THIS WEEK'S PUZZLE

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 258, 31 October 1928, Page 18

THIS WEEK'S PUZZLE

COMPLETE THE STORY.

In the misty haze that enveloped Flanders on a dull morning during that terrible four years in which Christian nations marched into battlefields and flew at each other's throats like African cannibals, two airmen fussed about their 'plane.

"She'll be O.K. when the new plug's fitted in," said Ed. Russell, the pilot.

"Yes," replied Jim Blair, his mechanic, ."I'll be glad when we're up, I don't like playin' hide and seek down here among the greycoats. Shall I give her a swing now ?"

The pilot replied in the affirmative and as the propeller was swung round the engine roared into life. In a second or two the 'plane was taxying over the uneven field soon to tilt her nose skywards and fly above the mist. The aeroplane turned east and flew towards the British air base.

The two were out on an important errand. The day before they had been sent odt to scout the enemy territory and to report the position of two "Big Berthas" that had been playing havoc with the elaborate armaments of the Allies.

On the previous day they had located I one of the guns and had Very nearly been brought down while bombing it. However the definite range- they supplied to H. 2. soon sent French shells whizzing about the enemy gun and in half an hour it was effectively silenced. During the quest for the other gun the 'plane had been located by a German "pom pom" and a burst of shrapnel had split one plug and had put the magneto out of commission, thus forcing the 'plane down. The two airmen Knew their business, however, and • by dawn had taken off again. Suddenly a silver object rose above the horizon and was quickly made out to be a German Zeppelin. "Back from a raid on sortie helpless village," Blair bellowed through the telephone. "I've got four bombs left and a dozen rounds for the machine gun. Shall we tackle her."

Russell nodded and set his machine climbing. The commander of the Zeppelin, realising that the 'plane was hostile, altered his course and prepared to make a run. , The British 'plane countered and after t ej i minutes' skilful manoeuvring was above> the giant airship. Blair pulled the pin from a bomb' and threw it over tha side. A second later there Was an explosion, but the Zeppelih still rode thd air.'

The 'plane circled ■ and the machine guns from the airship sent a stream of lead in her direction. Once more the 'plane was flying above the dirigible, and again a bomb, this time more accurately timed, was thrown over the side. There was h roar as the rear balloonette exploded and the hind part of the airship, flaming madly, began to sink. The German gunners, however, were still and qiiite suddenly the back rudder of Russell's 'plant; became quite useless and the machine was unsteerable. ■A further burst of firing 'froin the doomed airship stopped the British machine's engine and it looked as if the gallant airmen, who had so pluckily attacked the superior -Zeppelin, would perish with their prey. However the nose tipped downwards and the little plane glided out of range. A-few minutes later the airship, ! entirely enveloped in flame, sank to the ground, and the British 'plane glided helplessly toward the German lines.