aeroplanes and dirigibles of war-第22章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



aspire　to　harass　its　enemy　by　buzzing　around；　hoping　that　a　lucky

opportunity　will　develop　to　enable　it　to　rush　in　and　to　launch

its　torpedo。　　It　is　the　same　with　the　aeroplane　when　arrayed

against　a　Zeppelin。　　It　is　the　mosquito　craft　of　the　air。



How　then　can　a　heavier…than…air　machine　triumph　over　the　unwieldy

lighter…than…air　antagonist？　　Two　solutions　are　available。　　If　it

can　get　above　the　dirigible　the　adroplane　may　bring　about　the

dirigible's　destruction　by　the　successful　launch　of　a　bomb。　　The

detonation　of　the　latter　would　fire　the　hydrogen　within　the

gas…bag　or　bags；　in　which　event　the　airship　would　fall　to　earth　a

tangled　wreck。　　Even　if　the　airship　were　inflated　with　a

non…inflammable　gasthe　Germans　claim　that　their　Zeppelins　now

are　so　inflatedthe　damage　wrought　by　the　bomb　would　be　so

severe　as　to　destroy　the　airship's　buoyancy；　and　it　would　be

forced　to　the　ground。



The　alternative　is　very　much　more　desperate。　　It　involves　ramming

the　dirigible。　　This　is　undoubtedly　possible　owing　to　the　speed

and　facile　control　of　the　aeroplane；　but　whether　the　operation

would　be　successful　remains　to　be　proved。　　The　aeroplane　would　be

faced　with　such　a　concentrated　hostile　fire　as　to　menace　its　own

existenceits　forward　rush　would　be　frustrated　by　the　dirigible

just　as　a　naval　vessel　parries　the　ramming　tactics　of　an　enemy　by

sinking　the　latter　before　she　reaches　her　target；　while　if　it　did

crash　into　the　hull　of　the　dirigible；　tearing　it　to　shreds；

firing　its　gas；　or　destroying　its　equilibrium；　both　protagonists

would　perish　in　the　fatal　dive　to　earth。　　For　this　reason　ramming

in　mid…air　is　not　likely　to　be　essayed　except　when　the　situation

is　desperate。



What　happens　when　two　aeroplanes　meet　in　dire　combat　in　mid…air

and　one　is　vanquished？　　Does　the　unfortunate　vessel　drop　to　earth

like　a　stone；　or　does　it　descend　steadily　and　reach　the　ground

uninjured？　　So　far　as　actual　experience　has　proved；　either　one　of

the　foregoing　contingencies　may　happen。　　In　one　such　duel　the

German　aeroplane　was　observed　to　start　suddenly　upon　a　vol…plane

to　the　ground。　　Its　descending　flight　carried　it　beyond　the　lines

of　the　Allies　into　the　territory　of　its　friends。　　Both　came　to

the　conclusion　that　the　aviator　had　effected　his　escape。　　But

subsequent　investigation　revealed　the　fact　that　a　lucky　bullet

from　the　Allies'　aeroplane　had　lodged　in　the　brain　of　the　German

pilot；　killing　him　instantly。　　At　the　moment　when　Death　over　took

him　the　aviator　had　set　his　plane　for　the　descent　to　the　ground；

and　the　machine　came　to　earth　in　the　manner　of　a　glider。



But　in　other　instances　the　descent　has　been　far　more　tragic。　　The

aeroplane；　deprived　of　its　motive　power；　has　taken　the　deadly

headlong　dive　to　earth。　　It　has　struck　the　ground　with　terrific

violence；　burying　its　nose　in　the　soil；　showing　incidentally　that

a　flying　machine　is　an　indifferent　plough；　and　has　shattered

itself；　the　debris　soaked　with　the　escaping　fuel　becoming

ignited。　　In　any　event；　after　such　a　fall　the　machine　is　certain

to　be　a　wreck。　　The　motor　may　escape　damage；　in　which　event　it

is　salvaged；　the　machine　subsequently　being　purposely　sacrificed

to　the　flames；　thereby　rendering　it　no　longer　available　to　the

enemy　even　if　captured。　　In　many　instances　the　hostile　fire　has

smashed　some　of　the　stays　and　wires；　causing　the　aeroplane　to

lose　its　equilibrium；　and　sending　it　to　earth　in　the　manner　of

the　proverbial　stone；　the　aviators　either　being　dashed　to　pieces

or　burned　to　death。



What　are　the　vulnerable　parts　of　the　aeroplane？　　While　the

deliberate　intention　of　either　combatant　is　to　put　his　antagonist

hors　de　combat；　the　disablement　of　the　machine　may　be　achieved

without　necessarily　killing　or　even　seriously　wounding　the

hostile　airman。　　The　prevailing　type　of　aeroplane　is　highly

susceptible　to　derangement：　it　is　like　a　ship　without　armour

plate　protection。　　The　objective　of　the　antagonist　is　the　motor

or　the　fuel…tank；　the　vital　parts　of　the　machine；　as　much　as　the

aviator　seated　within。



A　well…planted　shot；　which　upsets　the　mechanism　of　the　engine；　or

a　missile　which　perforates　the　fuel　tank；　thereby　depriving　the

motor　of　its　sustenance；　will　ensure　victory　as　conclusively　as

the　death　of　the　aviator　himself。　　Rifle　fire　can　achieve　either

of　these　ends　with　little　difficulty。　　Apart　from　these　two

nerve…centres；　bombardment　is　not　likely　to　effect　the　desired

disablement；　inasmuch　as　it　cannot　be　rendered　completely

effective。　　The　wings　may　be　riddled　like　a　sieve；　but　the

equilibrium　of　the　machine　is　not　seriously　imperilled　thereby。　

Even　many　of　the　stays　may　be　shot　away；　but　bearing　in　mind　the

slender　objective　they　offer；　their　destruction　is　likely　to　be

due　more　to　luck　than　judgment。　　On　the　other　hand；　the　motor　and

fuel　tank　of　the　conventional　machine　offer　attractive　targets：

both　may　be　put　out　of　action　readily；　and　the　disablement　of　the

motive　power　of　an　enemy's　craft；　be　it　torpedo…boat；　battleship；

or　aeroplane；　immediately　places　the　same　at　the　assailant's

mercy。



Nevertheless；　of　course；　the　disablement　of　the　airman　brings

about　the　desired　end　very　effectively。　　It　deprives　the　driving

force　of　its　controlling　hand；　The　aeroplane　becomes　like　a　ship

without　a　rudder：　a　vessel　whose　helmsman　has　been　shot　down。　　It

is　unmanageable；　and　likely　to　become　the　sport　of　the　element　in

which　it　moves。　　It　is　for　this　reason　that　aviators　have　been

urged　to　direct　their　fire　upon　the　men　and　mechanism　of　a

dirigible　in　the　effort　to　put　it　out　of　action。　　An　uncontrolled

airship　is　more　likely　to　meet　with　its　doom　than　an　aeroplane。　

The　latter　will　inevitably　glide　to　earth；　possibly　damaging

itself　seriously　in　the　process；　as　events　in　the　war　have

demonstrated；　but　a　helpless　airship　at　once　becomes　the　sport　of

the　wind；　and　anyone　who　has　assisted；　like　myself；　in　the

descent　of　a　vessel　charged　with　gas　and　floating　in　the　air；　can

appreciate　the　difficulties　experienced　in　landing。　　An

uncontrolled　Zeppelin；　for　instance；　would　inevitably　pile　up　in

a　tangled　twisted　ruin　if　forced　to　descend　in　the　manner　of　an

ordinary　balloon。　　Consequently　the　pilot　of　a　dirigible　realises

to　the　full　the　imperative　urgency　of　keeping　beyond　the

point…blank　fire　of　aerial　mosquito　craft。



The　assiduity　with　which　British　aviators　are　prepared　to　swarm

to　the　attack　has　been　responsible　for　a　display　of　commendable

ingenuity　on　the　part　of　the　German　airman。　　Nature　has　provided

some　of　its　creatures；　such　as　the　octopus；　for　instance；　with

the　ways　and　means　of　baffling　its　pursuers。　　It　emits　dense

clouds　of　inky　fluid　when　disturbed；　and　is　able　to　effect　its

escape　under　cover　of　this　screen。



The　German　aviator　has　emulated　the　octopus。　　He　carries　not　only

explosive　bombs　but　smoke　balls　as　well。　　When　he　is　pursued　and

he　finds　himself　in　danger　of　being　overtaken；　the　Teuton　aviator

ignites　these　missiles　and　throws　them　overboard。　　The　aeroplane

becomes　enveloped　in　a　cloud　of　thick　impenetrable　smoke。　　It　is

useless　to　fire　haphazard　at　the　cloud；　inasmuch　as　it　does　not

necessarily　cover　the　aviator。　　He　probably　has　dashed　out　of　the

cloud　in　such　a　way　as　to　put　the　screen　between　himself　and　his

pursuer。



In　such　tactics　he　has　merely　profited　by　a　method　which　is

practised　freely　upon　the　water。　　The　torpedo　boat　flotilla　when

in　danger　of　being　overwhelmed　by　superior　forces　will　throw　off

copious　clouds　of　smoke。　　Under　this　cover　it　is　able　to　steal

away；　trusting　to　the　speed　of　the　craft　to　carry　them　well

beyond　gunshot。　　The　〃smoke　screen；〃　as　it　is　called；　is　an

accepted　and　extensively　practised　ruse　in　naval　strategy；　and　is

now　adopted　by　its　mosquito　colleagues　of　the　air。







CHAPTER　XIII

TRICKS　AND　RUSES　TO　BAFFLE　THE　AIRMAN



The　airman　has　not　been　allowed　to　hold　his　undisputed　sway　in

military　operations　for　long。　　Desperate　situations　demand

drastic　remedies　and　already　considerable　and　illuminating

ingenuity　is　being　displayed　to　baffle　and　mislead　the　scout　of

the　skies。



It　is　a　somewhat　curious　and　noteworthy　fact；　that　the　Germans

were　among　the　first　to　realise　the　scope　of　the　airman's

activities；　and　the　significance　of　their　relation　to　the

conveyance　of　intimate　information　and　the　direction　of　artillery

fire。　　Consequently；　they　now　spare　no　effort　to　convey　illusory

information；　in　the　hope　that　the　hostile　force　may　ultimately

make　a　false　move　which　may　culminate　in　disaster。



Thus；　for　instance；　as　much　endeavour　is　bestowed　upon　the

fashioning　of　dummy　trenches　as　upon　the　preparation　of　the

actual　lines　of　defence。　　And　every　care　will　be　taken　to

indicate　that　the　former　are　strongly　held。　　The　dug…outs　are

complete　and　at　places　are　apparently　cunningly　masked。　　If　the

airman　is　flying　swiftly；　he　is　likely　to　fail　to　distinguish　the

dummy　from　the　real　trenches。　　To　him　the　defences　appear　to　be

far　more　elaborate　and　more　strongly　held　than　is　the　actual

case。



The　advantage　of　this　delusion　is　obvious　when　a　retreat　is　being

made。　　It　enables　the　enemy　to　withdraw　his　forces　deliberately

and　in　perfect　order；　and　to　assume　another　and　stronger　position

comparatively　at　leisure。　　The　difficulty　of　detecting　the

dummies　is　emphasised；　inasmuch　as　now；　whenever　the　sound　of　an

aeroplane　is　heard；　or　a　glimpse　thereof　is　obtained；　the　men

keep　well　down　and　out　of　sight。　　Not　a　sign　of　movement　is

observable。　　For　all　the　airman　may　know　to　the　contrary；　the

trenches　may　be　completely　empty；　whereas；　as　a　matter　of　fact；

they　are　throbbing　with　alert　infantry；　anxious　for　a　struggle

with　the　enemy。



This　is　one　instance　where　the　dirigible　is　superior　to　the

aeroplane。　　The　latter　can　only　keep　circling　round　and　round

over　the　suspicious　position；　　the　movement　through　the　air

interferes　with　close　continuous　observation。　　On　the　other　hand；

the　dirigible　can　maintain　a　stationary　position　aloft　for　hours

on　end。　　Then　the　issue　is　resolved　into　a　contest　of　patience；

with　the　advantage　to　the　airman。　　The　soldiers　in　the　trenches

fret　and　fume　under　cover；　confined　concealment　is　irksome　and　is

a　supreme　test　of　the　nerves。　　Unless　the　soldiers　are　made　of

very　stern　stuff；　physical　endurance　succumbs。　　Some　rash　act

apparently　very　trivialmay　be　committed；　it　suffices　for　the

vigilant　sentinel　overhead。　　He　detects　the　slender　sign　of　life；

forms　his　own　conclusions；　and　returns　to　his　headquarters　with

the　intelligence　that　the　enemy　is　playing　〃Brer　Rabbit。〃



It　has　also　become　increasingly　difficult　for　the　airman　to

gather　absolutely　trustworthy　data　concerning　the　disposition　and

movement　of　troops。　　Small　columns　are　now　strung　out　along　the

highways　to　convey　the　impression　that　the　moving　troops　are　in

far　greater　force　than　is　actually　t