Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1918-09-25
Giant Machine Makes Success.
fuI Attack on German Rail.
way Depot.
EXPERIENCE is THRILLING
High Above Enemy Barraqe AZ.
searehIiehts Plane Wings Way in
Darkness Till Lights of oblec.
tive Form Target.
BY CAPT. PAUL eEwsHee

pJ Jar u PAUL BEWSHER
London.-The observer settled him.
self beside the pilot In the big bomh.
ing machine. On either side the on.
gines roared thunderously. The signal
was given and the machine moved for.
ward, turned into the wind and rushed
across the grass into the dim night
II climbed swiftly in wide circles
and below could be seen the dim
countryside where few scattered
lights twinkled. Far to the right Law
winding river. like a thread of Sill
yer ribbon. Beside the silver ribbon
nearly 200 miles away, lay the Ger.
man town which formed this pipht,s
objective.
In front of the two airmen clowea
the phosphorescent dIals of the re-.
cording instruments. Soon thew rer.
istered sufficient height for the ma.
chine TO turn toward the fighting line
up and down which great white star
shells were rising, to hang suspended
for a few moments before fading out
into the darkness.
The wing-iights were switched off
the lines were crossed. and friendly
territory left further and further be.
hind.
Far ahead the glare of many hlast
furnaces could be seen, and above
them the long, white fingers of Ger
man searchlights swept restlessly to
and fro.
We flew on steadily, vainly sought
by the searchlights and unscathed by
the fierce barrage of shells which
burst thickly far below them
Over Enemy Territory.
Soon the first barrier of defense
was passed, and for a long time we
few over mile upon mile of enemy ter
ritory, over dimly lii towns and sleep
ing fields and villages. We passed
big city lying on the bank Of the
river. We could see the bridges, black
across the band of silver, and over the
city swept three long searchllghts.
Still we flew on. leaving the city far
behind. ON either side the engines
roared steadily. Behind US hung in
readiness the yellow bombs
When we had been flying over Ger
man territory for more than two hours
we saw ahead of us on the river the
lights OF another big city. This was
our objective, and at once the machine
swept round toward II.
The observer crawled into the back
and, lying face down, opened the slid
ing door In the floor OF the machine
Below him lay a square Of moonllt
country on which he could see a little
scattered village and the edge Of
forest. And then the twisting river
came into his view. He leaned his
head out of the hole and saw the
black mass of the town little ahead
OF the machine.
Already he had noticed the dark
line of the railway running into the
city. The pilot steered the machine
round by the observers directions, so
that II might follow the railway, and
so find surely the great railway juno
ton that was TO be the target for his
bombs.
Two searchlights had now sprung
up. and here and there in the SKY
burst a few random shells. He cnuld
see the puffs of smoke. white in tie
moonlight. drift beneath him.
Hit Railway Junction.
We ignored the searchlights ana
few steadily on with engines roaring.
The big city twinkling with hundreds
Of carefully shaded lights lay spread
now below the observers peephole'
The fore-and-aft bar of the bomb sigh'
drew near the station and touched III
The observers hand reached out to the
bomb release lever at his side.
The luminous range bars crossed
the edge of the junction. He pushed
the lever hand over, drew II PACK
and pushed it over again and again
Below he could see for moment the
fat cylinders spinning down towaru
the railway junction.
He climbed up beside the pilot anu
told him 10 turn. The searchlights
erraticaIly swept to and fro with every
suggestion of panic, fear or iaCh "
skill. The airmen laughed at thei"
and. sweeping round. started on tNe
long homeward journey.
The observer was looking down III
tently to the black triangular mass 0,
the railway junction, with its crowueu
sidings. A great squirt of red iane
leaped up at IT'S edge as the first Doiho
exploded. Then another followed ~
right in the junction. Then ano'he,'
and yet another. The fifth causeu
tremendous explosion, followed =,
binding white flames-acres OF II.
Clearly an ammunition train had peen
hit.
Then the others burst, one after ~
other, leaving the railway juncuo
shrouded in moonlit smoke tnrous
which the red light of growing nv
glared duly.