The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1918-10-12
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 lt-All in
the Days Work.


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, a 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. It's occupants had evidently
seen something of Importance. Look
ing below, the observer of the back
machine saw a few miles from the
Zeebrugge mole six little shapes which
seemed stationary on the gray sea.
German Destroyers.
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 a few miles from the
land.
Near the front machine appeared a
small black ball Of smoke. Another
appeared, 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 or
evil-looking yellow vapor. Along the
coast line he could see the little red
flashes Of the anti-aircraft batteries.
Now, however, they were almost over
the destroyers, which were beginning
to zigzag as the danger Of the COM
ing attack was realized.
The observer saw six black cylin-
ders drop spinning from the front ma
chine, and then, with his two reins
round the pilots arms in front, he
steered the machine to the right and
left as he watched the destroyer
through the wires and bars of his
bomb sight. Even as he was direct
ing the machine he saw the great
white clouds of steam, smoke and wa
ter leap up from the sea near the de-
stroyer.
The second destroyer, which was
appeared below his range bars. He
turned the pilot slightly to the right
In order that he might allow for the
speed Of the boat, and slowly pushed
over his bomb levers, one by one. Be.
low the wings he had a momentary
glimpse of the yellow, fish-like bombs
rushing downward. He shouted to the
pilot, and they turned quickly away
from the inferno of shells which were
bursting all around them.
Scores Direct Hit.
The observer stood up and watched
intently what was going on below.
Near the destroyers appeared the
white smoke and spray of a bomb
Another followed, and another. Then
on one Of the destroyers a great red
flash appeared and the center Of the
boat was left clouded in smoke. He
had scored one direct hit. He shouted
excitedly to the pilot as one Of the
destroyers dropped out Of line and
made swiftly for it's mortally wounded
consort.
The British airplanes returned and
reported what had happened. A pa.
troll returning a few hours later stat
ed that they had seen five German de-
stroyers returning toward Ostend. By
then the sixth, torn and shattered, lay
with many another twisted and rusty
companion, under the sea.