The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1941-06-20

vi dtkQGs
Benning leaned tensely forward as
If to add his tension to the speed
Of the cab. The radio screeched on.
From time to time the announcer
asked that no more telephone calls
be attempted. Information would be
given to all over the air as fast as re-
ceived.
Then
"An enemy air force of undeter-
mined strength is reported flying
north, its objective may be WASH
ington or New York. All persons
are cautioned not to gather in
crowds. Please remain calm and
stay where you are. It may be that
nothing will happen"
His cab swung to the curb at the
Munitions Building, Benning hurried
inside. The corridors rang with the
chatter Of typewriters. Army Off
GERS of various rank were glued over
desks or assembled in section con-
ference groups as they shaved over
the staggering details Of the job
ahead of them.
Colonel Flagwin was in his Office
alone. Benning found his chief lolled
back in a chair with heels laid abb
surdly on top of his desk. He was
putting composedly at cigarette,
his face relaxed.
"Hello, Benning," Flagwill said la
conically. "How you feeling?"
Benning said, "Well, sir, heard
the news and thought I ought to
report in case you need me for any
thing"
The colonel stretched himself.
"You know, Benning, saw it had
to come, and feel better now we've
got it on our hands. ALI we need is
the Presidents word to start gen.
eral mobilization of the Army and
National Guard. AS soon as the
Chief gets back from the White
House we'll be in motion" Flagwill
INDUCED a sardonic smile. "Not
that our mobilization will do any
immediate good to save the country
lot Of headaches. But it'll be a
start"
whats the news about bombers
headed this direction?"
"Our air staff is divided on wheth-
er Van Hassek has any bombers
that can make Washington and back
to Mexico without refueling. But
my own idea-they could have an
emergency landing place somewhere
along the way, couldn't they? It'd
work this once, anyhow"
"Then there may be real air
threat, sir?"
81 urged General Hague to get the
President to leave the White House
and go over to Chevy Chase for the
night" Flagwill averred. eat least
to set up in less vulnerable quar-
tiers in Washington. There's no use
pretending FOOLS paradise in this
country any longer, Benning. Any
thing can happen now"
A major from the chief Of air
service banged into the room, his
face ashen, though he spoke col
lectedly. 5fs
"We've picked up what appears
to be confirmation, Colonel" the ma
jor reported. GAS near as can be
made out squadron of seven bomb
ers, with an undetermined force Of
smaller ships, passed over North
Carolina short time ago. Speed
estimated at two hundred miles per
hour. Our best time calculations
suggest that they could cross the
Potomac in approximately two
hours, if this is their objective"
every good, Major, keep me in
formed" Flagwill answered, with
out change of posture or position.
He stretched himself again and
casually lighted another cigarette.
Then he swung his feet to the floor
and pulled himself up to his desk.
''I've found a couple of good spy
leads, sir" Benning interposed.
would you care to hear my re-
port?"
"Not right now" Flagwill said de-
cisively. 'I've just had few min
utes' relaxation-now for the tough
est decision ever tackled. I've
got to have my estimate of this
whole tangled situation ready for
General Hague by midnight.
''Now you get out among your
spies-or you might take look-see
| at what our anti-aircraft does for
itself. But report to me here at
midnight. / may want you to sit
in at the chiefs conference"
Benning took taxicab and drove
| to point near the Washington Mon
ument where so caliber Brownings
were setting up to look after attack
on smaller ships that might venture
within machine-gun range if the as
sault on Washington materialized.
The gun batteries and searchlights
had been thrust across the Potomac
| into Virginia to catch raiding bomb
ers before they reached the bomb
release line from which they would
lay their eggs of destruction as they
approached Washington. The search
lights were echeloned, full compile
ment of fifteen lights, Eve thousand
yards beyond the city. The techni-
cal sections with their sound loca-
1 49, ~1~oks~,a -. a1axroya Thousand