Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1918-05-25
Twelve Observers In One Day
Trust to Parachutes in
Leaps for Life.
PERIL IN BURNING GAS BAGS
Flames Likely to overtake the De-
scendlng observers--Many Mar
row Escapes From Death---one
Relates Experiences.

Behind the British Lines in France.
Leaps for life from burning observa-
ton balloons when attacked by Ger
man airplanes were described by OBJ
corps to an Associated Press corre-
spondent when he visited one of their
camps behind the lines few days ago.
A balloon ascent at the front is new
er light undertaking, and on one day
recently when the correspondent WIS.,
tied station In fairly inactive part
of the line six balloons containing IL
men were shot down by German air
planes. all within sight Of one another.
One of the IL officers who were COM
PEELED to reach terra firma by the para
chute route told the story of his trip.
I'VE were perched at $500 feet" he
said, land had been up only half an
hour when column of smoke two
miles southwark attracted our notice.
There goes No. 49," said my observer
1.-TWO white flecks floating earthward
told us that the two passengers of the
balloon had got clear In time. Just
then two similar specks appeared sud
denly from under, another balloon
warning us that the Boche was out for
wholesale killing this time. Six
more white spacks now appeared, and, \
since 1t was evident that the entire
line was being attacked, / gave the
order to haul down.
Sudden Attack by ArpIane.
"At 1000 feet, ordered She winch
stopped. No more balloons had been at
tackled, and although ours was now
the only one up, / could see British
fighting planes ascending from the air
dromes behind us to chase away the
enemy. SO I decided to venture up |
again. We assembled to 5000 feet this |
time, and soon were at work again.
"Then suddenly something happen
ed 1t happened swiftly as in dream.
We didn't even see the German Alba
tross approaching, but our ground Off.
GER and his scouts gave us the alarm
just a second or two before the hawk
was on us. heard my observer, at
the telephone, say suddenly. WHATS
that? Stand byl Good Heavens y
Then he turned calmly to me and said
with smile, Sorry, old man, we must
get out at once He helped me over
the side first.
Il dropped and heard 'wumph' as
The paxachute left its case This was
the last sensation attempted to ana.
we as fell like a stone for 300 feet.
saw the balloon shoot violently nm
ward, and then my view was blotted
lut by large white umbrella which
appeared above my head, and
realized that the parachute had open
ID. l didn't look down, as l felt my
,ody swaying easily In the breeze. The
oar above told me that the Albatross
lad done its work and the balloon was
tire. You cannot, of course, maneuver
parachute, and there is always the
possibility of the burning balloon over
aking you and burning your only
Means Of escape.
But before reached the ground l
law far In front the Albatross crash
ng to earth minus wing. She had
een hit by cluster of antlaircraft
bells.
THE next thing ] knew was that |
Ta1 lying in the middle of plowed
eld, while short distance off | saw
ny observer coming across toward \
le." [
All ~ Of the officers of the wrecked I