The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-04-27
BOMBING HUN is
JUST A HABIT,
FLYER INFORMS
CORRESPONDENT
Just Like Smoking, Though
Not So Pleasant,
His Definition
OF RAIDS
FULLY DESCRIBED
Announcements In Official
Communiques Are Mere
Commonplace

(By Associated Presa)
with the British Armies "a Franco.
March 20s-'In the early part Of the
night before the mist Get IN our
identifying squadrons dropped Ave
tons OF bombs on two hostile aero-
dromeS'-Official Communique.
A most prosaic statement and one
from which the average reader would
fail TO get much thrill, Our night
fiyiug squadron dropped I'VE tons Of
bombs" A mere commonplace; an
incident in the daily routine. So Ear
AZ color goes 1T might have reads
"Cur motor transport brought up
I'VE tons OF biscuits"
And yet behind that brief an
nouncement shorn OF all heEoioa
and behind every similar annomca-
ment, lies a wealth Of supreme daF~
ing, Of dangers. seen and unseen, 0e
hair-breadth escapes and nervo-
raciSfng episodes.
The correspondent a The Ansooi-
ated Press witnessed the start and
the return Of the airmen who ~drop-
ped hve tons OF bombs" and the
story Of this very ordinary night may
serve to give the reader some idea
Of the daily life Of the airman who.
as IL were, continually battles on the
edge OF q precipics while the many
hands OF war reach out to drag MIN
down.
We arrived at a great British aero
drome just as the evening shades
were railing and the mechanics were
making their final inspection Of the
huge bombing machines which short
~ were TO wheel their way across the
hghting lines with their freight OF
explosives. Some dawrHyors wesa
returning FROM their trlnN M8nnfM
theiT Way straight and tras fa
tha aercangE1e from NG8 aire
kKe migatH heuing pigeons
PILOTS were cifeiins I'D pie8f
curves eDora tH9 grounds ANA w
eaflQnNiy sWooping down tn NHR
MaNG elea towards stationary ltAF-
gets while their machine guns mpat
a steady stream OF ltvid fire 10 the
accompaniment Of that wicked stac-
cato chatter which spells one OF the
greatest terrors OF the front.
The night-nyerB were TO 60 out as
soon as darkness had settled. and We
found them all In the mess hall over
their early dinners Twelve ma
chimes we're TO engage IN the raid In
hand, which meant that "a OF these
clean-cut boys would soon be rfsl<inR
their lives over the inhospitabls zone
where the Germans watch and wait
for the appearance OF enemy aircrafG.
We Joined them at mess and Ilstsm-
ed to their conversation. re gave ora
a sensation Of witnessing q. dramM
which could have no basis in fact. e
look into their youthful faces with
the realization that within q short
space they might all be called upoa
70 pay the great price IN defence &C
king and country.
Raid 10 Not Discussed.
They were not discussing the rafd.
IN fact, they seemed 70 be avoiding
IL. Their talk was largely made un
OF inconEequenttal char. and Ii maan1~
ed at moments that there was Just
q suspicion OF nerves" in their out
bursts OF laughter. From time 20
time some one OF them would fan into
silence and thoughtfulness. only TO be
recalled from his reverie by the quip
Of a comrade. They watched one
another like brothers, and wa wonder
ed II there were not ncms method IN
this badinage OF 3esta. but we asked
no questions.
A table tust back Of Eha corresa.
pondent was filed with q Jolly party
A newcomer came IN and took his
seat, a big. broadshouidered chap
with clear eyes and engaging smile.
He was the pilot Of one OF tina raadinni
He was pounced upon tFa@i
''Your family Is very wealthy. W.
hear. Yaulx"
wealthy; I should say II waals,
doomed great voicA II don't wcT
because I have 70. I'm doing ti1ls be-
cause like q"
The speaker was q Boston boy wha
had been flying with the British since
1915. "A few minutes later he cFoEae4
and touched the correspondent on the
shoulder.
Come over 10 our table and W. win
OH you up on local color ana cham
pagne," he invited.
celsbrate q Promotion.
There was local color, and cham
payne. too, for somebody had fusk
received a promotion and was ceia~
brating very mildly with a quart ~
wine. We chattsd for few minutes.
md the Massachusetts, man told a
little Of how be had deserted exhibi-
ion flying ia America - join tne
British forces.
aThis bombing business isn't ware
be- volunteered, I'll am q ehauneT
ny car 81 my plane. and my passeu~
GERS are bombs. take my paaaen~
Esrs over the lire and discharge them.
Iafe and sound. and then come
1ome7 His eyes tWinkled as lie said
c, brave fellow
Then acalI 10 Arms.
IA siren began ktH mucaumw w&tiim#
'omeWheFg outside. and a silence N@M
gwer the ha1i. It was the acaM t
sFIns." one By one men sspaFate
themselves from their comrades aU4
.sole quietly from the room. IneN
aad nothing nothing was said 81
hems but scores of friendly anxious
.ges looked bonnie Chance we faiH
owed shortly Tor we had come ko s
be getaway and tire Fetm1u
1t was dark a pale crescent ne
HruE9lsa bEaVeiY but ins4ecttv
% clear aWag the BEcem hEa
strange. ahaucww figures aEe h
lriseielF about the grounds