Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-11-13
IT'S ALL IN Days WORK
OF BALLOON OPERATOR
Observer Spots Enemy Battery and
British Hcayics Blot
IL Out.
BUT FOES FLYER INTERVIEWS
Parachute Furnishes Convenient
Mode OF Escape, but Great Gas Bag.
Is Enrelopc'l In Flames Inst ant
After Man Jumps.
ny REGINALD wYNNI.. n. g.

tCopvrirht. 1879
mor nmEc MS, M ,hn LII the
some Weird mon H '" Which ' H"s b rsse
crattily cnsnarcd by the mon who
move quickly about il manipulating
me r2pes which bind il to the earth.
ievia;han gas bag sways sIuggishly.
as though making lazy attempt 10
secure it's freedom
The observer who will shortly make
inc ascent has come TO standstill
some hfty yards away. SO that he may
hnish his cigarette. which r" is fn.'-
nhioen to smoke in proximity, to the
over the final whins. for ii is the In st
smok" he will have for eight or ten
h ho nirr ~ last. With Il reGretful sigh.
towards the object which bulks so
largely in the gloom.
y CHEEKY good morning TO the men.
l4liowed by crisp order TO "so
who Is awaiting him with "a hamper
contain ing his days food few mo-
s miemts ia,sr and the sausage" scars
si9wiy' I'LL the Dependent, car is jag
chambers into the basket and at once
assures himself that everything is In
ITS right place; Finally. an n. c. o.
TO the outside OF the car, and the
vehicle is ready TO star. on it's skyward
trip,
hC biOi iiblS IlHE.n mist LOOKS llE q
a compact layer Of cotton wool as
the observer scars above IT, towards the
duil clouds which ovcrhang the hidden
earth; a fairly stiff breeze - blowing,
ana though the sausage. filmed like a
great hsh. answers like n vane TO the
wind the car turns continuously and
d;zzily around The observer is kcenly
alert, for. though the land he has 10
spy out is. still Invisible. he knows
that there may be lurking in the
clouds overhead enemies ready to
pouncs down and destroy the giant bag
from which he is suspended. Suddenly
ihe mum or an airpiene drums distinct
~ through the fresh air, and his hand
goes instinctively towards the tclc-
plane. all is we'll, but if an enemy.
his only chance is in giving the sigma
to be hauled down as soon as he per-
ceves II. and while he himself is ye,
unseen. AS the plane shows up for
an instant between two overlapping
layers OF clouds sigh of relief escapes
MN as he recognizes by it's shape that
II belongs TO the allies. 1t is indeed
there TO shepherd him in his ascent TIL
the mist clears and the ARCHES" can
provide him with some protection.
WORK OF OBSERVER
Is TO SPOT ENEMY BATTERY
The rays of the rising sun have dis
solved the mist. The observer can now
gaze over vast expanse, which an
PEARS like huge, well-delineated map
Q H taking MS bearings he at once
..
distant objects in enemy territory
which have become unveiled as the
mist dispersed. He has on this occa-
sion specific orders and he means TO
carry them out. There is n certain
German battery some three miles from
the British trench which 1t is the in
tention or our command to knock out
with our hcavics. The observer quick
~ locates the position, and immedi-
ately informs the artillery control sta
ton that he has done so. a few mo-
ID, H.. .-.<
suddenly bursts out near to the de-
sired position. The observer, noting
the place where the she'll fell, al once
advises the battery comma nder, who is
then able TO rec,ify the elevation Of
the gun. The Succeeding shots 20
closer. there being IN interval he
tween each so as To W the loftily-
placed observer 10 comment on the
range of she'll 1t is thus long
business before the gunners are able
TO get the exact range. once this OH
IN the sector will be brought into
play to blot out the boche battery.
Every now and then the observer
chances his eye. rapidly over the cloud
ceiling above him. a few moment $
more and his principal work for the
day Will have been carried out, and
he VIII have enabled the British
objective. Suddenly the observer per-
ceives silvery object emerge from
the tleecy folds Of an overspreading
chick thrusting out n head inQuiringly
from the enveloping piumage Of its
hen mother. But, though the quick
moving object looks quite peaceful as
IL fies from its cloud ambush. the OBJ
server knows that it threatens the
greatest peril to him. He, however
continues TO advise the gun comma nder
as TO the position liz which his shells
are bursting. Again and again the
observer throws anxious giances at
the quick moving enemy. and sigh
OF relief escapes him as four white
puns OF smoke pifr out one after the
other in proximity to the enemy plane
simultaneously come the sharp barks
of the Arches which have thrown the
shells.
a question comes from the COM
mander of the squad working the wind
lass TO know If they shall haul him
down.
The observer jerks back sharp neg.