The story of a thrilling airship raid by French officers comes from
Arras.
The captain in command of the airship had received orders to try to
destroy a railway junction where the Germans were conveying troops.
The line was well guarded, and it was necessary to cross the enemy's
position for a considerable distance.
The airship started at dusk, without lights, and succeeded in
crossing the German lines without being perceived. It soon located
the junction and dropped in rapid succession three dynamite charges
upon the station, with considerable damage to the tracks.
The airship by that time had been discovered by the Germans'
searchlights, and all the field guns and mortars in the
neighborhood were aimed at it. The sky was ablaze with bursting
shells, some coming dangerously near.
By throwing over all the available ballast, the airship's crew was
enabled to rise rapidly. As a departing salute it attempted to drop
a fourth charge of dynamite.
Just then something went wrong which threatened the airship with
instant destruction. The dynamite charge got stuck in the tube.
The automatic detonator already had been set in motion. The captain
seized a hatchet and climbed over the rigging. He struck a few
desperate blows at the tube, at the risk of his life, and released
the charge, saving the airship. The dynamite exploded with a
terrific detonation long before it reached the ground, with a burst
of flames.