aeroplanes and dirigibles of war-第23章

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highways　to　convey　the　impression　that　the　moving　troops　are　in

far　greater　force　than　is　actually　the　case；　while　the　main　body

is　under　the　cover　offered　by　a　friendly　wood　and　is　safe　from

detection。　　The　rapidity　with　which　thousands　of　men　are　able

to　disappear　when　the　word　〃Airman〃　is　passed　round　is

astonishing。　　They　vanish　as　completely　and　suddenly　as　if

swallowed　by　the　earth　or　dissolved　into　thin　air。　　They　conceal

themselves　under　bushes；in　ditches；　lie　prone　under　hedgerows；

dart　into　houses　and　outbuildingsin　short；　take　every　cover

which　is　available；　no　matter　how　slender　it　may　seem；　with

baffling　alacrity。　　The　attenuated　column；　however；　is　kept

moving　along　the　highway　for　the　express　purpose　of　deceiving　the

airman。



Advancing　troops　also　are　now　urged　to　move　forward　under　the

shelter　of　trees；　even　if　the　task　entails　marching　in　single　or

double　file；　to　escape　the　prying　eyes　of　the　man　above。　　By

keeping　close　to　the　line　of　trunks；　thus　taking　full　advantage

of　the　overhanging　branches；　and　marching　in　such　a　manner　as　to

create　little　dust；　it　is　possible　to　escape　the　aerial　scout。



The　concealment　of　cavalry；　however；　is　somewhat　difficult。　　An

animal；　especially　if　he　be　unaccustomed　to　the　noise　of　the

aeroplane；　is　likely　to　become　startled；　and　to　give　vent　to　a

frightened　and　vociferous　neighing　which　invariably　provokes　a

hearty　response　from　his　equine　comrades。　　The　sharp　ear　of　the

airman　does　not　fail　to　distinguish　this　sound　above　the　music　of

his　motor。　　Again；　he　has　come　to　regard　all　copses　and　stretches

of　undergrowth　with　suspicion。　　Such　may　or　may　not　harbour　the

enemy；　but　there　is　no　risk　in　making　an　investigation。　　He

swoops　down；　and　when　a　short　distance　above　the　apparently

innocent　copse；　circles　round　it　two　or　three　times。　　Still

undecided；　he　finally　hurls　a　bomb。　　Its　detonation　invariably

proves　effective。　　The　horses　stampede　and　the　secret　is　out。　

Even　foot　soldiers　must　be　severely　trained　and　experienced　to

resist　the　natural　inclination　to　break　cover　when　such　a　missile

is　hurled　into　their　midst。



Frequently　a　force；　which　has　laboured　under　the　impression　that

it　is　safe　from　detection；　has　revealed　its　presence　unwittingly

and　upon　the　spur　of　the　moment。　　If　the　men　be　steeled　against

the　bomb　attack；　it　is　almost　impossible　to　resist　the

inclination　to　take　a　shot　when　the　airman；　swooping　down；

ventures　so　temptingly　near　as　to　render　him　an　enticing　target

almost　impossible　to　miss。　　As　a　rule；　however；　the　observer　is

on　the　alert　for　such　a　betrayal　of　a　force's　existence。　　When

the　bomb　fails　to　scatter　the　enemy；　or　the　men　are　proof　against

the　temptation　to　fire　a　volley；　a　few　rounds　from　the

aeroplane's　machine　gun　often　proves　effective。　　If　the　copse

indeed　be　empty　no　harm　is　done；　beyond　the　abortive　expenditure

of　a　few　rounds　of　ammunition：　if　it　be　occupied；　the　fruits　of

the　manoeuvre　are　attractive。　　Cunning　is　matched　against

cunning；　and　the　struggle　for　supremacy　in　the　art　of　craftiness

is　keen。



The　French　Flying　Corps　have　had　recourse　to　an　ingenious　ruse

for　accomplishing　two　endsthe　one　to　draw　concealed　artillery

fire；　and　the　other　to　pre…occupy　the　airmen。　　Two　German　aerial

scouts　observed　a　French　machine　flying　at　a　somewhat　venturesome

height　over　their　masked　artillery。　　Divining　the　reason　for　the

hostile　intrepidity　they　　gave　chase。　　Circling　round　the　French

machine　they　assailed　it　with　machine…gun　fire。　　The　enemy

appeared　to　take　no　notice　but　continued　his　gradual　descent　in　a

steady　line。



Presently　the　German　airmen；　having　drawn　sufficiently　near；

observed　that　the　French　aviator　was　inert。　　Had　he　been　killed？　

Everything　pointed　to　such　a　conclusion；　especially　as　they　had

raked　the　aeroplane　fore　and　aft　with　bullets。　　But　still

suspicious　they　continued　their　circling　movements；　their

attention　so　concentrated　upon　their　quarry　that　they　had　not

observed　another　move。　　It　was　the　crash　of　guns　from　their

masked　artillery　which　broke　in　upon　their　absorption。　　Looking

round；　they　observed　three　French　aeroplanes　soaring　around　and

above　them　at　high　speed。　　Scarcely　had　they　realised　the

situation　before　a　spirited　mitraireuse　fire　was　rained　upon

them。　　One　of　the　German　aeroplanes　was　speedily　disabled。　　Its

fuel　tank　was　riddled　and　it　sank　rapidly；　finally　crashing　to

earth　in　the　deadly　dive　head　foremost；　and　killing　both　its

occupants　in　the　fall。　　The　second　aeroplane　hurried　away　with

its　pilot　wounded。　　In　the　excitement　of　the　aerial　melee　the

first　French　aeroplane　had　been　forgotten。　　It　was　now　scarcely

100　feet　above　the　German　artillery。　　A　capture　appeared　to　be

imminent；　but　the　Germans　received　a　rude　surprise。　　Suddenly　the

aeroplane　exploded　and　a　hail　of　shrapnel　burst　over　the　heads　of

the　artillerymen。



The　circumstance　was　decidedly　uncanny；　but　after　two　or　three

such　experiences　of　exploding　aeroplanes　the　matter　was

explained。　　The　apparently　helpless　aeroplane　was　merely　a

glider；　which；　instead　of　carrying　a　man；　had　a　booby…trap

aboard。



It　appears　that　the　French　airmen　have　found　a　use　for　the

aeroplanes　which　are　considered　unsafe　for　further　use。　　The

motor　and　propeller　are　removed　and　the　dummy　of　explosives　is

strapped　into　position。　　The　laden　glider　is　then　taken　aloft　by

means　of　an　airship；　and　in　the　concealment　of　the　clouds　is

released；　the　rudder　being　so　set　as　to　ensure　a　gradual

vol…plane　towards　the　suspicious　position　below。　　The　explosive

cargo　is　set　with　a　time　fuse；　the　arrangement　being　that　the

contents　will　be　detonated　while　the　machine　is　near　the　ground；

unless　this　end　is　accelerated　by　a　well…planted　shell　from　an

anti…aircraft　gun。　　The　decoy　glider　is　generally　accompanied　by

one　or　two　aeroplanes　under　control；　which　keep　under　the　cover

of　the　clouds　until　the　hostile　aviators　have　been　drawn　into　the

air；　when　they　swoop　down　to　the　attack。　　The　raiders　are　fully

aware　that　they　are　not　likely　to　become　the　target　of　fire　from

the　ground；　owing　to　the　fact　that　the　enemy's　artillery　might

hit　its　friends。　　Consequently　the　antagonistic　airmen　are　left

to　settle　their　own　account。　　In　the　meantime　the　dummy　machine

draws　nearer　to　the　ground　to　explode　and　to　scatter　its

death…dealing　fragments　of　steel；　iron；　and　bullets　in　all

directions。



Possibly　in　no　other　phase　of　warfare　is　subterfuge　practised　so

extensively　as　in　the　concealment　of　guns。　　The　branches　of　trees

constitute　the　most　complete　protection　and　guns　are　placed　in

position　beneath　a　liberal　cover　of　this　character。　　The　branches

also　offer　a　screen　for　the　artillerymen；　who　can　lurk　beneath

this　shelter　until　the　aeroplane　has　passed。　　To　complete　the

illusion　dummy　guns　fashioned　from　tree　trunks　and　the　wheels　of

useless　limbers　are　rigged　up；　and　partially　hidden　under

branches；　the　idea　being　to　convey　the　impression　to　the　man

aloft　that　they　are　the　actual　artillery。



The　aerial　scout　observes　the　dummies　beneath　the　sparse　covering

of　branches。　　Congratulating　himself　upon　his　sharp　eyesight；　he

returns　to　his　base　with　the　intelligence　that　he　has　found　the

enemy's　guns　he　indicates　their　position　upon　the　map；　and　in

some　cases　returns　to　notify　the　position　of　the　weapons　by

smoke…ball　or　tinsel；　when　they　are　immediately　subjected　to　a

severe　bombardment。　　He　follows　the　shell…fire　and　sees　the　arms

put　out　of　action。　　He　returns　to　camp　satisfied　with　his

exploit；　oblivious　of　the　smiles　and　laughter　of　the　hostile

artillerymen；　who　have　their　guns　safely　in　position　and　well

masked　some　distance　away。　　The　dummies　are　imperfectly　concealed

purposely；　so　that　they　may　be　discovered　by　the　aerial　scout；

while　the　real　guns　are　completely　masked　and　ready　to　belch

forth　from　another　point。　　In　one　or　two　cases　the　dummies　have

been　rigged　up　in　such　a　manner　as　to　convey　the　impression；　when

seen　from　aloft；　that　a　whole　battery　has　been　put　out　of　action；

barrels　and　wheels　as　well　as　broken　limbers　strewing　the　ground

in　all　directions。



Moving　masses　of　soldiers　are　also　resorting　to　cunning　in　order

to　mislead　the　airman　or　to　escape　his　observation。　　At　the

battle　of　Haelen；　during　which　engagement　the　German　warplanes

were　exceptionally　active；　the　Belgian　soldiers　covered　their

heads　with　bundles　of　wheat　snatched　from　the　standing　stooks；

and　under　this　cover　lurked　in　a　field　where　the　corn　was　still

standing。　　From　aloft　their　forms　defied　detection：　the

improvised　headgear　completely　covered　them　and　blended

effectively　with　the　surrounding　wheat。　　In　another　instance　the

French　misled　a　German　airman　somewhat　effectively。　　What

appeared　to　be　cavalry　was　seen　to　be　retreating　along　the

country　road；　and　the　airman　returned　hurriedly　to　report。　　A

German　squadron　was　dispatched　in　hasty　pursuit。　　But　as　it

rounded　a　copse　skirting　the　road　it　received　a　murderous　fire　at

close　quarters；　which　decimated　the　ranks　and　sent　the　survivors

flying　for　their　lives　along　the　road　up　which　they　had　ridden　so

confidently。　　Had　the　aviator　been　in　a　position　to　observe　the

horses　more　closely；　he　would　have　found　that　what　appeared　to　be

riders　on　their　backs　were　in　reality　sacks　stuffed　with　straw；

dressed　in　old　uniforms；　and　that　a　mere　handful　of　men　were

driving　the　animals　forward。　　The　cavalrymen　had　purposely

dismounted　and　secreted　themselves　in　the　wood　in　anticipation　of

such　a　pursuit　as　was　made。



While　the　Germans　do　not　appear　to　be　so　enterprising　in　this

form　of　ingenuity　they　have　not　been　idle。　　A　French　airman

flying　over　the　Teuton　lines　observed　the　outermost　trenches　to

be　alive　with　men　whose　helmets　were　distinctly　visible。　　The

airman　reported　his　observations　and　the　trench　was　subjected　to

terrific　shell　fire。　　Subsequently　the　French　made　a　spirited

charge；　but　to　their　dismay　found　that　the　outermost　German

trench　was　occupied　by　dummies　fashioned　from　all　sorts　of

materials　and　crowned　with　helmets！　　This　ruse　had　enabled　the

German　lines　to　be　withdrawn　to　another　position　in　safety　and

comparatively　at　leisure。



Before　war　was　declared　the　German　military　experts　were

emphasising　the　importance　of　trees　for　masking　troops　and　guns

against　aerial　observation。　　One　of　the　foremost　authorities　upon

military　aviation　only　a　few　months　ago　urged　the　German　Military

Staff　to　encourage　the　planting　of　orchards；　not　for　the　purpose

of　benefiting　agriculture　or　in　the　interests　of　the　farmers；　but

merely　for　military　exigencies。



He　pointed　to　the　extensive　orchards　which　exist　in

Alsace…Lorraine　and　Baden；　the　military　covering　value　of　which

he　had　determined　from　personal　experience；　having　conducted

aerial　operations　while　military　were　moving　to　and　fro　under　the

cover　of　the　tr