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GERMAN AVIATOR DESCRIBES BATTLE
IN THE AIRJIVER HOSTILE ARMY
By RAYMOND E. SWING.
Berlin. —A hero haa stepped out ot
H. G. Wells’ "The War of the Air" in
the person of Feldwebel Werner, one
of the hundreds of German aero
nauts, who has the distinction of be
ing one of the first Germans to fly
over Paris and to fight a remarkable
battle in the air with two of the
enemy’s aeroplanes. He was a pas
senger for a short distance in the
special car put at the disposal of cor
respondents on their way to Liege and
told us a graphic story of his experi
ences.
Werner’s first assignment was to
find the English army near Mons.
The army was about 100,000 strong
and was retiring before a German
force of double Its strength.
Where Were French Aviators?
Here, at the start, one wonders how
the French could have allowed their
allies to be so misled about the
strength of the opposing forces.
Where were the French aviators? I
know of a man who had been over
the field and who told the war office
in France that at least 200,000 Ger
mans were in the flanking army ad
vancing through Belgium, but he was
told: "Impossible! There* is only
cavalry.”
The French were completely out
witted by this flank movement. The
flower of their army was at the Al
sace frontier. Tbeir mistake will cost
them Paris.
At Mons the English forces took
up a strong position, filling houses at
the edge of the city with troops and
machine guns and covering the road
’of the advancing German troops.
When the enemy approached they di
rected a terrific fire upon them and
could be dislodged only at heavy cost.
They then retired to a position be
hind great mountains of slag behind
the city, where the Germans were
unable to dislodge them with howitzer
fire.
Flyer Watches the Battle.
Again, the/ could be driven back
only by flanking movements from both
sides. This time our flyer, who
watched this battle, told us the Eng
lish retired hastily along the road in
'the direction of Le Gateau.
"The English have reached their
new position successfully,” said a
London report In its account, of this
retreat. “And out of breath,” added
a correspondent on reading the dis
patch.
The fighting at Mons was furious
and the Germans were enraged by the
British method of fighting, which
throughout at Mons was done under
cover. Never bad German soldiers
fought with such frenzy as against
this foe.
Attacked by Two Airships.
When the enemy retired Airman
Werner was assigned to the duty of
following and discovering their new
position. He found the army near Le
Gateau, where, at the edge of a wood,
he saw them taking up a strong po
nition In a semi-circle before the for
est. While watching these operations
from a height of 1,700 yards Werner
suddenly saw a double-decker Bristol
aeroplane coming down on him from
the clouds. The Bristol is a faster
but a less sure machine than the
Taube which Werner was piloting.
There was no safety in running away;
the Bristol could overtake him. He
could not alight, as |he English were
underneatlr There was nothing to
do but to face the worst and to fly
gradually lower and lower in the di
rection of the German army. As the
Bristol came nearer Werner espied a
second aeroplane, a little Bleriot, an
other swift flier, also bearing down on
him
Revolver Battle In Air.
The Bristol drew closer and closer
flying down upon Werner in large
circles, gradually getting within
range. With one hand on the wheel
the, German officer drew out his re
volver and emptied his magazine at
the approaching foe. But the Bristol
continued, coming always nearer.
"When they get over me they will
drop a bomb,” thought Werner, and
felt most uncomfortable. His ob
server reloaded Werner's revolver and
both kept on firing. But the Bristol
kept always coming closer in its cir
cles, firing constantly on the German
jponoplane. The Bleriot had * come
close enough to fire also and bullets
punctured the wings of the German
machine at intervals of seconds only.
There was no sound reaching the
Germans except that of their own mo
tors. They only knew the English
atid French pilots were shooting from
the vivid flashes from their revolvers.
But no bombs fell; ft was evident that
the English and French were not
parrying them.
Escaped to the German Army.
Firing continued as Werner de
scended gradually, reducing his eleva
tion from 1,700 yards to 850, always
coming eloser to the German army.
Every moment he faced the risk of
being wounded or of a bullet striking
bis steering apparatus.
For hours, it seemed to him, the
conflict continued until he saw the
German army in the distance. He
then sent his car rapidly downward
and descended beside his army. The
Bristol and the Bleriot retired hastily.
The battle had covered seventy-five
miles.
On descending Werner found bis
plane riddled with bullets, but he
patched up the punctures and later
witnessed the battle of Le Cateau over
the position that he had discovered.
Here again the English, after plucky
resistance, were driven back. The
Germans attacked with two flanking
movements and a -storming advance
against the middle of the English po
sition, and through main strength and
the extraordinary spirit of the attack,
forced the enemy back. The army ot
100,000 had in a few days been re
duced to 30,000.
Drops Bombs on Paris.
Later on Werner was instructed to
fly over Paris. Here he dropped sev
eral bombs, some with good effect,
though others did not explode. He
carried two kinds of bombs, one a
round shell about the size of a base
ball and weighing 1.1 pounds, the oth
er shaped like a small artillery shell
and weighing 4^ pounds. These lat
ter, when they exploded, were power
ful enough to tear up paved streets
and wreck houses. Werner also
told of dropping notes into Paris, call
ing the French such hated names as
"Cochon.”
The flyers are the only men who
really are seeing this war. They have
the enemy’s position under them and
can study it to their heart's content.
Only a lucky shot can dislodge them,
and their chief danger is from the at
tacking aviators. The German scouts
usually fly at a height of 1,700 yards
On dark days they fly at the edge of
the clouds and slip In and out for ob
servation from this excellent screen.
Accurate Aim at 2,000 Yards.
Extraordinary stories about Zeppel
ins are to be heard in Germany, some
of which are almost incredible. One
account is of the method used by Zep
peltns in throwing bombs. A recent
invention. I am told, permits a Zep
pelin, when there are clouds, to fly
high and unseen from the ground and
to let down a basket containing a man,
who then, by telephone, signals the
airship what position to take.
In cloudless times the bombs are
dropped from an apparatus hung di
rectly below the airship, the bombs
being hung on two fingers. When the
position of the target is determined,
the fingers open and the bomb falls.
These bombs are said to be twelve
inches in diameter and two feet long.
The damage they call do is terrific.
Houses in the neighborhood of the ex
plosion collapse as though made of
cards, and they can tear up streets for
a distance of scores of yards.
Zeppelins to Attack Fleet.
I am told that practically all Zep
pelins have retired from active assis
tance in taking fortifications and are
centered around the North sea, where
they are to assist in an attack on the
British fleet. The outcome of such a
battle will be highly important, for it
will determine whether a dirigible can
measure up against a warship. If ft
can, the German fleet will not be badly
outnumbered in the conflict about to
take place, for the British fleet is in
sufficiently supplied with balloon guns,
as only a few of these are in existence.
We hear, too. remarkable stories
about the number of Zeppelins. At the
outbreak of the war there were twen
ty-two on record. Today the report
of their number varies from fifty-six
to ninety. Material for Zeppelins is
said to have been stored at points
throughout the empire, where it could
be put together in a few days, and
this scheme has added Zeppelins to
the air fleet at the rate of two a week.
This story is improbable, for the
German arpiy does not possess a suffi
cient number of men trained in oper
ating dirigibles.
Differ on Bomb-Hurling Ethics.
The German aeroplanes have done
excellent service. There are several
hundred machines in operation, and
comparatively few have been shot
down.
I know of one young man, a son of
oneof Germany's most prominent, men,
who flew to Paris early in the war. He
was fired on repeatedly, and each time
descended gradually to a prearranged
depot, whence, after the enemy be
lieve’d him to have been killed, he con
tinued his trip.
When asked if he had thrown bombs
on Paris, he answered simply: "No. I
don’t carry bombs.” This would indi
cate that there may be a difference of
opinion in the army itself as to the
ethics of bomb throwing.
The astounding advance of the Ger
mans has been analyzed by a military
expert, who says that It is due to
four points; heavy artillery, aviators,
field kitchens and pedestrian feats of
large troop groups. The firs^ two
points are no# generally recognized.
WHEELER COUNTY EAGLE, ALAMO, GEORGIA,
b-
STATE NEWS
OF INTEREST
Waycross.—Tobacco ip going to sup
plant cotton as a crop through a large
section of South Georgia territory
next year, according to reports receiv
ed here. In the Nicholls district alone
where the cotton crop has always been
the chief crop of the year, practically
the entire acreage heretofore devoted
to cotton will next year be planted in
tobacco.
Atlanta. —"I w'ould not be surprised
to hear at any time that the Mexican
boll weevil has entered western
Georgia, for it is now doing its great
est traveling,” said E. L. Worsham,
state entomologist. “We have found
the boll weevil to be right on the
line and there is no possible contin
gency which might arise to prevent
this pest from entering Georgia this
fall. It will continue to travel through
Georgia until frost.” ’
Atlanta. —The Tech school of com
merce, which is a regular department
of the Georgia Tech, began hs regu
lar fall session with the largest at
tendance in the department’s history,
and with propects for a splendid year.
All of the second year men returned
and more than thirty first year men
have been enrolled since the opening.
Leesburg.—One of the most practi
cal, if not the only practical move
ment for reducing the cotton acreage
in the South was inaugurated here at
a mass meeting of Lee county farm
ers. The plan originated with J. R
Smith, the well known business man,
who owns an immense farm in this
county. It contemplates the organiza
tion of the cotton growers ot the
South into county, state and Southern
organizations. All of these associa
tions will work under duly executed
charters, and the obligation taken by
the individual farmer pledging him
self to a certain number of acres of
cotton to the plow or horse will be
legal and binding. The general South
ern association will be composed ot
the state associations, and the state
association unit will be made up of the
county associations. In this way busi
nesslike harmony and co-operation
will be accomplished.
Atlanta. — Children between the
ages of fourteen years and fourteen
years and six months who have not
had at least twelve weeks schooling
during the year 1914 will not be per
mitted to work in manufacturing
plants, laundries and places ot amuse
ment after January 1, 1915, according
to the new child labor law, which was
recently passed by the state legisla
ture and which will go into effect the
first of the year.
H. M. Stanley, commissioner of com
merce and labor, has issued a warn
ing to the parents of all children be
tween these ages to see that they
start to school at once in order that
they will have at least twelve weeks’
schooling before the first of the year.
The commissioner states that this law
will be rigidly enforced and that the
employers of children between these
ages who cannot show certificates
from proper authorities to the effect
that they have had at least twelve
weeks’ schooling during 1914 will be
required to discharge them.
Decatur. —The DeKalb county grand
jury for the September term superior
court, made the following recommenda
tions: "In view of the unsettled con
dition of the cotton market, caused
by the deplorable European war, on
account of which the demand for cot
ton is already materially affected, and
believing it to be to the best Interest
of the county, the south and the-na
tion that good prices for cotton be
maintained, we desire to indorse the
‘buy-a-bale-of-cotton’ movement at 10
cents a pound as now being agitated
over the country, and urge all parties
able to do so to buy at least a bale
and hold same off the market for six
or twelve months."
Atlanta.' —The Brotherhood of St.
Andrew, the largest organization com
posed wholly of laymen, which meets
tn tiie United States, will hold its
twenty-ninth annual convention in At
lanta, October 11 to 18, Inclusive.
From 800 to 1,000 delegates will be
here from all parts of the United
States in addition to many visitors
who will come from various sections,
but more largely, perhaps, from the
chapters of the South. Every state
in the Union, from Maine to Califor
nia, will be represented^
Atlanta.—The new Methodist uni
versity has been formally opened in
Atlanta. Another great Institution ot
learning has been added to the city
and to the state. The opening exer
cises were held in Wesley Memorial
hall and was attended by thousands
of churchmen and those of the stu
dents who had arrived in the city for
enrollment. Among the speakers were
Bishop Warren A. Candler, chancellor
of the University; Dr. Plato Durham,
dean of the school; Mell R. Wilkin
son, president of the chamber of com
merce, and James L. Mayson, a Meth
odist lay reader. Dean Durham stated
that the enrollment was much larger
than was expected and already the
dormitories equipped for the students
in the Wesley building are filled.
LEI COUNTY PLAN
MAY BE ADOPTED
Meeting Os Delegates From Sevan South
eastern States Called To
Consider Plan
WILL CURTAIL COTTON CROP
According To Plan Farmers Agree To
Restrict 1915 Crop To Ten
Acres To A Plow
Atlanta.—The "Lee county plan” for
curtailing next year’s 'cotton crop,
which was approved at the meeting of
the Georgia chamber of commerce in
Macon, was unanimously adopted by
the cotton-purchasing committee of
that body, and a meeting of delegates
from seven southeastern states has
been called in Atlanta, October 5, to
consider the adoption of the Lee coun
ty plan by all the farmers of the cot
ton-growing states. It is expected that
this plan will curtail Georgia's crop
by 2,660 acres.
The state chamber and many cotton
experts and growers consider this plan
the most practicable and enforcible
plan that has yet been formulated for
the curtailment of cotton production.
It is meeting with hearty approval
among farmers of a number of south
Georgia counties, where county organ-,
izations are already being perfected.
.Attorneys have assured the chamber
that the plan is In conformity with
law, and when signed can be enforc
ed as a contract.
Explains Lee County Plan
The Lee county plan has been brief
ly outlined by the state chamber of
commerce as follow's:
"The Lee county plan provides un
der a charter duly granted, whenever
75 per cent of the plows of the cotton
farms, signing through the land own
ers, have signed up an agreement n«t
to plant in cotton in 1915 more than
10 acres to the plow—then the con
tract becomes lawfully binding upon
all parties to the contract.
"Each county has its own manage
ment through a duly constituted board,
and the one bonded unlow to> which all
agree is the limited acreage to be
planted. The contract is binding for
1915, and to be renewed from year to
year, as may be deemed best by the
majority.
"It takes the name of the Lee county •
plan because it was first started in
Lee county and has spread rapidly
through middle Georgia. A vigorous
and rapid campaign will be begun im l
mediately to organize counties as |i
rapidly as men can be put In the field I
and mass meetings called."
Convention of Disciples of Christ
Atlanta.—The international conven- '
tion of the Disciples of Christ, which
will be held in Atlanta for one week
beginning October 7, will bring to this I
city hundreds of the most prominent
and representative people of the Unit- t
ed States, as well as a large number I
from the principal countries of Asia, !
Europe and Africa, including mission- [
aries and native workers.
It is expected that on tills occasion •
Atlanta will be host to between five I
and ten thousand visitors and elabo ■
rate preparations are being made by
the many workers here for tlieir enter
tainment. The Disciples of Christ is
the organization name of the Christian
churches which have a large- following
the world over.
From Russia alone it was expected
to have a delegation of five hundred
people. But because of conditions in
Europe at present, it is probable this
number will be reduced, as no doubt
some of them have already been draft
ed in the army. England is planning
to send a party of fifty or more, while
India, China aud Africa will be well
represented.
Hold Cotton But Paid Tenants
Atlanta. —Mrs. Ed Napier, who owns
a big farm about eleven miles from
Milledgeville, te doing her share to
ward aiding the cotton movement. She
is holding three hundred bales of cot
ton from the market in effort to help
conditions.
Mrs. Napier has in the neiglibffrhood
of thirty-five families as tenants on
her farm. Each of these tenants she
has paid off in the customary manner,
just as though she had sold each and
every bale of the cotton her farm pro
ducts each year. No one will suffer
from her move to hold her crop until
times get better.
She has sent a bale of bolls to the
Winecoff hotel, and they are displayed
in unique style along the gallery of
the mezzanine floor, where they are
in full view of the office and lobby.
Naval Store Begin To Move
Brunswick—A steamship is due to
arrive in Brunswick this week to take
on a load of naval stares for Brazil,
which will be the first cargo to be
shipped from this, or probably any
other South Atlantic port to that coun
try in ten or twelve years and which
probably means the beginning of new
business which this section is to en
joy.
WAS MISERABLE
COULDN’T STAND
Testifies She Was Restored
to Health by Lydia E.
Pinkham’s Vegetable
Compound.
Lackawanna, N. Y.—“ After my first
child was born I felt very miserable and
could not stand on
my feet. My sister
in-law wished me to
try Lydia E. Pink
ham’s Vegetable
Compound and my
nerves became firm,
appetite good, step
elastic, and I lost
that weak, tired
feeling. That was
six years ago and I
have had three fine
healthy children since. For female trou
bles I always take Lydia E. Pinkham’s
Vegetable Compound and it works like
a charm. Ido all my own work.’’—Mrs.
A. F. Kreamer, 1574 Electric Avenue,
Lackawanna, N. Y.
The success of Lydia E. Pinkham’s
Vegetable Compound, made from roots
and herbs, is unparalleled. It may be
used with perfect confidence by women
who suffer from displacements, inflam
mation, ulceration,tumors,irregularities,
periodic pains, backache, bearing-down
feeling,flatulency,indigestion.dizziness,
or nervous prostration. Lydia E. Pink
ham’s Vegetable Compound is the stan
dard remedy for female ills.
Women who suffer from those dis
tressing ills peculiar to their sex should
be convinced of the ability of Lydia E.
Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound to re
store their health by the many genuine
and truthful testimonials we are con
stantly publishing in the newspapers.
If you want special advice write to
Lydia E. Pinkham Medicine Co. (confi
dential) Lynn, Mass. Your letter will
be opened, read and answered by a
woman and held in strict confidence.
ADVICE TO THE AGED
Age brings Infirmities, such as sluggish
bowels, weak kidneys and torpid liver.
Tuft’s Pills
have a specific effect on these organs,
stimulating the bowels, gives natural action,
and Imparts vigor to the whole rytsem.
over too
YEARS OLD
Beauty is only- skin deep, but ugli
' ness sinks into the soul.
No. S!X-SIXTY^IX
This is a prescription prepared e#-
i, pecially for Malaria or Chills and
Fever. Five or six doses will break
any case, and if taken then as a tonic
; the fever will not return. 25c. —Adv.
The only real proof of success is an
’ ability to hold onto it.
Treatment of Sores.
r Apply Hanford's Balsam lightly and
j you should find that gradually the sore
■ will diminish in size. The older the
! case the longer it will take, but it will
t help the hard cases, after other rem
i edics fail Adv.
I^it your best foot forward and you
' won't have so many kicks coming.
Pain in the Bide? Rub on and rub
in Hanford's Balsam thoroughly. Adv.
The Indian ocean in its deepest parte
is 18.582 feet. Its area is 28,000,000
square miles.
For nail in the foot use Hanford's
Balsam. Adv.
The princes of India are abandoning
the gorgeous equipages and adopting
American automobiles.
Cool a burn with Hanford's Balsam.
Adv.
Better times is said to be the ex
planation of thb falling off of the
army enlistments.
Dr. Pierce's Pleasant Pellets regtrfafe
and invigorate stomaelr, liver and bowels.
Sugar-coated, tiny granules, easy to take.
Do not gripe. Adv.
Youthful Distinction.
“Oh, yes. we are so pleased with
him! Just think! He's the fattest in
his whole class!" —Paris Le Rire.
Cure* Old Seres, Other Remedies Won’t Cue.
The worst cases, no matter of bow long standing,
are cured by the wonderfat, o'.d reliable Dr.
Porter’s Antiseptic Healing Oil. It relieve*
Pain and Heale at the same time. 25c. 30c, #I.OO.
Some marriages may be failures, but
we have noticed that most widows
and widowers are anxious to try
again.
How To Give Quinine To Children
FEBRILINE is the trade-mark name given to an
improved Quinine. It is a Tasteless Syrup, pleas
ant to take and does not disturb the stomach.
Children take it and never know it is Quinine.
Also especially adapted to adults who cannot
take ordinary Quinine. Does not nauseate nor
cause nervousnoss nor ringing in the head. Try
it the next time yon need Quinine for any pur
pose. Ask for x-ounce original package. The
Same FEBRILINE is blows ia bottle- 15 cent*.