The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-04-26
GERMANS SHOOT
DOWN 6 BALLOONS
Twelve Observers In One Day
Trust to Parachutes in
Leaps for Life.
PERIL IN BURNING GAS BAGS
Flames Likely to overtake the De.
soending observers-Many Mar
row Escapes r an 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
servers Of the British Royal Flying
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 q light undertaking, and on one day
recently when the correspondent Wis
tied a station in a fairly inactive part
Of the line six balloons containing II
men were shot down by German air.
planes, all within sight of one another.
One of the II officers who were COM
PEELED to reach terra firma by the para
chute route told the story of his trip.
"We were perched at $500 feet" he
said, land had been up only half an
hour when a column Of smoke two
miles southwark attracted our notice.
''There goes No. 16," said my observer.
1.-Two white fiecks 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
a wholesale killing this time. Six
more white specks now appeared, and,
since 1t was evident that the entire
line was being attacked, I gave the
order to haul down.
Sudden Attack by AirpIsne.
| "At 1000 feet, ! ordered the 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 ascended to 1900 feet this
time, and soon were at work again.
"Then suddenly something happen
ed. Ii 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 second or two before the hawk
was on us. I heard my observer, at
the telephone, say suddenly, What's
that? Stand by! Good Heavens
Then he turned calmly to me and said
with a smile, Sorry, old man, we must
get out at once He helped me over
the side first.
81 dropped and heard 'wumph' as
the parachute left its case. This was
the last sensation | attempted to ana
lyze as fell like stone for 300 feet
saw the balloon shoot violently up
ward, and then my view was blotted
out by large white umbrella which
suddenly appeared above my head. and
I realized that the parachute had open
ed. didn't look down. as / felt my
body swaying easily In the breeze. The
roar above told me that the Albatross
had done its work and the balloon was
afire. You cannot, Of course maneuver
parachute, and there is always the
possibility OF the burning balloon over
taking you and burning your only
means Of escape.
"But before l reached the ground |
saw far In front the Albatross crash
ing to earth minus a wing. She had
been hit by a cluster Of antiaircraft
shells.
'.The next thing I knew was that ]
was lying In the middle of plowed
field. while short distance off I saw
my observer coming across toward
me-"
Marrow Escape From Death.
All IL Of the officers of the wrecked
balloons escaped safely on this occa-
sion. They are not always so fortu-
nate. At this same station a few days
before an officer was shot and killed
when dropping in his parachute. His
balloon had been set afire by Ger
man airplane, and, as usual, he and
his companion took to their para
chutes. They had hardly got clear OF
the balloon when the attacking air
plane swooped down on them, its ma
chine gun In full play. One Of the Off
GERS was killed, and, although the 9th
er escaped, his parachute was torn b,
a bullet
The balloon commander told tn,
story Of an officer who had gone vi
, alone and whose balloon was shellet
] when flying at 1900 feet. On these oc
: casions II Is dangerous to haul down
: for the position Of the winch Is thereb,
given away to the enemy gunners. A
y last. after cloud of shrapnel smok
+ had appeared almost under the baske
and no response came down the tele
phone wire to inquiries as to whethe
everything was all right, the groun
+ officer gave the order to haul dowr
9 Ten minutes later the car touched tn
ground. and the observer was foun
J. lying at the bottom Of the basket, ur
conscious but unhurt 1t was ba
case Of shell shock. fraa which -