El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-02-06
AIR RAID ON 4
GERMAN TOWN
Intrepid Scotch Flyer Tells
Of Bombing a Bridge
and a Train.

London, Eng, Feb. IA Scottish
airman, who took part IN a recent
raid over Mannheim, the German
Rhine town. relates in a stirring man
ner the story Of the raid
Along with nine other pilots. this
| youngster had set out on his lark"
[ In the teeth Of a strong and biting
wind, with temperature cold enough
to make one feel frostbitten, they
crossed the enemy lines and. IN spite
Of a hot reception by the enemy. they
succeeded in getting right over the
Rhine town OF Mannheim. There they
dropped over a ton Of bombs and got
back safely. with one exception His
story follows:
It was cold enough as far as weather
conditions went, but it was hot enough,
judged by the way the Germans
pitched into US. We flew very high
and, for the greater part OF the time
were out OF view Of the enemy.
Enemy Airmen Were Tricked.
It was not until we came in sight
Of the Rhine that the Germans got
their strafing stride. Then the
them and, as we approached the
town we intended to bomb. they made
rings around US with shrapnel and
high explosive shells. The enemy
sent up their machines. and they
started chasing about in the clouds
for US. Only one of their machines
came anywhere near to US and, when
he had sampled some Of our fire, he
made off again.
It was then time TO press our at
tack and clear out Cur squadron
headed straight for one point which
was easily made out through the mist
That put the Germans off their
guard. They assumed we were after
that objective, and they concentrated
all their energies on defending IL
Instead, the other squadron swooped
down on an entirely different obiec-
effective counter measures. bombs
were being rained on important po-
sitions below US.
Great Bridge Wrecked.
Beneath US we could make out the
great bridge over the Rhine, with
which I had become familiar in my
school days in Germany. The bridge
tower was family outlined through
the mist. and high over IL two Of our
machines were circllnE. the enemy
gunfire making a great halo around
them Suddenly the bridge seemed
to be blotted out
There was a crash and a great
splash. as though Of solid masonry
falling into the water. Smoke, flame
and water rose high into the sky, and
then we lost all sight Of the bridge.
Whether It had gone altogether or
was merely hidden by the smoke and
haze I cannot tell, but certain It is
that at least one hit got In at the /
bombing Railway Station,
Ny most dangerous work was yet /
to come. Ahead Of me was the rail-
way station, a place I had seen at 4
close quarters during my prewar /
stay in the town Between IL and me i
there was an enemy harrage, ever
growing in intensity. I wondered II
I could possibly get through
The more I looked al the lob. the
less I likei it However. there was
no time to waste in watching.
drove straight ahead at my objective.
Luck came to my aid in the most IN
expected fashion
Three enemy machines appeared to
the right OF the station, which I was
a7nrOa ching from the left Appar-
entity they were mistaken by the
gunners for our machines, for the
barrage was directed against them.
and I was left free to continue my
journey until I was right over the
station
A great train was leaving one Of
the stations It had speed up. I
could see It twisting its way along
ike a great serpent. I made for it
and, after a time, I began to feel I
vas right over it
Wreeking a Train
I let fly, and watched eagerly for
'esults. Apparently the bomb missed
IS mark, but II fell beside the line.
md must have done some damage, for
he train came to a sudden stop.
That gave me my chance / dropped
mother bomb, and this time there
vas no miss. The bomb fell right
n the center of the train Two
caches were carried off the line, and
ther coaches burst into flames
To make observations and take
hotos it was necessary to go lower.
We went down to about 1000 feet,
nd then we began to feel the full
Intensity of the barrage. AS we
cared over the wrecked train. fire
Tas opened from a sort OF tower on
rhich antiaircraft guns were posted,
nd for ten minutes OF SO we had to
love about in a ring of fire Of ever
Increasing intensity. over on the
Their side Of the station, between US
nd safety, a cloud of enemy ma
hines appeared. maaeuvering des-
erately for position in order to cut
S off.
\ Fight for Life.
Circling about under fire, we COM
leted our photographing, and then -
.arted to rise higher. l
At the same moment the enemy
lachines We're closer to US, and we ,
new that in n Few minutes time
-e would have to fight against many, 7
nd straightforward fighting was out
the question. The only chance lay 5
] ruse- I made straight for the Z
nemy formation as though I were !
Ding TO tackle the whole bunch. !
The German machines spread out :
battle array and awaited my on :
ct I was then within about 400 Z
ards, and the bullets were whistling /
II around me. It was no use getting 3
ervous. I knew I should want all q
~ wits about me If I was TO get :
lear.
Escapes; COmrade Caught.
I made a sudden swerve, and drove ?
ard against one enemy machine, .
hitch was detached a little from the Z
Tiers I had him at a disadvantage. il
ecause I was not under the fire of
is machine gun, whereas ! had him 4