The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1917-10-02
NEW DEVICES
STOP AIR RAIDS
LONDON MIGHT SOON BE RID OF
THE MENACE FROM OVER
HEAD ATTACKS.

An Aerodrome in Southeastern Eng
land, Sept. 80 Correspondence OF
the Associated Press Two principal
factors in eliminating the midnight
Zeppelin raids on London and other
British cities were the perfection OF
night flying by British airFlane pilots
and the multiplication of small air
plane stations. From these stations
powerful air craft could be sent up
like hornets to cover every possible
avenue of approach whenever the
Zeppelin fleet attempted invasion.
Probably the full story of the elab-
crate and painstaking steps by which
the Zeppelin menace was overcome.
will not be fully told until after the
war. 1t is now known. however. that
every airplaHe pilot in the British
army and navy is required TO spend =
certain number of hours Of his course
OF training in night flying in the most
f~lIeu CUHulllODS.
a visit to ore Of these small air
plane outpost stations, housing ONLY
two machines, on & night when y raid.
er was sighted off the coast and there
was "a bit Of work" to be done, show
ed now they guarded England against
night attack.
AT nlghtfall, the two airplanes were
drawn from their hangers and rolled
out, ready to be called to work. thr
work which involves such a strain a.
has never before been endured b.,
man or wood or iron. Both machines
were fully equipped with machine
guns, already loaded, aerial torpedoes
| and flares for landing purposes. The
engines were tuned to perfection.
In a tiny office adjoining the han
gar sat the officer in charge of the
station Within reach of his right
hand was the telephone. and on the
| desk in front of him litter of hooks
| and papers dealing with the person.
| mel of the two airplanes. "a.
1T was just after midnight when the
| silence was at last broken bv the
| sharp telephone ball If the message
Is an order from headquarters, the
| hrst words must be the authorized
| password for the night. as a guaran
tee OF its authenticity The officer
took off the receiver and listened.
For America is the word Zen
pelins sighted over North Sea travel
ling north, fifty miles from the coast
Good night
The officer hung up the receiver
ma hurried out along behind the han.
gars to the tent.
Wake up, you sleepy devils" he
said. 'Zepps out skylarking."
The two pilots who were next in
turn rose and quicly dressed. Five
minutes later they were out beside
their machines drinking a steaming
can of hot coffee. They climbed in.
io'AS" oputlCl Gu anu TOdTeu, the
whole framework quivered under the
strain of the curbed power Released
they moved, gathered up speed, rose
quickly off the ground and disappear
ed in the darkness of the night.
From below, all that could be seen
was the stars blotted from sight, first
| one then another, as the airplanes
circled around gaining their height.
They turned eastward and scared ont
toward the sea, past the town be.
meath the cliffs, while far below pass.
ed a streak of red, the midnight train
! for London. Still higher they climbed
until the cold became intense. criss-
crossing back and forth over their al.
lotted beat" always on the lookout
for the enemy.
No sign of the raiders was to be
seen, but the two policemen of the
sky remained aloft until petrol and
| oil began to get low in their gauges.
| They then turned homeward and
| glided quietly % earth. The landing
, was effected .afaer just two hours
| aloft. 'o