was heard more distinctly and nearer this tune. A muffled, regular noise as if padded oars were being dipped quietly into water Now he was sure fI,a
 | stepped towards him and was also standing-immovabe listening. listening. Ihey were sure now Somebody was coming, who dared not face daylight: An enemy Careful and silently both stepped ! aside, prepared to act in second
 Like a shadow, 1t draws nearer and silently lands in the darkness A boat, man fastens it and steps ashore. Aha? The massive structure, where two air cruisers were now being finished and oth- CTS assembled, was his object Silently two others were following him. Nearer and nearer they come, and now-four strong hands are laid upon the shoulders or the surprised enemy He would do no more harm. And what did the French men intend to do? The hand grenades they carried were a confession Since that time nothing more has hap- pened. Every attempt must certainly fail, because of the most careful watch kept over the works day and night new day is breaking, and, with the new light the signs of life, that never cease throughout the night, seem to be redoubled. Louder and sharper the ham mering sounds, this noise being increased by the racket from the testing motor stand.
 TEST OF NEW SHIP Day after day airship propellers are re- volving here at a terrible speed: engines Of thousands and even more horse DOW CT are roaring. Almost unbelievable it l seems that, in this hellsh noise, the hu- man ear does not fail But engineers ana mechanicians are standing undis- turbed, listening to and testing the fine motors The least irregularity, the faint est difference in their monotonous song is noticed at once by their finely tuned ears. Faults that would prove fatal in the air can be corrected here in a few min utes.
 In the great assembling building the long frame of a new air-cruiser is resting on its foundations. It is really a dread naught of the air, besides which all others must look small The finishing touches are given her. Everything is ready. The testing commission has ar rived. Presently, I enter the building. Quickly, the engineer steps up to me and reports:
 
 half an hour we will be ready" FGood Then we can make our first trip. We can test her today" I reply. Searchingly my eyes wander through the big windows. Summerlke, the sun is shining on the blue-white ice of the lake. All the weather reports are faver- able. With happy expressions of ap- proval, l look over the graceful long body which is giant compared to the other ships have commanded until now
 The last preparations are completed With hissing noise the gas rushes into the big bags stretching them to their full capacity The hangar crew is bring ing ballast. The testing commission goes aboard.
 Everything clear? Doors open!'
 PROPELLERS SING SONG
 The propellers begin their deafening song. Slowly the giant is being pushed into the open. From all the buildings workmen are coming to greet their new child. It is the first time that an air cruiser of such tremendous dimensions has left the works. It is new proof of what German genius can accomplish Easily as if being born to it's element it takes the air. where, in greeting, the wind receives it payfully into its king dom. Higher, always higher we ascend, then turn, and disappear over the black forest
 Happy are those on land watching the flight. they told us afterwards. Shy and wabbly the first airship left here years ago. That was a child of which good care had to be taken And now? It was a day of glory for the works and for the man who created the Zeppelin.
 The next day again finds us ready. Much higher we ascend this time. Every