Owing to the difficulty of ensuring the explosion of
the bomb at the exact height desired, it is also made to explode
upon impact so as to make doubly sure of its efficacy.
Firing timed bombs from aloft, however, is not free from
excitement and danger, as the experience of a French airman
demonstrates. His dirigible had been commanded to make a
night-raid upon a railway station which was a strategical
junction for the movement of the enemy's troops. Although the
hostile searchlights were active, the airship contrived to slip
between the spokes of light without being observed. By
descending to a comparatively low altitude the pilot was able to
pick up the objective.
Three projectiles were discharged in rapid succession and then
the searchlights, being concentrated, struck the airship,
revealing its presence to the troops below. Instantly a spirited
fusillade broke out. The airmen, by throwing ballast and other
portable articles overboard pell-mell, rose rapidly, pursued by
the hostile shells.
In the upward travel the bomb-thrower decided to have a parting
shot. The airship was steadied momentarily to enable the range
to be taken, the automatic detonator was set going and the bomb
slipped into the launching tube.
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