Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1918-12-25
NIGHT BOMBING.
VIVID WORD PICTURE BY FOR
MER ELLSWORTH BOY.
.wrys THE FLYING SQUADRON IN RAID
IN GERMAN BASE AT zEBRUGGE--
poDGING sEARcHLIeHTs
AND "ARcHIEs.
BrLoIuM. Nov. 10, SIS.

,.ssterday ana seen the reception we re-
csivsd when We entered the city OF Client,
NTH several regi ents of Belgian cavalry
and artillery. The Germans evacuated
Gheni last Sunday night and Monday
ro,--irg, Soon after, the engineers en-
tered to clear the place OF bombs. ETC., and
the advance patrols to secure the city.
since then troops have been sent through
10 follow up the ratreating German army,
md supplies are being rushed in for the
Belgian people
sucn q welcome to Americans, as we
drove through the eityl Thousands OF
peopie showered us with flowers and flags,
and reached out their hands to grasp ours,
shouting: "vive y AmeTique," America
Forever" II was great day for the citi
zens Of Client, for their mayor also re-
turned to the city from Germany, where
be had been prisoner during the war.
never saw such deep, sincere Joy, and
me cannot describe it in words. II was
only after talking with the people and
hearing them tell about the last four and
one-halt years that / could realize the
significance OF their joyous expressions.
And OF every one, an American is received
the most joyfuily. They can't say enough
In thanks and gratitude, and one splendid
Belgian lady whom / met told me about
the wonderful work which the commits
sion for the relief in Belgium did. She
has had charge Of the food distribution in
Client (her husband was a banker and
was deported, and her son had been in the
army for four years and she had never
been able to hear from him until he came
home at the end). | was especially in
terested to hear positively that sill the
food and provisions which this commis-
SION brought.to Belgium went to the Bel
Pian people the Germans did not get
bit.
Well, the city looks prosperous again,
the people have dug up their belongings
from the ground, where everything OF
value has been hidden, and the cathedral
and other famous buildings are I'M
touched rbe cathedral is the most beau
tiiui one have yet seen. Salisbury had
the finest saw in England, but the one
IN Client is fiuer, think, and appreciate
so much the opportunity to see them.
When return home | shall study up all
of tsther's books on architecture, and al
though / am seeing these fine works in
quite ignorance now, still the subsequent
study will be even more interesting, and
in the end more instructive, believe.
Another thing which did not escape my
notice was the number OF pretty girls in
the city. II would never do for me to
stay in Client very long-I simply selected
the prettiest, and mothers, daughters, sis
tiers and wives greeted us just as you will
greet me when l get home. 1t is a. TACT,
and then they would tell us why, and II
was easy to understand. They treated us
as il each, individually, had won the war
for them, bat it is a certainty that the
commission for the relief in Belgium de-
serves tremendous lot of credit. With
out that help, the people say they never
could have existed.
am SO glad / have come to know the
Belgian people so closely, for it corrects a
very wrong impression | was given by
certain of our allies shortly after l cane
overseas. Having. seen them, my impress
SION is lust whatft was when left home
that they are thrifty, democratic and
healthy people in all ways. One cannot
Judge country by the worst element in
it, and ignore the good. 1 only wish L
could spend several months around here
and go to Antwerp and Brussels.
understand that there is very good
chance OF our being sent home soon. OF
course you know how happy will be to
be with you all again, and secure in BUSH
ness, but am at the same time in no i'm
mediate hurry to get back.
You asked about some of the parties-l
was at Ostend during the siege with
squadron PA Or. A. FL and of course the
whole thing was quite one sided, for the
Germans were retresting and there was
little opposition from hostile scouts, or
barraRe from 'Archie," but there was
plenty 20 see, looking down at the firing
from the feet, and the allied bombs burst
ing. It was all interesting, but by far the
most exciting night l had vas in mid
summer, while with PA we flew to Bruget
to bomb the docks. We approached from
the south, following the Bruges- fhoront
track, and it was fun to watch the search
lights pop up here and there on th'
ground around, until soon we were in a
maze OF white beams OF light which woulc
search the heavens for US, sometimes
would catch US completely, and then pass
on without having seen US.
But before very long one sold hugger'
caught us and held us, and then every
one OF about seyenty-five others reached
their long tentacIes out and fastened or
us. Then s'Archie," of course, started
and we could see it's red flashes poi
up around on the ground, and then heal
asmali noise near us like hand clap ano
see little red flashes over, under anc
beside US, which looked like stars-th'
shells bursting.
Until we were up to the city oui
motors roared, but suddenly, as soon al
we could get out OF the sesrch-lights
hu Iii n - zfx} ,rt