The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-21

Naturally every station along our route now has been warned of our approach. We face hell, and wonder what can pre- vent disaster. We know the English are cotinually planning new devices and diff ferent means for5defense against us. We are racing against death in a thousand disguises.
 Doggedly determined, we continue un- daunted as I steer toward our goal. The landmarks must soon be picked up which will tell me whether I am still on the right course. Even if those below us have been warned a hundred times, there is no escape from determined German air cruisers.
 Of course, I am thoroughly acquainted with the map and the geography and to- pography of the country, so that there Is really no possibility of losing our way. With my nerves steeled, I give my or ders, and the crew carries them out with nerves of iron. Danger? The German airman does not know such a word A second line of defense is ahead of us The days of the searchlights, as if att tempting to stop the air cruiser by them selves, are directed toward us.
 Again one of the fingers of light touches us, and flashes from the bat teries of aerial guns are visible. Once more the puffs from the shrapnel are close to us, followed by the clouds of red fire. Nearer and nearer they come as the gunners get the range, until they break all around the ship.
 There! A thick cloud breaks very near us.
 "Rudder to portr I order
 LODGING AWAY UNDAMAGED
 In another minute, L-120 has again lodged away, undamaged.
 Stars break through the clouds, and even their feeble light helps us to see more clearly beneath us. There is a long, silvery line, widening to the right-the coast of Kent. Crowded close together, landing lights are flaring up as another searchlight ray breaks out to port of us, These are the defense batteries of North foreland. I know at once, for I readily recognize them.
 "Rudder to port" I shout.
 Over the Thames, we are sailing ex- actly in the middle of the river now to keep out of range of the dangerous de- lenses of the great port of Sherness and the warships anchored there. Only a little farther, and we will have reached our destination. As if made of steel, my hands clutch the steering levers, and all preparations are made to use the bombing apparatus No one on the earth can now block our way.
 Directly under our air cruiser in the middle of the Thames we see a, flash. A small ship, apparently a destroyer, is there, believing and barking with hef guns like a toothess wathdog. Then al top speed she races through the water which streams off behind her in a phos- phorescent wake.
 I grind my teeth. That little dog there hangs to us. I don't like him. He must be stopped.
 Bombs" l order.
 In rapid succession tWo bombs are dropped
 Good shot!
 Just one explosion follows and then we see reddish flames and great clouds of white smoke. Darkness and silence are below
 We search the spot where the English man had been travelling only moment ago with our night glasses but only the waters of the Thames reflect back their greenish light. There was no sign of the destroyer
 Sunki
 He will meyer again disturb the flight of another German air cruiser. Copyright, 1917, by John N. Wheeler
 Inc.)
 The fifth installment of this remark able narrative will appear tomorrow.