The lieutenant won the cross for the exploit, and the boys received honorable mention from the government.

CHAPTER XIII

A DARING BOMB RAID TO THE RHINE

The exploits of the lieutenant and the boys soon became the talk of the camp. From enemy sources more was learned later about the results of the destruction of the oil station, which fully confirmed the earlier reports of the great damage which had been done. Although up to this time there had been some objection raised against the flights of the boys it must be said that after that event there was no one to criticise them.

During the winter months not much was done excepting scout work, as the weather was too severe for the men in the trenches to attempt any advances, but as the spring months came on everything became more active, thus imposing greater duty on the air fleet.

Not much of personal interest to the boys took place until May, when the great raid was planned to attack the munition factories and chemical works at and near Ludwigshafen, on the Rhine.

"Ralph, did you hear that there is going to be a big expedition this week right into Germany?" said Alfred, who had been with the lieutenant at headquarters early one morning.

"No, although the boys are always talking about something of that kind,"

replied Ralph.

"But this is a sure go; the lieutenant told me so a few minutes ago,"

responded Alfred.

"Is the lieutenant going, do you know?" asked Ralph.

"Yes, I suppose that is why he told me about it," answered Alfred.

"I wonder whether they will let us go with him?" asked Ralph.

"Well, I didn't ask him, but I looked at him pretty hard, and I guess he knows how we feel about it," answered Alfred.

The rumor turned out to be true, for the following day orders were formally received to prepare eighteen machines for a raid to the Rhine.

The lieutenant announced the news to the boys, and added: "I suppose, of course, you wouldn't like to go on such a venturesome mission?"

"Go!" exclaimed both boys in unison.

The lieutenant laughed. "Well, if you insist on it I shall have to take you with me. The Seraph (which was the name of their airplane, although it was officially known as No. 47) will be fixed to carry a dozen bombs for the occasion."

"But how about the quick firer?" asked Ralph.

"We must dispense with that on this trip. Bombs are more valuable,"

answered the lieutenant.

"Well, aren't we going to take any guard ships along?" inquired Alfred.

"Oh yes; six of the machines will be armed, but we must use every ounce we can carry on the Seraph. Before starting we must go over the route, as similar instructions will have to be issued to all of the flyers,"

remarked the lieutenant.

"Do you know where we are to go?" asked Ralph.

"The objective point is Mannheim on the Rhine. The river is eighty miles due east, and Mannheim is about fifty miles farther down the river. That city is on the eastern bank of the river, and Ludwigshafen is a small town, on the opposite sh.o.r.e where the great laboratory of Badische a.n.a.lin and Soda Fabrik is located," remarked the lieutenant.

"So we are going to destroy a soda factory?" said Ralph with a grin.

"Not exactly," replied the lieutenant, amused at the intimation. "The princ.i.p.al thing turned out at the plant before the war was nitrate, a chemical most essential in the manufacture of explosives, and the importance of the place may be understood when I tell you that fully two-thirds of this product used by the Germans comes from that place."

"When will the start be made?" asked Ralph excitedly.

"Tomorrow," was the reply.

"Then I want to see the map," said Ralph.

"By all means," answered the lieutenant. "Now, you will notice that here is a ca.n.a.l shown on the map which runs due east. That is the Rhine-Marne, which parallels this river, the Zorn. The Zorn flows into the Rhine at Stra.s.sburg. You know, of course, that rivers, or ca.n.a.ls, are the best guides for our purposes, so we must get these firmly fixed in our minds."

"Yes, that and the towns are sure to carry us along without mistake,"

remarked Alfred. "What is that place, Saarburg? It is on the river."

"That is an ancient town, and you can hardly fail to recognize the place, for it is surrounded by a great stone wall. It also contains a strong garrison. Now note the next important place, twenty miles farther on; that is Zabern. From that place we can see the Rhine at various places, as we intend to fly at an alt.i.tude of two thousand meters, or, as you would say, 6500 feet."

"Why is it necessary to go to such a high alt.i.tude?" asked Alfred.

"Because at Saarburg, Zabern and Brumath they have long range anti-airship guns, and we cannot take any chances," replied the lieutenant.

The camp was a seething place of excitement the following morning.

Twelve of the machines carried bombs exclusively; some of the airplanes had six bombs, each weighing 180 pounds; one had three bombs of 300 pounds each, and the Seraph carried ten 120-lb. high-explosive cylinders.

These were placed in a suitable case having compartments, the lower ends of the compartments being provided with outwardly opening doors, capable of being released by the pressure of the foot operating against a lever.

"I am going to rig up the cameras so we can take pictures of the explosions," said Alfred, as they made their way to the hangar.

"That is a splendid idea," remarked the lieutenant. "Such an enterprise would be commended by the Intelligence Department of the War Office. By all means make the arrangements, for we expect to start in an hour."

Alfred rushed over to the supply depot, and soon had the cameras in his possession, together with extra rolls of films. Ralph accompanied the lieutenant to the hangar to note the placing of the bombs.

"Why are the bombs placed with the pointed ends up?" asked Ralph, as the men were placing them in position.

"So the fulminate cap can be placed on, preparatory to launching,"

remarked the foreman.

"Why, won't they go off without the cap on? Wouldn't a concussion explode them?" he asked.

"Well, it would require a pretty tough jar to make them go off," replied the man.

At the appointed time the eighteen machines arose, and started for the east. The sun was full in their faces, but the misty weather made it look like a great red ball, symbolic of the day's work. It was hard to get away from the glare of the sun as they arose to the height which the orders compelled them to take, and at Saarburg some of the machines were actually hit by missiles from the anti-airship guns.

The first city of importance to greet their eyes, after leaving Brumath, was Lauterbach, and then Karlsruhe, a city of over 100,000 was sighted.

"We are now thirty-five miles from Ludwigshafen," shouted the lieutenant, through the tube. "Keep well to the west of the river, and maintain the same height, until the city is reached."