aeroplanes and dirigibles of war-第14章

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render　observation　with　any　degree　of　accuracy　well…nigh

impossible。



The　methods　practised　by　the　German　aerial　scout　vary　widely；　and

are　governed　in　no　small　measure　by　the　intrepidity　and　skill　of

the　airman　himself。　　One　practice　is　to　proceed　alone　upon　long

flights　over　the　enemy's　lines；　penetrating　just　as　far　into

hostile　territory　as　the　pilot　considers　advisable；　and　keeping；

of　course；　within　the　limits　of　the　radius　of　action　of　the

machine；　as　represented　by　the　fuel　supply；　the　while　carefully

taking　mental　stock　of　all　that　he　observes　below。　　It　is　a　kind

of　roving　commission　without　any　definite　aim　in　view　beyond　the

collection　of　general　intelligence。



This　work；　while　productive　and　valuable　to　a　certain　degree；　is

attended　with　grave　danger；　as　the　German　airmen　have　repeatedly

found　to　their　cost。　　Success　is　influenced　very　materially　by

the　accuracy　of　the　airman's　judgment。　　A　slight　miscalculation

of　the　velocity　and　direction　of　the　wind；　or　failure　to　detect

any　variations　in　the　climatic　conditions；　is　sufficient　to　prove

his　undoing。　　German　airmen　who　essayed　journeys　of　discovery　in

this　manner；　often　failed　to　regain　their　lines　because　they

ventured　too　far；　misjudged　the　speed　of　the　wind　which　was

following　them　on　the　outward　run；　and　ultimately　were　forced　to

earth　owing　to　the　exhaustion　of　the　fuel　supply　during　the

homeward　trip；　the　increased　task　imposed　upon　the　motor；　which

had　to　battle　hard　to　make　headway；　caused　the　fuel　consumption

per　mile　to　exceed　calculations。



Then　the　venturesome　airman　cannot　neglect　another　factor　which

is　adverse　to　his　success。　　Hostile　airmen　lie　in　wait；　and　a

fleet　of　aeroplanes　is　kept　ready　for　instant　service。　　They

permit　the　invader　to　penetrate　well　into　their　territory　and

then　ascend　behind　him　to　cut　off　his　retreat。　　True；　the　invader

has　the　advantage　of　being　on　the　wing；　while　the　ether　is　wide

and　deep；　without　any　defined　channels　of　communication。　　But　

nine　times　out　of　ten　the　adventurous　scout　is　trapped。　　His

chances　of　escape　are　slender；　because　his　antagonists　dispose

themselves　strategically　in　the　air。　　The　invader　outpaces　one；

but　in　so　doing　comes　within　range　of　another。　　He　is　so　harassed

that　he　either　has　to　give　fight；　or；　finding　his　retreat

hopelessly　cut　off；　he　makes　a　determined　dash；　trusting　to　his

high　speed　to　carry　him　to　safety。　　In　these　driving　tactics　the

French　and　British　airmen　have　proved　themselves　adepts；　more

particularly　the　latter；　as　the　chase　appeals　to　their　sporting

instincts。　　There　is　nothing　so　exhilarating　as　a　quarry　who

displays　a　determination　to　run　the　gauntlet。



The　roving　Teuton　scout　was　considerably　in　evidence　in　the　early

days　of　the　war；　but　two　or　three　weeks'　experience　emphasised

the　sad　fact　that；　in　aerial　strategy；　he　was　hopelessly

outmatched　by　his　opponents。　　His　advantage　of　speed　was

nullified　by　the　superior　tactical　and　strategical　acumen　of　his

antagonists；　the　result　being　that　the　German　airman；　who　has

merely　been　trained　along　certain　lines；　who　is　in　many　cases

nothing　more　than　a　cog…wheel　in　a　machine；　and　who　is

proverbially　slow…witted；　has　concluded　that　he　is　no　match　for

the　airmen　of　the　Allies。　　He　found　from　bitter　experience　that

nothing　afforded　the　Anglo…French　military　aviators　such　keen

delight　as　to　lie　in　wait　for　a　〃rover；〃　and　then　to　swoop　into

the　air　to　round　him　up。



The　proportion　of　these　individual　scouts　who　were　either　brought

down；　or　only　just　succeeded　in　reaching　safety　within　their　own

lines；　and　who　were　able　to　exhibit　serious　wounds　as　evidence　of

the　severity　of　the　aerial　tussle；　or　the　narrowness　of　the

escape；　has　unnerved　the　Teuton　airmen　as　a　body　to　a　very

considerable　extent。　　Often；　even　when　an　aeroplane　descended

within　the　German　lines；　it　was　found　that　the　roving　airman　had

paid　the　penalty　for　his　rashness　with　his　life；　so　that　his

journey　had　proved　in　vain；　because　all　the　intelligence　he　had

gained　had　died　with　him；　or；　if　committed　to　paper；　was　so

unintelligible　as　to　prove　useless。



It　was　the　success　of　the　British　airmen　in　this　particular　field

of　duty　which　was　responsible　for　the　momentous　declaration　in

Field…Marshal　Sir　John　French's　famous　despatch：〃The　British

Flying　Corps　has　succeeded　in　establishing　an　individual

ascendancy；　which　is　as　serviceable　to　us　as　it　is　damaging　to

the　enemy　。　。　。　。　The　enemy　have　been　less　enterprising　in

their　flights。　　Something　in　the　direction　of　the　mastery　of　the

air　has　already　been　gained。〃



The　methods　of　the　British　airmen　are　in　vivid　contrast　to　the

practice　of　the　venturesome　Teuton　aerial　rovers　described　above。　

While　individual　flights　are　undertaken　they　are　not　of　unknown

duration　or　mileage。　　The　man　is　given　a　definite　duty　to　perform

and　he　ascends　merely　to　fulfil　it；　returning　with　the

information　at　the　earliest　possible　moment。　　It　is　aerial

scouting　with　a　method。　　The　intelligence　is　required　and

obtained　for　a　specific　purpose；　to　govern　a　contemplated　move　in

the　grim　game　of　war。



Even　then　the　flight　is　often　undertaken　by　two　or　more　airmen

for　the　purpose　of　checking　and　counterchecking　information

gained；　or　to　ensure　such　data　being　brought　back　to

headquarters；　since　it　is　quite　possible　that　one　of　the　party

may　fall　a　victim　to　hostile　fire。　　By　operating　upon　these

lines　there　is　very　little　likelihood　of　the　mission　proving

a　complete　failure。　　Even　when　raids　upon　certain　places

such　as　Dusseldorf；　Friedrichshafen　or　Cuxhaven　are　planned；

complete　dependence　is　not　placed　on　one　individual。　　The　machine

is　accompanied；　so　that　the　possibility　of　the　appointed　task

being　consummated　is　transformed　almost　into　a　certainty。



The　French　flying　men　work　upon　broadly　similar　lines。　　Their

fleet　is　divided　into　small　squadrons　each　numbering　four；　six；

or　more　machines；　according　to　the　nature　of　the　contemplated

task。　　Each　airman　is　given　an　area　of　territory　which　is　to　be

reconnoitred　thoroughly。　　In　this　way　perhaps　one　hundred　or　more

miles　of　the　enemy's　front　are　searched　for　information　at　one

and　the　same　time。　　The　units　of　the　squadron　start　out；　each

taking　the　appointed　direction　according　to　the　preconceived

plan；　and　each　steering　by　the　aid　of　compass　and　map。　　They　are

urged　to　complete　the　work　with　all　speed　and　to　return　to　a

secret　rendezvous。



Later　the　air　is　alive　with　the　whirring　of　motors。　　The　machines

are　coming　back　and　all　converging　to　one　point。　　They　vol…plane

to　the　earth　and　gracefully　settle　down　within　a　short　distance

of　each　other　at　the　rendezvous。　　The　pilots　collect　and　each

relates　the　intelligence　he　has　gained。　　The　data　are　collated

and　in　this　manner　the　General　Staff　is　able　to　learn　exactly

what　is　transpiring　over　a　long　stretch　of　the　hostile　lines；　and

a　considerable　distance　to　the　rear　of　his　advance　works。　

Possibly　five　hundred　square　miles　have　been　reconnoitred　in　this

manner。　　Troops　have　been　massed　here；　lines　of　communication

extend　somewhere　else；　while　convoys　are　moving　at　a　third　place。　

But　all　has　been　observed；　and　the　commanding　officer　is　in　a

position　to　re…arrange　his　forces　accordingly。　　It　is　a

remarkable　example　of　method　in　military　tactics　and　strategy；

and　conveys　a　striking　idea　of　the　degree　to　which　aerial

operations　have　been　organised。



After　due　deliberation　it　is　decided　that　the　convoys　shall　be

raided；　or　that　massed　troops　shall　be　thrown　into　confusion；　if

not　dispersed。　　The　squadron　is　ordered　to　prepare　for　another

aerial　journey。　　The　roads　along　which　the　convoys　are　moving　are

indicated　upon　the　map；　or　the　position　of　the　massed　troops　in

bivouac　is　similarly　shown。　　The　airmen　load　their　machines　with

a　full　charge　of　bombs。　　When　all　is　ready　the　leader　ascends；

followed　in　rapid　succession　by　the　other　units；　and　they　whirr

through　the　air　in　single　file。　　It　now　becomes　a　grim　game　of

follow…my…leader。



The　leader　detects　the　convoy；　swoops　down；　suddenly　launches　his

missiles；　and　re…ascends。　　He　does　not　deviate　a　foot　from　his

path　to　observe　the　effects　of　his　discharge；　as　the　succeeding

aeroplane　is　close　behind　him。　　If　the　leader　has　missed　then　the

next　airman　may　correct　his　error。　　One　after　another　the

machines　repeat　the　manoeuvre；　in　precisely　the　same　manner　as

the　units　of　a　battleship　squadron　emulate　the　leading　vessel

when　attacking　the　foe。　　The　tactical　evolutions　have　been　laid

down；　and　there　is　rigid　adherence　thereto；　because　only　thereby

may　success　be　achieved。　　When　the　last　war…plane　has　completed

its　work；　the　leader　swings　round　and　repeats　the　dash　upon　the

foe。　　A　hail　of　bullets　may　scream　around　the　men　in　the　air；　but

one　and　all　follow　faithfully　in　the　leader's　trail。　　One　or　more

machines　may　fail　in　the　attack；　and　may　even　meet　with　disaster；

but　nothing　interferes　with　the　movements　of　the　squadron　as　a

whole。　　It　is　the　homogeneity　of　the　attacking　fleet　which　tells；

and　which　undermines　the　moral　of　the　enemy；　even　if　it　does　not

wreak　decisive　material　devastation。　　The　work　accomplished　to

the　best　of　their　ability；　the　airmen　speed　back　to　their　lines

in　the　same　formation。



At　first　sight　reconnoitring　from　aloft　may　appear　a　simple

operation；　but　a　little　reflection　will　reveal　the　difficulties

and　arduousness　of　the　work。　　The　observer；　whether　he　be

specially　deputed；　or　whether　the　work　be　placed　in　the　hand　of

the　pilot　himselfin　this　event　the　operation　is　rendered

additionally　trying；　as　he　also　has　to　attend　to　his　machine

must　keep　his　eyes　glued　to　the　ground　beneath　and　at　the　same

time　be　able　to　read　the　configuration　of　the　panorama　revealed

to　him。　　He　must　also　keep　in　touch　with　his　map　and　compass；　so

as　to　be　positive　of　his　position　and　direction。　　He　must　be　a

first…class　judge　of　distances　and　heights。



When　flying　rapidly　at　a　height　of　4；000　feet　or　more；　the

country　below　appears　as　a　perfect　plane；　or　flat　stretch；

although　as　a　matter　of　fact　it　may　be　extremely　undulating。　

Consequently；　it　is　by　no　means　a　simple　matter　to　distinguish

eminences　and　depressions；　or　to　determine　the　respective　and

relative　heights　of　hills。



If　a　rough　sketch　is　required；　the　observer　must　be　rapid　in

thought；　quick　in　determination；　and　facile　with　his　pencil；　as

the　machine；　no　matter　how　it　may　be　slowed　down；　is　moving　at　a

relatively　high　speed。　　He　must　consult　his　map　and　compass

frequently；　since　an　airman　who　loses　his　bearings　is　useless　to

his　commander…in…chief。　　He　must　have　an　eagle　eye；　so　as　to　be

able　to　search　the　country　unfolded　below；　in　order　to　gather　all

the　information　which　is　likely　to　be　of　value　to　his　superior

officers。　　He　must　be　able　to　judge　accurately　the　numbers　of

troops　arr