Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1918-02-14
Mystery Wells Local
Air Fleet Movement
(Medford American.)

nor anti-aircraft guns. Hence, the
enemy moves about with perfect
freedom from harm, except that
which may come from the eye-shot;
and out here, where there are so few
people to look, that doesn't hurt
much. The air fleet that has been
seen to operate in this sector has
recently concealed itself in crater
hole or gone to Eugene-our out
posts don't know which The fact
that it was seen near Albany few
days ago suggests that it may have
escaped by wing. This is the report
which the Portland papers received
by wire from Albany:
Albany, Or, Feb. 7.-Declaring
that there can be no mistake about
their observations, the crew Of the
Oregon Electric owl train, reaching
here at O'Clock Thursday morning,
reported having seen an airplane
travelling south. When first seen the
airship was west of East Indepen-
dence, Just as the train was leaving
that station, and was flying high. 1t
was flashing varicolored lights which
Motorman Stevens declares he recog-
nized as the international code.
After travelling at the higher alti-
tnde the machine descended to a
level with the top of the Coast range
mountains and continued south, still
flashing the signals. 1t finally passed
cut Of sight. No noise was heard
and the outline of the airplane could
not be seen, but Conductor Ryan,
Mortorman Stevens and the brake
man, as we'll as several passengers
on the train, are certain that the OBJ
ject was a flying machine. An effort
was made to report the matter to
Portland from Sidney, but connec-
tions could not be made at that
point"
Lew Tenant filed the following re-
port at the Roxy Ann headquarters
yesterday:
"A booze bomb was dropped about
the center Of the Big Sticky terrain
recently, the airship descending to
low altitude for that purpose. Rap
idly ascending, 1t flew toward what
is believed to be the station at the
second airdrome, which is located in
the Umpqua region From there, af-
ter depositing portion of its booze
ballast, 1t flops over to the William
ette and delivers the remainder of
its precious cargo in the vicinity of
Eugene.
"The above message from Albany
probably describes this lone air ban
dit on its return to Hornbrook for
another cargo of liquid fire.
"You see, there is less danger,
either from below or above, in hand
ling that well-known revolution pro-
ducer by airplane. 1t doesn't have
TO stop to permit the bone-dry in
spector to meddie with it; it can
carry more than an ordinary suitcase
package; there's not so much risk
of being overtaken in transit: the
supply base may be located in the
foothills anywhere in dry territory,
and the signals may be given in code
from on high as the machine passes
To and from station to station. That
is what the Albany plane was prob
ably doing.
I'm addition to that, this mono
plane outlaw may find it profitable
TO carry messages from the various
wireless stations in the Cascade foot
hills to German spies in the various
communities along the way. The
communities of which Roxy Ann is
the knob and center contain several
hotbeds of seditious talk and enemy
preparation. This is known locally
and has been reported frequently to
the proper headquarters; but the
charzay d'affaires at the proper
headquarters evidently believes that
we can take care Of ourselves. And
! wire this to say that 1t is about
time we began to do so. 1t wouldn't
do to disappoint the government in
this matter Of confidence in our abil-
ity to take proper care of our end
Of the fight.
Lets cut out the camouflage and
buy a little hemp, tank of hot tar,
paint brushes and supply of black
snake whips. If we handle properly
the mundane enemy, the heavenly
host may fly its darned wings off
without result. Do you get me?
LEW TENANT, Com"