El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-07-02


Darts. France. July my part in
1 the never to be forgotten episode of
the bombing OF Blanckem began at
precisely $3.50 o'clock Of one OF the
most depressing nights. But as a
matter Of fact the episode itself had
its inception some few weeks before
in a small. stuffy room not a hun
dred miles from whitehall There sat
a man. middle aged. grey haired and
bespectacled-an officer that the ser
vice knows well but whose name the
service may not mention Piles OF
official documents, tied up with the
proverbiaI red tape, were spread be-
fore him
The day was far spent and he was
weary. But the thoughts Of dinner
at the club, followed by a glass Of its
famous old port, before reSumlng his
tireSome duties at the office until the
small hours Of the morning must have
FASTENED his tagging brain over the
lines Of type before him. Suddenly his
lethargy vanished entirely on perus-
ing a paragraph in q report from the
foreign section OF the intelligence de-
partment To the uninuated the re-
port was not inspiring but 10 US, the
soldiers of the air, it had Significance
and IL read something like this ne,
himself, told me-
The Significant Paragraph
The Germans are reported to have
accumulated a great store OF am
munitiOn, provisions, and material
generally in the railway station at
Blauckem, and 10 be using this store
as the supply depot for a very large
portion Of the front mentioned pre-
viously in this report. The greatest
possible pains are being taken TO
keep this Information secret, and
the Germans appear to be attaching
great Importance to the safety Of the
depot fnasmuch as il is dOubly
guarded day and night and has many
large anti aircraft guns mounted IN
It's vicinity"
The officer wrote hastily for a few
minutes on a sheet Of paper. then
pinned what he had written to the
Intelligence report glanced at il, and
then placed both in an envelope,
sealed and addressed it, and touched
the bell
Shortly afterwards in another room
in the same building, several officers
gathered together as the result Of the
sealed letter. were discussing ways
and means by which the latest arm
Of the services could neutralize the
effect Of the ammunition store al
Blsnckem.
they Pick Williams
Now let me Sl-4L the scene dGL41s
the channel and into the western I
front Of France There on this par
ticularly depressing night the com
handing officer Of No u airplane
wing to which have the honor TO be !
attached, was at mess with his off
GERS
Ii was bitterly cold outside, but
within the fire glowed cheerily I
enough A wind was increasing in Z
violence and moaned mOurnfully I
around the mess room
The conversation was general and I
confusing. but above its mum one
could hear the words. magnetic
craakshaft-ol - petrol - sparkling 4
plug - stunt - dunts - spiral" in I
termiuEled with the technical jargon I
Of a flying officers mess
The conversation was silenced BY !
the entrance Of messenger in oil I
skins. carrying a signal pad, which /
he delivered to the c. o. The latter 7
read the signal with a slightly /
anxious frown on his face; then he I
shrugged his shOulders-here the 4
Fates took a hand IN the game and /
as a result I appear in the story-anc ]