The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1918-10-04
EXPERIENCE is THRILLING
High Above Enemy Barrage and
searehIishts Plane Wings Way in
Darkness Till Lights of objec-
tive Form Target.
By CAPT. PAUL REwsHER.

ward, turned into the wind and rushed
across the grass into the dim night.
1t climbed swiftly in wide circles,
and below could be seen the dim
countryside where few scattered
lights twinkled. Far to the right lay
winding river, like a thread Of sil-
yer ribbon. Beside the silver ribbon,
nearly 200 miles away, lay the Ger
man town which formed this nights
objective.
In front Of the two airmen glowed
the phosphorescent dials Of the re-
cording instruments. Soon they reg
istered sufficient height for the ma
chine to turn toward the fighting line,
up and down which great white star
shells were rising, to hang suspended
for a few moments before fading out
into the darkness.
The wing-lights were switched on,
the lines were crossed, and friendly
territory left further and further be-
hind.
Far ahead the glare Of many blast
furnaces could be seen, and above
them the long, white fingers of Ger
man searchlights swept restlessly to
and fro.
We flew on steadily, yainly sought
by the searchlights and unscathed by
the fierce barrage Of shells which
burst thickly far below them.
Over Enemy Territory.
Soon the first barrier of defense
was passed, and for a long time we
flew over mile upon mile of enemy ter
ritory, over dimly lit towns and sleep
ing fields ard villages. We passed
big city lying On the bank of the
river. We could see the bridges, black
across the band of silver, and over the
city swept three long searchlights.
Still we flew on, leaving the city far
behind On either side the engines
roared steadily. Behind US hung in
readiness the yellow bombs.
When we had been flying over Ger
man territory for more than two hours
we saw ahead of US on the river the
lights of another big city. This was
our objective, and at once the machine
swept round toward it.
The observer crawled into the back
and, lying face down, opened the slid
ing door in the floor of the machine.
Below him lay a square Of moonlit
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 little ahead
of the machine.
Already he had noticed the dark
line of the railway running into the
city. The pilot steered the machine
round by the observers directions, so
that it might follow the railway, and
so find surely the great railway juno
ton 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 beneath him.
Hit Railway Junction.
We ignored the searchlights and
flew steadily on with engines roaring.
The big city twinkling with hundreds
of carefully shaded lights lay spread
now below the observers peephole.
The fore-and-aft bar of the bomb sight
drew near the station and touched it.
The observers hand reached out to the
bomb release lever at his side.
The luminous range bars crossed
the edge of the junction. He pushed
the lever hand over, drew it back
and pushed it over again and again.
Below he could see for moment the
fat cylinders spinning down toward
the railway junction.
He climbed up beside the pilot and
told him to turn. The searchlights
erratically swept to and fro with every
suggestion of panic, fear or lack OF
skill. The airmen laughed at them
and, sweeping round, started Oh IAe
long homeward journey.
The observer was looking down In
! tently to the black triangular mass OF
the railway junction, with its crowded
sidings. A great squirt Of red flame
leaped up at it's edge as the first bomb
exploded. Then another followed IT,
right in the junction. Then another.
and yet another. The fifth caused a
tremendous explosion, followed by
binding white flames-acres of 1t.
Clearly an ammunition train had beer
hit.
Then the others burst, one after an
other, leaving the railway junction
shrouded in moonlit smoke through
which the red light Of growing frs
glared duly.