Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1918-02-28

front. Captain Strange has lame
foot, but he has done some OF the finest
work OF the war. In three days lie de-
strOyed three stations or big rail cen.
tiers which were Of great importance
to the Germans. In each case lie en-
ployed the same methods. He flew
over the point he WAS aiming for.
stopped his engine. did nose dive to
within few hundred feet Of the
place. dropped his bomb and got away
snfely. Each time he came back with
the planes Of his machine r:ddled with
bullets. 1t takes an awful lot Of
nerve to do a thing like that
Lieutenant Hawker was The terror Of
the "Avatiks" and taubes. and he has
been known to fight three Of these big
machines single handed. destroying
two and putting the other one to flight.
Mr.. Hawker longed for chance to
get mixed up with Zeppelin. and on
one occasion he nearly realized his
wish.
1t was a bright moonlight night last
summer when everything was as quiet
and peaceful as one could wish 1t to he.
A scattering rife fire could he heard
from the trenches. but there was really
nothing doing ut all. About or 10
o'clock we heard the hum of an engine
away above us. and we thought. Of
course, 1t was an aeroplane. AS It
came nearer we realized that no aero
plane engine could make so much noise
as that. and very soon word was pass
ed around that there was Zeppelin
above us.
Very few OF US had ever seen Yep
pelin. and we were more than stra m
Ing our eyes to catch n glimpse Of this
one. Judging from the noise Of the
engine. It seemed rs though the thing
kept circling around over our encamp-
ment: but. try as hard us we could.
we were unable to catch sight Of 1t.
1t had not been over us SO very long
before we heard motor engine start
up at the flying grounds. and word
came around that Lieutenant Hawkcr
was going up after It Soon we saw
an acroplane shoot up over the tree
tops and commence to circle around.
! gaining altitude every moment. II was
quickly lost to view. though. and soon
! the engines Of the Zeppelin could be
heard no longer so We concluded that
1t had made OF. Lieutenant Hawker
Jew until daylight: but. much to his
disappointment he failed to find the
Zeppelin.
Another aviator who became famous
was Commander Sampson Of the Royal
/ Naval Air Service At the beginning
Of the war he did so much damage
with his neroplune that a price was
put upon his hend by the German au-
! thorities. We heard that the sum Of
$1,000 was offered for Commander
Sampson. dead or alive. This did not
make any difference to him 40 far as
his work was concerned. and he did
just as much damage after the fact
became known as he did before.
Nor was his activity confined to air
work. He had an armored car that he
used to go out in. and the exciting
event of the day used to be to watch
| Commander SIMPSONS return. He
seldom failed to bring back prisoners.
! and the damage be did to the Germans
with the machine gun was fearful.
Last spring we had new type Of
aeroplane come out. and 1t was beau
ty. 1t became known as the British
Scout" and 1t was in this type of ma
chine that Lieutenant Hawker defeat
ed three big German battle planes. II
has very high powered. high speed
engine and can pull right away from
any other type of machine that dies.
1t carries one man only. who runs the
machine and works the gun too. 30 be
has his work cut out for him.
Before ever saw q bomb dropping
aeroplane in action l used to imagine
that the bombs were dropped BY hand
was much surprised to and that suek
Is not the case. The bombs are hung
on little clips under the body Of thu
machine and are released BY Q fool
pedal arrangement 1t 10 much quick
er and less dangerous method.
The bombs dropped from the ma
chimes vary in size and weight. ant
they run all the way from ten pounds
to one hundred pounds. Each boml
has little propeller at the tail Of II
This keeps the bomb nose down In fall
ing and insures its landing ON the per
cussion cap. AZ the bomb falls through
the air this little propeller whiris At I
tremendous speed and makes the weird
ct whistling noise one could imaKins
During the summer months q grea
many air sAids wers made On nooa
ngtt niyhts. ~ machines aEo peol
tica'ly Invisible when they reach m
great height. and they can get bac
home ard make their landing withou
very great danger.
Whrn aeropianes are late coming I
4 10 very Interesting TO watch th
rockets being cent up to guide thei
, TO ,heir landing grounds. These rocl