The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-14
FORMER GERMAN DESTROYERS SUNK
 BY ARMY AlRMEN
tContInued from Page one)


 the army observers. a z-5 pursuit plane, gave a fancy exhibition of stunt flying over the target.
 At s:15 o'clock the first of the bombing force came up over the ho- rizon. This was squadron of 10 fast pursuit planes, each carrying four 25-pound bombs. They circlci the target and disappeared behind a long, low-hanging cloud bank, only to emerge in a few minutes in single
 file, to go to the attack. As they
 swooped down on the target they resembled great sea gulls diving
 down to the water.
 The first plane swept down to an
 altitude estimated at less than 1000
 feet and let go it's bomb. which fell
 slightly short. The second and third
 planes had similar experiences, the
 pilots seeing only a column of water and smoke for their efforts. The fourth air craft found the target however, and thereafter hits were rapid, each succeeding plane except one scoring.
 Small Bombs First Four times the pursuit planes
 ushed to the attack, but so far as appearances WSHL tHC DOthOo NM N-N tie damage. It was explained that
 the mission of these smaller bombs was to disable the anti-aircraft guns on an "enemy" and demoralize the crew so as to make the work or the
 big bombing planes less difficult. When the first provisional squad ron had completed its work, obsery- ing planes flew low over the de-
 stroyer to note the damage done. Be
 fore this the big fleet of Martin bombers had reached the scene, fly. ing in "V' formation. They circled | around overhead with navy planes and three silver-toned blimps, which had come up during the first attack, and it was half an hour before what proved to be the final phase of the
 attack began.
 The big bombers passed over the
 target at attitudes varying from l,o0U to 2500 feet, each dropping two | bombs, which glistened in the prli- liant sunlight as they fell toward the mark. The first two bombs fell wide
 sending up great columns or Watef
 and clouds of smoke. The force of the explosion was perccptible on the | Delaware. anchored a thousand yards away.
 | Plane after plane swept above the
 target in rapid succession until ti l looked as though the first attack
 would be without result. The two 1 bombs launched by the thirteenth
 plane found the mark. however, and cheers went up from the crews Of the
 attending naval ships. The four teenth plane also, failed to register a | hit and the entire squadron reformed for a second and last attack. ha the first time. several planes passed without hit. but the twelfth aircraft in the
 squadron found the mark. A column of smoke arose from the destroyer as she settled down by the bow and 1t was readily apparent that the show was over. The thousands gathered
 on the nearby ships watched intently
 the passing of a once proud craft,
 built originally for the Argentine government. but taken over by Ger
 many in 1914 flor use in the World war.
 To Sink Two More The G-102 was one of three former German destroyers turned over to the American navy after the war for
 experimental purposes and was the largest of the lot Her length was SIP feet, and she had speed of 32
 knots. The other two. the S-132 and v-43, are to be sunk by gun fire from destroyers of the Atlantic fleet off the Virginia capes Friday. Two more phases of the bombing | tests remain, the attack on the for l mer German cruiser Frankfurt, July IS, and on the former German
 dreadnaught Ostfriesland, July 20. Naval officers took particular
 pains to give their, best test with a view to settling any controversy as
 to the relative merits of aircrafts
 and surface warcraft. They declared they were definitely decided upon
 long before Brigadier General Mitchell testified before a congress
 sional committee that the modern air
 craft was fast making the battleship
 obsolete.
 The real purpose it was explained. was the destruction of the former 1 German ships. as provided for in the agreement between the allied and l associated powers to determine the effect of bombs on present day war 1 ship construction.
 PROBATE BOSTICk WILL