DODGING "ARCHIE" IN THE AIR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2670, 17 January 1916, Page 5

DODGING "ARCHIE" IN THE AIR

SHOTS WHICH HIT NOT, BUT . BUMP THE AEROPLANE. , A member of the Flying Corps, Mr. i. A. Turton, writing to his uncle, the Sector of Denver, Norfolk, relates some thrilling experiences whilst taking photographs of German guns and positions from "somewhere in the clouds.'' "I get my. orders (he writes) from my Flignt C.O. to take photographs oyer certain places on the map about eight miles inside the German lines. I mark the places on my map, and tell . my mechanics to get my machine. 'My observer is ready, and I get into my machine and test the engine, and then leave the ground. -1 decide to get my height while I am flying up and down tho lines. lam now about 4000 feet up, and can- clearly see tho bursts of tho shells in the German trenches, and / can hear our guns firing. "The . machine gives a funny bump as if something has suddenly pushed it up ;• that is a shell passing very close under it, and as . there aro a 'great many shells passing all around you in a bemoardment one rather runs risks. You have got to 7000 feet. Vour oh server spots a German gun • firing; he carefully notes down the place on his map, and when you como down it is telephoned to the battery of artillery, and that gun is silenced next day. Now the awful moment has come to cross the lines. You are up 8000 feet. iou go about four miles over. No 'Archie.' You wonder wheu he will begin. You get over your target that has to be photographed. One photo taken and you are changing the plate when bang, bang, bang! Four 'Archies' burst within fifty yards of you. You nearly jump out of your skin. You get the next plate in, and take another photo. Wurnph! wumjjhl bsng! Three more 'Archies'; the fir?t two aro far away by the sound, but the third is just m front of you. You smell the smoke of the sncll; you look down to see about twenty puffs of white smoko far below you. '

"That is shrapnel, but they havo not got your height yet, luckilv. You "o von to yonr next target, which is four miles away. All tho way along the 'Archies' follow you.' Some are "short, others aro to the riglit or left, but everywhere there are puffs of. smoke. You take your last photo, and .hen jo for home as fast as your machine will go. Away goes 'Archie' at you like a long hand of death trying to catch yon before you get into safety, at least till lu gives it up. You are safe from him for that day. You come down and hand in your plates; you see your results later on. 'Archie' is short for Archibald; that is what the anti-aircraft guns are called."- "'Daily News."

The fire brigade were called yesterday to stables in Lower Taranaki Street, where a quantity of straw liad by somo means become ignited. The damage done was trifling, "lie gorse between Iladfield Terrace and Norway Street caught firo on Saturday, and the .brigade, were summoned to extinguish tho flames.

Life bath endless woes and worries, Every day now ills befall; And the aftermath of follies Forces wisdom on us all. Sage folk learn by observation, And experience makes them sure; That is wliy with such elation We take Woods Great Penpermint Cure. —A-lut. '