DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Imagination, v. 1, issue 3, whole no. 3, December 1937

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Imagination, v. 1, issue 3, whole no. 3, December 1937

Page 10

10
Forces.
Of the destruction of the Fed airfleets we were told nothing & few believd the newspaperstorys of hazy hords & astonishing aircraft. Therefor the coming of Poleon's planes & the "San Francisco Slaughtr" was a totaly unexpectd disastr.
It was a clear day. From the wide porch of my home we had a panoramic view of the Bay, the Golden Gate, the San Marino shore. Mt Tamalpais liftd its majestic head. On the many hills of its long peninsula SF sprawld. There was little or no haze (how rare!) & we could see the ferrytower distinctly, even the white face of the Clock; Coit Memorial; the piers protruding on the waterfront, the white strips of streets, climbing. The Pacific Squadron was in & squat menacing hulks of slate-gray lay at anchor off the city with idling destroyrs here & there. Navalaunches with wakes of frothing foam rusht between the battleships & the shore.
My wife was first to notice the approach of the bloodred bombrs. "Roy! Look!" she calld--"what're those?"
I joind her on the porch. Even at first glance my heart leapt. They were far off but the sun's rays reflectd from them ominously. They were flying in formation, hi up, skirting the East Bay Shore.
Suddenly the formation broke. Some the planes crost the Bay diagonly for Frisco; othrs turnd inland; 2 continued strate ahead zooming over Berkeley & Cragmont, loosing as they did so a crimson cascade of leaflets. The sanguine slip lodged on the green lawn a few yds from the house & Wanda my wife pickt it up & brot it to me.
We both read it with what feelings may be imagined.
"Cityzens! Our Army occupys Tucson, Phoenix, Prescott--& this is but the beginning! Soon Washington itself will be invaded. The citys of the Bay Region are commanded to surrendr & save useless bloodshed & destruction. Resistance will reap death. Signd, Poleon."
We didn't know it at the time but such slips were being scatterd at San Francisco, Sacramento & San Jose.
The reaction of the military & naval authoritys of SF to this message was not, however, one of peace. From the direction of the Bay a great gun growld, then anothr & anothr. Puffs of white smoke rose--driftd. The fleet was signaling sailors on shoreleave to return at once.
Across steel-gray expanse of Bay launches leapt.

Suddenly the air was illd with shells that flowerd like exploding mushrooms. A Poleonic plane waverd in its flite, pitcht sideways & fell like a plummet.
At the Presidio antiaircraft guns synchronized to fire with the purr of aeroplane propellers went into action. Planes of peril whined earthward or into the waters of the Golden Gate & Pacific.
But now from the east anothr fleet of the foe's foggy planes surgd into sight; & at 5 minute intervals red reinforcements arrived til over San Francisco & the Bay the sky was clouded with the enemy aircraft.
We did not know it then but thru the vizivox a harsh metalic voice calld on the military & naval authoritys to cease firing; but these officials ignord the command.

Saving...

10 Forces. Of the destruction of the Fed airfleets we were told nothing & few believd the newspaperstorys of hazy hords & astonishing aircraft. Therefor the coming of Poleon's planes & the "San Francisco Slaughtr" was a totaly unexpectd disastr. It was a clear day. From the wide porch of my home we had a panoramic view of the Bay, the Golden Gate, the San Marino shore. Mt Tamalpais liftd its majestic head. On the many hills of its long peninsula SF sprawld. There was little or no haze (how rare!) & we could see the ferrytower distinctly, even the white face of the Clock; Coit Memorial; the piers protruding on the waterfront, the white strips of streets, climbing. The Pacific Squadron was in & squat menacing hulks of slate-gray lay at anchor off the city with idling destroyrs here & there. Navalaunches with wakes of frothing foam rusht between the battleships & the shore. My wife was first to notice the approach of the bloodred bombrs. "Roy! Look!" she calld--"what're those?" I joind her on the porch. Even at first glance my heart leapt. They were far off but the sun's rays reflectd from them ominously. They were flying in formation, hi up, skirting the East Bay Shore. Suddenly the formation broke. Some the planes crost the Bay diagonly for Frisco; othrs turnd inland; 2 continued strate ahead zooming over Berkeley & Cragmont, loosing as they did so a crimson cascade of leaflets. The sanguine slip lodged on the green lawn a few yds from the house & Wanda my wife pickt it up & brot it to me. We both read it with what feelings may be imagined. "Cityzens! Our Army occupys Tucson, Phoenix, Prescott--& this is but the beginning! Soon Washington itself will be invaded. The citys of the Bay Region are commanded to surrendr & save useless bloodshed & destruction. Resistance will reap death. Signd, Poleon." We didn't know it at the time but such slips were being scatterd at San Francisco, Sacramento & San Jose. The reaction of the military & naval authoritys of SF to this message was not, however, one of peace. From the direction of the Bay a great gun growld, then anothr & anothr. Puffs of white smoke rose--driftd. The fleet was signaling sailors on shoreleave to return at once. Across steel-gray expanse of Bay launches leapt. Suddenly the air was illd with shells that flowerd like exploding mushrooms. A Poleonic plane waverd in its flite, pitcht sideways & fell like a plummet. At the Presidio antiaircraft guns synchronized to fire with the purr of aeroplane propellers went into action. Planes of peril whined earthward or into the waters of the Golden Gate & Pacific. But now from the east anothr fleet of the foe's foggy planes surgd into sight; & at 5 minute intervals red reinforcements arrived til over San Francisco & the Bay the sky was clouded with the enemy aircraft. We did not know it then but thru the vizivox a harsh metalic voice calld on the military & naval authoritys to cease firing; but these officials ignord the command.