An English aeroplane was chasing a German Taube that had suddenly appeared above the coast-line. The German was doing his best to make a rush for Dunkirk, and the Englishman was doing his best to stop him. As I watched I held my breath.
The English aeroplane came on fiercely and mounted with a swift rush till it gained a place in the bright blue skies above the little insect-like Taube.
It seemed that the English aviator must now get the better of his foe; but suddenly, with an incredible swiftness, the German doubled and, giving up his attempt to get across the city, fled eastwards like a mad thing, with the Englishman after him.
But now one saw that the German machine responded more quickly and had far the better of it as regards pace, leaving the pursuing Englishman soon far behind it, and rushing away across the skies at a really incredible rate.
But while this little thrilling byplay was engaging the attention of everyone far greater things were getting in train.
Another Taube was sneaking, unobserved, among the clouds, and was rapidly gaining a place high up above Dunkirk.
And now it lets fall a bomb, that drops down, down, into the town beneath.
Immediately, with a sound like the splitting of a million worlds, everything and everyone opens fire, French, English, Belgians, and all.
The whole earth seems to have gone mad. Up into the sky they are all firing, up into the brilliant golden sunlight at that little black, swiftly-moving creature, that spits out venomously every two or three minutes black bombs that go slitting through the air with a faint screech till they touch the earth and shed death and destruction all around.
All along the shore, slipping and sailing along across the sky comes into sight an endless succession of Taubes.
They glitter like silver in the sunlight, defying all the efforts of the French artillery; they sail along with a calm insouciance that nearly drives me mad.
Crash! crash! crash! Bang! bang! bang! The cannon and the rifles are at them now with a fury that defies all words.
The firing comes from all directions. They are firing inland and they are firing out to sea. At last I run into a house with some French soldiers who are clenching their hands with rage at that Taube's behaviour.