Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 253, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 October 1918 — BRITISH PLANE HITS HUN BOAT [ARTICLE]

BRITISH PLANE HITS HUN BOAT

Story of an Attack by Flyers on German Destroyer Fleet. ATTEMPTTO ESCAPE DANGER Enemy Ship Becomes a Twisted and Dirty Wreck After Bomb From Above Strikes It—AU In • the Day's Work. London.—To the observer in the rear cbckplt of the fast British bombing machine the scene hardly appeared to change from minute to minute. The engine roared, the sunlight came slanting in onto his knees,, a biting wind beat on his face, and below was the slightly hazy surface of the sea, while to the right lay the dim line of the Belgian coast, which swept away to the wider silver reaches pf the Scheldt estuary. Ahead of him two; British machines flew in the same direction, with their propellers seeming to revolve lazily, as they always do When seen from another machine. The, observer continually scanned the air above and below the machine, and examined every now and then the surface of the sea. Suddenly the front machine turned to the right and began to fly toward

the coast. Its occupants had evidently seen* something of importance. Looking below, the observer of the back machine saw a few miles from the Zeebrugge mole six little shapes which .seemed stationary on the gray sea. German Destroyers. They were German destroyers which were in reality steaming at top speed toward the coast. Gradually the airplanes drew nearer and nearer and soon were but a few miles from the land. Near the front machine appeared a small black ball of smoke.' Another appeared, and another, and the observer could hear the sharp craek of the bursting A moment later the second machine entered the zone of bursting shells, some leaving white smoke, and others leaving black or evil-looking yellow vapor. Along the coast line he could see the little, red flashes of the anti-aircraft batteries. Now, however, they were almost over the destroyers, which were beginning to zigzag as the danger of the coming attack was realized. The observer saw six black cylinders drop spinning from the front machine, ' and then, with his two reins round the pilot’s arms 'in front, he steered the machine to the right and left as he watched the destroyer through the wires and baix of his bomb sight. Even as he was directing the machine he saw the great white clouds of steam, smoke and water leap up from the sea near the destroyer.

The second destroyer; which was now steering an almost direct course, appeared below his range bars. He -turned the pilot slightly to the right in order that he might allow for the speed of the boat, and slowly-pushed over his bomb levers, one by one. Below tite wings he had a momentary glimpse of the yellow, fish-like bombs rushing downward. He shouted to the pilot, and they turned quickly away from the Inferno of shells which were bursting all around them. Scores Direct Hit. The observer stood up and watched intently what was going on below. Near the destroyers appeared the white smoke and spray of a bomb. Another followed, and another. Then on one of the destroyers a great red flash appeared and the center of the boat was-left clouded in smoke. He had scored one direct hit. He shouted excitedly to the pilot as one of the destroyers dropped out of line and made swiftly for its mortally wounded consort. The British airplanes returned ana reported what had happened. A patrol returning a few hours later stated that they had" seen five German destroyers returning toward Ostend. By then the sixth, torn and shattered, lay with many another twisted and rusty companion, under the sea.