Official Italian Photograph 

 THE DOORS OP AN ITALIAN AIRSHIP STABLE ARE STRONGLY BUILT, IP NOT 



ALWAYS LOCKED 



Danger lies not in the theft of the machine, but in the irreparable damage which would 

 result if a gale should blow the doors in upon the dirigible, rip the gas bag, and derange the 

 delicate mechanism. 



objective being the Adriatic seaport of 

 Brindisi, famous in ages past as the port 

 of debarkation for many historic expedi- 

 tions against the enemies of Rome. 



It was a five-hour journey, performed 

 according to schedule in spite of the fact 

 that at one time the airmen were forced 

 to mount several miles in order to rise 

 above a thunderstorm. Thus ended the 

 third lap. 



THE FLIGHT ACROSS THE ADRIATIC 



The fourth and final stage of this mo- 

 mentous expedition was begun after dark- 

 ness had closed in upon the Adriatic. 

 Reserve tanks of gasoline had been at- 

 tached to the machines, assuring fuel for 

 a six-hour continuous flight at top speed, 

 for these were not hydro-airplanes, and 

 a sudden descent into the sea would have 

 meant the loss of planes, pilots, bombers, 

 and observers. 



As the great night-birds set out over 

 the sea, steering in a northeasterly direc- 

 tion, a dim glimmer of lights flashed from 

 the waters like the fitful glow of fireflies. 



These were the Italian torpedo-boats 

 marking the way for the airmen. 



After a flight of more than 150 miles 

 across the Adriatic the dim shoreline 

 of Montenegro was vaguely discerned 

 through the mist. A half hour longer 

 and the squadron veered to the north, 

 over the Lake of Scutari. 



Soon the darkly wooded mass of Monte 

 Lovcen (the Black Mountain, from which 

 the Kingdom of Montenegro takes its 

 name) loomed like a vast shadow upon 

 the horizon. Passing to the east of this 

 peak, the Capronis soared over Cettinje, 

 where Austrian lights twinkled in what 

 was once the palace of King Peter. No 

 bombs were dropped here, for all were 

 needed to wreak destruction upon Cat- 

 taro, which the raiders were now rapidly 

 approaching. 



Suddenly the searchlights of the Aus- 

 trian ships in the basin of Cattaro harbor 

 began to cut the skies ; the whir of the 

 Italian planes had been heard. Almost 

 simultaneously with the realization that 

 danger was at hand, the Austrians began 



4t 



