Evening star., 1918-08-17
ARMAN DESCRIBES NIGHT FLIGHT
TO BOMB THE GERMAN TOWNS
by the fierce barrage Of shells which
burst thickly far below them.

burst thickly far below them.
Over the Enemy's Land.
Soon the first barrier of defense
was passed and for q long time they
flew over mile upon mile of hostile
territory. over dimly lit towns and
sleeping fields and villages. They
the river. They could see the bridges.
black across the band of silver. and
over the city swept three long search
lights. Still they few on. leaving the
city. far behind. On either side the
engines roared steadily. Behind them
hung in readiness the yellow bombs.
When they had been flying over
German territory for over two hours.
they saw ahead of them on the river
the lights of another big city. This
was their objective, and at once the
machine swept round toward 1t.
The observer crawled into the back
and lying face down opened the slid
ing door in the floor of the machine.
country on which he could see little
scattered village. and the edge Of a
forest And then the twisting river
came into his view. He leaned his
head out of the hole. and saw the
black mass Of the town a little ahead
of the machine.
Aims for Railway Junction.
Already he had noticed the dark
city. The pilot steered the machine
round by the observers direction so
that 1t might follow the railway, and
SO find surely the great railway juno
tion that was to be the target for his
bombs.
Two searchlights had now sprung
up. and here and there in the sky
burst few random shells. He could
see the puffs of smoke, white in the
moonlight. drift by beneath him.
and flew steadily on with engines
roaring. The big city twinkling with
hundreds of carefully shaded lights
lay spread now below the Observers
bomb sight drew near the station. and
touched 1t. The observers hand reach
ed out to the bomb release lever at the
side.
The luminous range bars crossed the
edge of the junc.ies. He pushed the
pushed 1t over again and again. Be-
low he could see for a moment the fat
cylinders spinning down toward the
railway junction.
told him to turn. The searchlights err
ratically swept to and fro. with every
suggestion Of panic, fear or lack OF
skill The afrmen laughed at them
and. sweeping round. started on the
long homeward journey.
Fitting the Target.
The observer was looking down in
! tently to the black triangular mass OF
the railway junction, with its crowded
sidings. A great spurt of red flame
leaped up at its edge as the first bomb
| exploded. Then another followed IL
right in the junction. Then another
and yet another. The fifth caused 8
tremendous explosion, followed by
binding white fames-acres of it
Clearly an ammunition train had been
hit.
Then the others burst. one after an.
other. leaving the railway junction
\ shrouded in moonlit smoke. through
which the red light Of q growing are
glared DULY.
Waiting at the Airodrome. i.
On the wtdespreading aerodrome OF
the British night bombing squadron
! little groups Of men are standinr
about in the darkness. looking toward
| the east and waiting for the return
Of the machines which left some hours
| before for Germany.
|
at his luminous wrist watch. The
first machine is due back now. In the
east can be seen the distant fiickerine
Of the German searchlights and occa.
sional1y the reflection in the dark sky
of gun flashes and shell bursts. But
despite these faint reminders Of strife
! a curious hush, an almost unnatura
F., calm. reigns over the aerodrome.
Ten minutes later a faint hum be.
| comes audible to expectant ears and
then two tiny lights are seen moving
high in the velvety heavens. The hun
grows momentarily more distinct
until even a layman could recognize
it for the roar of distant engines, and
soon the swiftly moving, colore6
| navigation lights can be seen dis.
tinctly. The word is passed round, 9
whistle fs blown and from the hangars
and the mess gather more officers ani
men in thfckening clusters,
Suddenly ball of fire appears in the
air near the moving lights, drift.
downward and fades away. It Is thu
recognition signal There fs a loud
! report as the answering signal is fired
from the ground and a big light shoot,
upward. a welcome sight to the colo
Iatrmen overhead.
The landing lights are switched OF
and the drone Of the engines aboys
ceases as the first machine begins tt
glide down with throttled engines.
| Big Machine Comes Home.
The lights can be seen movins
nearer and nearer to the ground n
wide curves and at last they apnea,
low down on the hangers, slowly an.
preaching the aerodrome. Very grad.
ually they grow bigger and bigger a,
the machine glides In against the vim
in silence. There is scarcely a wori
spoken on the ground. Every one /,
intently watching the machine com.
| ing in.
For what seems a long time I,
draws nearer and nearer and then IN.
first hiss of the air breaking on tn
i planes and the wires Is heard. and ths
dim outline Of the machine can 5,
seen.
Suddenly the great dax1iing blake q,
the wing tip flare appears beneath
the wings. and sheds an uncanny radi.
ance upon the machine, the grass, thu
hangers, the distant trees and TN
\ faces of the watchers. Tho machins
floats gently over the grass, skins II
bounces q little, and "taxfes" towari
! the hangers, with its engines roaring
The waiting groups flow togethe,
and stream toward the machine. ani
when 1t stops the airmen are wei.
coined by their friends as they ciiml
out from their seats :
TheY walk atffdy acroGR IA tha A.