aeroplanes and dirigibles of war-第16章

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indications　given　by　the　aeroplane　are　of　the　simplest　character。　

The　German　method　is　for　the　aerial　craft　to　fly　over　the

position；　and　when　in　vertical　line　therewith　to　discharge　a

handful　of　tinsel；　which；　in　falling；　glitters　in　the　sunlight；

or　to　launch　a　smoking　missile　which　answers　the　same　purpose　as

a　projectile　provided　with　a　tracer。　　This　smoke…ball　being

dropped　over　the　position　leaves　a　trail　of　black　or　whitish

smoke　according　to　the　climatic　conditions　which　prevail；　the

object　being　to　enable　the　signal　to　be　picked　up　with　the

greatest　facility。　　The　height　at　which　the　aerial　craft　is

flying　being　known；　a　little　triangulation　upon　the　part　of　the

observer　at　the　firing　point　enables　him　to　calculate　the　range

and　to　have　the　guns　laid　accordingly。



When　the　aerial　craft　has　been　entrusted　with　the　especial　duty

of　directing　artillery…fire；　a　system　of　communication　between

the　aerial　observer　and　the　officer　in　charge　of　the　artillery　is

established；　conducted；　of　course；　by　code。　　In　the　British　Army；

signalling　is　both　visual　and　audible。　　In　daylight　visual

signalling　is　carried　out　by　means　of　coloured　flags　or　streamers

and　smoke…signals；　while　audible　communication　is　effected　by

means　of　a　powerful　horn　working　upon　the　siren　principle　and

similar　to　those　used　by　automobiles。　　Both　flags　and

sound…signals；　however；　are　restricted　owing　to　the　comparatively

short　distances　over　which　they　can　be　read　with　any　degree　of

accuracy。　　The　smoke…signal　therefore　appears　to　be　the　most

satisfactory　and　reliable；　as　the　German　airmen　have　proved

conclusively；　for　the　simple　reason　that　the　trail　of　smoke　may

be　picked　up　with　comparative　ease；　even　at　a　distance；　by　means

of　field　glasses。　　The　tinsel　too；　is　readily　distinguishable；

particularly　in　bright　weather；　for　the　glittering　surface；

catching　the　sun…light；　acts　some　what　in　the　manner　of　a

heliograph。



The　progress　of　the　airman　is　followed　by　two　officers　at　the

base　from　which　he　started。　　One　is　equipped　with　the　director；

while　the　second　takes　the　range。　　Directly　this　has　been　found

as　a　result　of　calculation；　the　guns　are　laid　ready　for　firing。　

In　those　cases　where　the　enemy's　artillery　is　concealed　perhaps

behind　a　hill；　the　airman　is　of　incalculable　value；　inasmuch　as

he　is　able　to　reveal　a　position　which　otherwise　would　have　to　be

found　by　considerable　haphazard　firing；　and　which；　even　if

followed　by　a　captive　balloon　anchored　above　the　firing　point；

might　resist　correction。



The　accuracy　of　the　airman's　work　in　communicating　the　range　has

been　responsible　for　the　high　efficiency　of　the　British　and

French　artillery。　　The　latter；　with　the　75　millimetre

quick…firing　gun；　is　particularly　adapted　to　following　up　the

results　of　the　aeroplane's　reconnaissance；　especially　with　the

system　of　rafale　fire；　because　the　whole　position　can　be　searched

through　and　through　within　a　minute　or　two。　　According　to

information　which　has　been　given　to　me　by　our　artillery　officers；

the　British　system　also　has　proved　disastrous　to　the　enemy。　　The

practice　is　to　get　the　range　as　communicated　by　the　aeroplane；　to

bring　the　artillery　into　position　speedily；　to　discharge　salvo

after　salvo　with　all　speed　for　a　few　minutes；　and　then　to　wheel

the　artillery　away　before　any　hostile　fire　can　be　returned。　　The

celerity　with　which　the　British　artillery　comes　into；　and　goes

out　of；　action　has　astonished　even　our　own　authorities。　　This

mobility　is　of　unique　value：　it　is　taking　advantage　of　a　somewhat

slow…witted　enemy　with　interest。　　By　the　time　the　Germans　have

opened　fire　upon　the　point　whence　the　British　guns　were

discharged；　the　latter　have　disappeared　and　are　ready　to　let　fly

from　another　point；　some　distance　away；　so　that　the　hostile　fire

is　abortive。　　Mobility　of　such　a　character　is　decidedly　unnerving

and　baffling　even　to　a　quick…witted　opponent。



In　his　search　for　hostile　artillery　the　airman　runs　grave　risks

and　displays　remarkable　resource。　　It　is　invariably　decided；

before　he　sets　out；　that　he　shall　always　return　to　a　certain

altitude　to　communicate　signals。　　Time　after　time　the　guns　of　the

enemy　have　been　concealed　so　cunningly　from　aerial　observation　as

to　pass　unnoticed。　　This　trait　became　more　pronounced　as　the

campaigns　of　the　Aisne　progressed。　　Accordingly　the　airman　adopts

a　daring　procedure。　　He　swoops　down　over　suspicious　places；　where

he　thinks　guns　may　be　lurking；　hoping　that　the　enemy　will　betray

its　presence。　　The　ruse　is　invariably　successful。　　The　airman

makes　a　sudden　dive　towards　the　earth。　　The　soldiers　in　hiding

below；　who　have　become　somewhat　demoralised　by　the　accuracy　of

the　British　aerial　bomb…throwers；　have　an　attack　of　nerves。　　They

open　a　spirited　fusillade　in　the　hope　of　bringing　the　airman　to

earth。　　But　their　very　excitement　contributes　to　his　safety。　　The

shots　are　fired　without　careful　aim　and　expend　themselves

harmlessly。　　Sweeping　once　more　upwards；　the　airman　regains　the

pre…determined　level；　performs　a　certain　evolution　in　the　air

which　warns　the　observer　at　his　base　that　he　has　made　a

discovery；　and　promptly　drops　his　guiding　signal　directly　over

the　point　from　which　he　has　drawn　fire。



Operations　at　night　are　conducted　by　means　of　coloured　lights　or

an　electrical　searchlight　system。　　In　the　former　instance　three

lights　are　generally　carriedwhite；　red；　and　greeneach　of

which　has　a　distinctive　meaning。　　If　reliance　is　placed　upon　the

electric　light　signalling　lamp；　then　communications　are　in　code。　

But　night　operations　are　somewhat　difficult　and　extremely

dangerous；　except　when　the　elements　are　propitious。　　There　is　the

ground　mist　which　blots　everything　from　sight；　rendering

reconnaissance　purely　speculative。　　But　on　a　clear　night　the

airman　is　more　likely　to　prove　successful。　　He　keeps　a　vigilant

eye　upon　all　ground…lights　and　by　close　observation　is　able　to

determine　their　significance。　　It　is　for　this　reason　that　no

lights　of　any　description　are　permitted　in　the　advance　trenches。　

The　striking　of　a　match　may　easily　betray　a　position　to　the　alert

eye　above。



So　far　as　the　British　Army　is　concerned　a　complete　code　is　in

operation　for　communicating　between　aeroplanes　and　the　ground　at

night。　　Very's　lights　are　used　for　this　purpose；　it　being

possible　to　distinguish　the　respective　colours　at　a　distance　of

six　miles　and　from　an　altitude　of　2；000　feet。　　The　lights　are

used　both　by　the　aeroplane　and　the　battery　of　artillery。



The　code　is　varied　frequently；　but　the　following　conveys　a　rough

idea　of　how　communication　is　carried　out　by　this　means　under

cover　of　darkness。　　The　aeroplane　has　located　its　objective　and

has　returned　to　the　pre…arranged　altitude。　　A　red　light　is　thrown

by　the　airman。　　It　indicates　that　he　is　directly　over　the　enemy's

position。　　A　similarly　coloured　light　is　shown　by　the　artillery

officer；　which　intimates　to　the　airman　that　his　signal　has　been

observed　and　that　the　range　has　been　taken。



In　observing　the　effects　of　artillery　fire　a　code　of　signals　is

employed　between　the　airman　and　the　artillery　officer　to　indicate

whether　the　shot　is　〃long〃　or　〃short；〃　to　the　right　or　to　the

left　of　the　mark；　while　others　intimate　whether　the　fuse　is

correctly　timed　or　otherwise。　　It　is　necessary　to　change　the　code

fairly　frequently；　not　only　lest　it　should　fall　into　the　enemy's

hands；　but　also　to　baffle　the　hostile　forces；　otherwise；　after　a

little　experience；　the　latter　would　be　able　to　divine　the

significance　of　the　signals；　and；　in　anticipation　of　being

greeted　with　a　warm　fusillade；　would　complete　hurried

arrangements　to　mitigate　its　effects；　if　not　to　vacate　the

position　until　the　bombardment　had　ceased。



Sufficient　experience　has　already　been　gathered；　however；　to

prove　the　salient　fact　that　the　airman　is　destined　to　play　an

important　part　in　the　direction　and　control　of　artillery…fire。　

Already　he　has　been　responsible　for　a　re…arrangement　of　strategy

and　tactics。　　The　man　aloft　holds　such　a　superior　position　as　to

defy　subjugation；　the　alternative　is　to　render　his　work　more

difficult；　if　not　absolutely　impossible。







CHAPTER　X

BOMB…THROWING　FROM　AIR…CRAFT



During　the　piping　times　of　peace　the　utility　of　aircraft　as

weapons　of　offence　was　discussed　freely　in　an　academic　manner。　

It　was　urged　that　the　usefulness　of　such　vessels　in　this

particular　field　would　be　restricted　to　bomb…throwing。　　So　far

these　contentions　have　been　substantiated　during　the　present

campaign。　　At　the　same　time　it　was　averred　that　even　as　a

bomb…thrower　the　ship　of　the　air　would　prove　an　uncertain

quantity；　and　that　the　results　achieved　would　be　quite　contrary

to　expectations。　　Here　again　theory　has　been　supported　by

practice；　inasmuch　as　the　damage　wrought　by　bombs　has　been

comparatively　insignificant。



The　Zeppelin　raids　upon　Antwerp　and　Britain　were　a　fiasco　in　the

military　sense。　　The　damage　inflicted　by　the　bombs　was　not　at　all

in　proportion　to　the　quantity　of　explosive　used。　　True；　in　the

case　of　Antwerp；　it　demoralised　the　civilian　population　somewhat

effectively；　which　perhaps　was　the　desired　end；　but　the　military

results　were　nil。



The　Zeppelin；　and　indeed　all　dirigibles　of　large　size；　have　one

advantage　over　aeroplanes。　　They　are　able　to　throw　bombs　of

larger　size　and　charged　with　greater　quantities　of　high　explosive

and　shrapnel　than　those　which　can　be　hurled　from　heavier…than…air

machines。　　Thus　it　has　been　stated　that　the　largest　Zeppelins　can

drop　single　charges　exceeding　one　ton　in　weight；　but　such　a

statement　is　not　to　be　credited。



The　shell　generally　used　by　the　Zeppelin　measures　about　47　inches

in　length　by　8　1/2　inches　in　diameter；　and　varies　in　weight　from

200　to　242　pounds。　　Where　destruction　pure　and　simple　is　desired；

the　shell　is　charged　with　a　high　explosive　such　as　picric　acid　or

T。N。T。；　the　colloquial　abbreviation　for　the　devastating　agent

scientifically　known　as　〃Trinitrotoluene；〃　the　base　of　which；　in

common　with　all　the　high　explosives　used　by　the　different　powers

and　variously　known　as　lyddite；　melinite；　cheddite；　and　so　forth；

is　picric　acid。　　Such　a　bomb；　if　it　strikes　the　objective；　a

building；　for　instance；　fairly　and　squarely；　may　inflict

widespread　material　damage。



On　the　other　hand；　where　it　is　desired　to　scatter　death；　as　well

as　destruction；　far　and　wide；　an　elaborate　form　of　shrapnel　shell

is　utilised。　　The　shell　in　addition　to　a　bursting　charge；

contains　bullets；　pieces　of　iron；　and　other　metallic　fragments。

When　the　shell　bursts；　their　contents；　together　with　the　pieces

of　the　shell　which　is　likewise　broken　up　by　the　explosion；　are

hurled　in　all　directions　over　a　radius　of　some　50　yards　or　more；

according　to　the　bursting　charge。



These　shells　are　fired　upon　impact；　a　detonator　exploding　the

main　charge。　　The　detonator；　comprising　f