The evening leader. (Tarpon Springs, Fla.) 191?-19??, 1918-10-07
Giant Machine Makes Success
full Attack on German Rail-
way Depot.
EXPERIENCE is THRILLING
Nigh Above Enemy Barrage and
Searehliehts Plane Wings Wayfn
Darkness Till Lights of objec-
tive Form Target.
BY CAPT. PAUL BEWsHER.

o1h ucSlue the pinot III Ine Dig DOIuD-
ing machine. On either side the en-
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
1t climbed swiftly in wide circles,
and below could be seen the dim
countryside where a few scattered
lights twinkled. Far to the right lay
a 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 nights
objective.
In front of the two airmen glowed
the phosphorescent dials of the re-
cOrding instruments. Soon they reg
tstered sufficient height for the ma
Chine to turn toward the fighting line,
up and down which great white star
smells were rising, to hang suspended
for few moments before fading out
into the darkness.
The wing-ights were switched off,
the lines were crossed, and friendly
territory left further and further be-
hind.
Far ahead the glare of many blast
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
flew over mile upon mile of enemy ter
'ritory, over t1imly lit towns and Sleep
ing fields and villages. We passed a
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 searchlights.
Still we flew on. leaving the city far
behind. On either side tie 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
w saw UItttNI Vi us bn the river the
lights of another big city. This was
our objective, and at once the machine
swept round toward it.
The observer crawlcd into the back
and, lying face down, opened the slid
ing door in the floor of the machine.
Below him lay square of moonlit
country on which he could see a little
scattered village and the edge of a
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 it might follow the railway, and
so find surely the great railway juno
lion that was to be the target for his
bombs.
Two Searchlights had now sprung
up, and here and there in the SKY
burst few random shells. He could
see the nuffs of smoke, white in the
moonlight drift beneath him.
Hit Railway Junction.
We ignored the searchlights and
flew steadily on with engines roaring
The big city twinkling with hundreds
OF carefully shaded lights lay spread
now below the observers peephole
The fore-andaft bar of the bomb sight
drew near the station and touched it,
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 it back
and pushed it over again and again.
Below he could see for a moment the
fat cylinders spinning down toward
The railway junction.
He climbed up beside the pilot and
told him to turn. The searchlights
erratically swept to and fro with every
suggestion of panic fear or lack of
skill. The airmen laughed at them
and, sweeping round, started on the
.ong hOmeward journey.
The observer was looking down in
kently to the black triangular mass of
he railway junction, with its crowded
idings. A great squirt of red flame
capped up at its edge as the first bomb
EXPLODED. Then another followed it,
light in the junction. Then another,
nd yet another. The fifth caused a
tremendous explosion, followed by
finding white fiames-acres of 1t.
Jlearly an ammunition train had been
lit.
Then the others burst, one after an
Their, leaving the railway junction
hrOuded in moonlit smoke through |
'hich the red light of growing fire |
Jared duly.
Did He Really Mean It2