Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1918-12-26
BRITISH PLANE
HITS hun BOAT
Story Of an Attack by Flyers on
German Destroyer
Fleet.
ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE DANGER
Enemy Ship Becomes a Twisted and
Dirty Wreck After Bomb From
Above Strikes tall In
the Days Work.

LondOn.-To the observer in the
rear cockpit of the fast British bomb
ing machine the scene hardly appeared
to change from minute to minute. The
engine roared, the sunlight came slant
Ing in onto his knees, biting wind
beat on his face, and below was the
slightly hazy surface of the sea, while
to the right lay the dim line of the
Belgian coast, which swept away to
the. wider silver reaches of the Scheldt
estuary Ahead of him two British
machines flew in the same direction,
with their propellers seeming to re-
volve lazily. as they always do when
seen from another machine. The OBJ
server continually scanned the air
above and below the machine, and ex-
amined every now and then the sur.
face of the sea.
Suddenly the front machine turned
to the right and began to fly toward
the coast. Its occupants had evidently
seen something of importance. Look
ing below, the observer Of the back
machine saw few miles from the
Zeebrugge mole six little shapes which
seemed stationary on the gray sea.
5. German pestroyers.
They were German destroyers which
were in reality steaming at top speed
toward the coast. Gradually the air.
planes drew nearer and nearer and
soon were but few miles from the
land.
Near the front machine appeared a
small + X ball of smoke. Another
appeareG, and another, and the OBJ
server could hear the sharp crack OF
the. bursting shells. A moment later
the second machine entered the zone
Of bursting shells, some leaving white
smoke, and others leaving black OF
evil-looking yellow vapor. Along the
coast lin he could see the little red
flasne the anti-aircraft batteries
Now, viewer, they were almost over
the destrnyers, which were beginning
to zig IS the danger of the com
Ing attack .vas realized.
The observer saw six blnck cylin
ders drop spinning from the front ma
chine, and then, with his two rein.
round the pilots arms in front, hi
steered the machine to the right ant
left as he watched the destroyer
through the wires and bars Of hi!
bomb sight. Even as he was direct
ing the machine he saw the grea
white clouds of steam, smoke and wa
ter leap up from the sea near the de
stroyer.
The second destroyer, which wa
now steering an almost direct course
appeared below his range bars. 81
turned the pilot slightly to the RICH
in order that he might allow for tn
speed of the boat, and slowly pushe
over his bomb levers, one by one. b
low the wings he had Il mOmentar
glimpse of the yellow, fish-like bomb
rushing downward. He shouted to tn
pilot, and they turned quickly ava
from the inferno of shells which wer
bursting all around them.
Scores Direct Hit.
The observer stood up and watche
intently what was going on below
Near the destroyers appeared tn
white smoke and spray Of boml
Another followed, and another. The
OF one of the destroyers great re
fash appeared and the center Of tn
boat was left clouded in smoke. Fl
had scored one direct hit. He shoute
excitedly to the pilot as one of tn
destroyers dropped out of line an
made swiftly for it's mortally wOunde
tdnsort.
The British airplanes returned an
reported what had happened. A p'
troll returning few hours later sta
ed that they had seen five German d
stroyers returning toward Ostend. Z
then the sixth, torn and shattered. Ia
with many another twisted and rust
companion, under the sea.