The patriot. (Glenmora, La.) 1918-1955, 1918-11-15


more ike pages from Jules Verne than everyday
exploits on a fighting front. The presence OF a
Hun observation balloon In the air is now very
uncommon sight, for the instant the sausage ap-
pears the royal air force cooks CLIMB INTO the
cockpits of their machines and are IN tne an
each striving to be the first to account Tor the IA
tarloper.
one british pilot scouting behind the enemy's
fines pounced on two of these balloons In swift
succession and succeeded in setting fire to ana
DESTROYING both His petrol was beginning 10
run low at the time, so he returned to his arr
firome to refill. But his appetite for German
sausage" was apparently unslaked, for ne SET
out Immediately upon a second quest, sgnted
two more balloons and taking advantage OF
friendly clouds carefully stalked them. When
within short distance of his prey cloud cover
failed him and he was perceived. The Huns
rushed to the winches and endeavOred to haul
down both balloons Putting down the nose OF
his machine, the British pilot sped earthward
after the swayfng mass of fabric, and almost De
fore the German mechanics had their wfnches
working. the hunter had secured his first quarry,
which fell blazing mass upon the Huns De
meath. The other balloon was rather farther
away, and the Germans, stimulated to frantic ef-
forts by the fate of the first hauled desperately
and succeeded in getting 1t down almost TO the
ground before the British pilot arrived above Not
10 be baked of his prey and in spite of the furi
Gus fire from below. he dived low enough to
pump burst Of incendiary bullets, and had the
satisfaction of increasing his bag for the day to
four enemy balloons totally destroyed
During their present retirement the Germans
have made desperate efforts to remove as much
ammunition as possible A British pilot spotted
a train of wagons engaged on this work and de-
scended to so feet so as to make quite sure of
his aim Getting wen into position, ne opened fire
on the rear wagon. knocking out two men on the
box. Deprived of their drivers and terrified by
the winged assailant, the horses boted, and. col
liding with a tree, upset the wagon
An extremely heavy fire was by this time being
directed upon the air1nan, and had already
wounded him In the knee and severed the pres
sure feed pipe of his machine. He would not
leave his job half done, however, and again
maneuvering into position put in another burst
which resulted In the oyerturning Of two more
and the stampeding of the remaining wagons.
On the same day British machine working in
conjunction with the infantry was attacked by
four German scouts. This being about the odds
which German airmen now demand, they doubt
less thought they had found an easy prey. 1t is,
Of course, true that the British contact machine
is not primarily designed for fighting purposes,
but its pilot on this occasion always was ready
10 give good account of himself and did SO to
such purpose that one OF the attackers was speed
lily sent down ont OF control. During the fight
the petrol tank Of the British machine was
pierced being an Instant menace of its destruction
by fire. Thereupon the English observer prompt
" climbed ont on the lower plane and successfully
plugged the hole with his handkerchief remain
Ing on the plane until HIS pilot succeeded in
throwing of his pursuers and landing his machine
safely behind the British lines.
Two British officers were at work In "sau-