aeroplanes and dirigibles of war-第34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！



undoubtedly　was　inferior　to　Germany　in　point　of　numbers　of

aircraft；　but　the　latter　Power　was　completely　outclassed　in

efficiency；　and　from　the　point　of　view　of　PERSONNEL。　　The　British

had　developed　the　waterplane　as　an　essential　auxiliary　to　naval

operations；　and　here　was　in　advance　of　her　rival；　who　had

practically　neglected　this　line　of　eeperiment　and　evolution；

resting　secure　in　the　assurance　of　her　advisers　that　the　huge

dirigibles　would　be　adequate　for　all　exigencies　on　the　water。



Indeed；　when　war　was　declared；　all　the　Powers　were　found　more　or

less　wanting　so　far　as　their　aerial　fleets　were　concerned。　　If

Germany's　huge　aerial　navy　had　been　in　readiness　for　instant　service

when　she　invaded　Belgium；　she　would　have　overcome　that　little

country's　resistance　in　a　far　shorter　time　and　with　much　less

waste　of　life。　　It　was　the　Belgians　who　first　brought　home　to　the

belligerents　the　prominent　part　that　aircraft　were　destined　to

play　in　war；　and　the　military　possibilities　of　the　aeroplane。　　

True；　the　Belgians　had　a　very　small　aerial　navy；　but　it　was　put　to

work　without　delay　and　accomplished　magnificent　results；

ascertaining　the　German　positions　and　dispositions　with　unerring

accuracy　and　incredible　ease；　and　thus　enabling　the　commander　of

the　Belgian　Army　to　dispose　his　relatively　tiny　force　to　the　best

advantage；　and　to　offer　the　most　effective　resistance。



Great　Britain's　aerial　navy；　while　likewise　some　　what　small；　was

also　ready　for　instant　service。　　The　British　Expeditionary　force

was　supported　by　a　very　efficient　aerial　fleet；　the　majority　of

the　vessels　forming　which　flew　across　the　Channel　at　high　speed

to　the　British　headquarters　in　France　so　as　to　be　available

directly　military　preparations　were　begun；　and　the　value　of　this

support　proved　to　be　inestimable；　since　it　speedily　demoralised

the　numerically　superior　enemy。



France；　like　Germany；　was　somewhat　dilatory；　but　this　was

attributable　rather　to　the　time　occupied　in　the　mobilisation　of

the　Fourth　Arm　than　to　lack　of　energy。　　There　were　a　round　1；500

aeroplanes　ostensibly　ready　for　service；　in　addition　to　some　26

dirigibles。　　But　the　fleet　was　somewhat　scattered；　while　many　of

the　craft　were　not　immediately　available；　being　in　the　shops　or

in　dock　for　repairs　and　overhaul。　　During　the　period　of

mobilisation　the　so…called　standing　military　force　was　augmented

by　about　500　machines　which　were　acquired　from　private　owners。　　

The　aeroplane　factories　were　also；　overhauled　and　re…organised　so

as　to　be　in　a　position　to　remedy　the　inevitable　wastage；　but

these　organisation　efforts　were　somewhat　handicapped　by　the

shortage　of　labour　arising　from　the　call　to　arms。　　France；

moreover；　imperilled　her　aerial　strength　by　forbidding　the　use　of

558　machines　which　were　ready　for　service。



Germany's　aerial　fleet　was　of　similar　proportions　to　that　of　her

Gallic　neighbour；　but　curiously　enough；　and　in　strange　contrast；

there　appeared　to　be　a　lack　of　readiness　in　this　ramification　of

the　Teuton　war　machine。　　The　military　establishment　possessed

about　1；000　machinesactive　and　reserveof　which　it　is

estimated　700　were　available　for　instant　service。　　During　the

period　of　mobilisation　a　further　450　machines　were　added　to　the

fleet；　drawn　for　the　most　part　from　private　owners。　　So　far　as

the　dirigibles　were　concerned　14　Zeppelins　were　ready　for　duty；

while　others　were　under　construction　or　undergoing　overhaul　and

repair。　　A　few　other　types　were　also　in　commission　or　acquired

during　mobilisation；　bringing　the　dirigible　force　to　40　machines

all　told。



But　the　greatest　surprise　was　probably　offered　by　Russia。　　Very

little　was　known　concerning　Russian　activities　in　this　particular

field；　although　it　was　stated　that　large　orders　for　machines　had

been　placed　with　various　foreign　manufactories。　　Certain

factories　also　had　been　established　within　the　Empire；　although

the　character　of　their　work　and　its　results　and　achievements　were

concealed　from　prying　eyes。　　In　Russia；　however；　an　appreciable

number　of　private　aeroplanes　were　in　operation；　and　these；　of

course；　were　placed　at　the　disposal　of　the　authorities　the　moment

the　crisis　developed。



The　British　and　French　aeroplane　manufacturers　had　been　busy　upon

Russian　orders　for　many　months　previous　to　the　outbreak　of

hostilities；　while　heavy　shipments　of　component　parts　had　been

made；　the　assembling　and　completion　of　the　machines　being　carried

out　in　the　country。　　It　is　generally　believed　that　upon　the

outbreak　of　war　Russia　had　a　fleet　of　800　aeroplanes　in　hand；　of

which　total　150　were　contributed　from　private　sources。　　Even　the

dirigible　had　not　been　overlooked；　there　being　nearly　20　of　these

craft　attached　to　the　Russian　Army；　although　for　the　most　part

they　are　small　vessels。



In　comparison　with　the　foregoing　large　aerial　navies；　that　of

Great　Britain　appeared　to　be　puny。　　At　the　moment　Great　Britain

possesses　about　500　machines；　of　which　about　200　are　waterplanes。

In　addition；　according　to　the　Secretary　of　the　Admiralty；　15

dirigibles　should　be　in　service。　　Private　enterprise　is　supported

by　the　Government；　which　maintains　a　factory　for　the　manufacture

of　these　craft。



During　the　two　years　preceding　the　outbreak　of　war　the　various

Powers　grew　remarkably　reticent　concerning　the　composition　and

enlargement　of　their　respective　aerial　fleets。　　No　official

figures　were　published。　　But　at　the　same　time　it　is　a　well…known

fact　that　during　the　year　1913　France　augmented　her　flying　force

by　no　fewer　than　544　aeroplanes。　　Germany　was　no　less　energetic；

the　military　acquisition　in　this　branch；　and　during　the　self…same

year；　approaching　700　machines　according　to　the　semi…official

reports　published　in　that　country。



The　arrangements　concluded　for　the　manufacture　of　additional

craft　during　the　war　are　equally　remarkable。　　The　principal

factory　in　Germany；　（now　devoting　its　energies　to　the　production

of　these　craft；　although　in　happier　days　its　normal　complement　of

4；000　men　were　responsible　for　the　production　of　another

commercial　article）　possesses　facilities　for　turning　out　30

complete　aeroplanes　per　week；　according　to　the　statement　of　its

managing　director。　　But　it　is　averred　that　this　statement　is

purposely　misleading；　inasmuch　as　during　the　first　fortnight　of

the　campaign　it　was　producing　over　50　aeroplanes　per　week。　　It

must　be　remembered　that　Germany　is　responsible　for　the　supply　of

the　majority　of　such　craft　for　the　Austnan　armies；　that　country

purchasing　these　vessels　in　large　numbers；　because　in　the　early

days　of　the　conflict　it　was　notoriously　weak　in　this　arm。　　Since

the　declaration　of　war　strenuous　efforts　have　been　made　to　remedy

this　state　of　affairs；　particularly　upon　the　unexpected

revelation　of　Russia's　aerial　strength。



It　is　computed　that　upon　the　outbreak　of　war　the　various　Powers

were　in　the　position　to　show　an　aggregate　of　4；980　aircraft　of

all　descriptions；　both　for　active　service　and　reserve。　　This　is　a

colossal　fleet；　but　it　serves　to　convey　in　a　graphic　manner　the

importance　attached　to　the　adrial　vessel　by　the　respective

belligerents。　　So　far　as　Germany　is　concerned　she　is　sorely　in

need　of　additional　machines。　　Her　fleet　of　the　air　has　lost　its

formidable　character；　owing　to　the　fact　that　it　has　to　be　divided

between　two　frontiers；　while　she　has　been　further　weakened　by　the

enormous　lengths　of　the　two　battle…fronts。



Russia　has　been　able　to　concentrate　her　aerial　force；　which　has

proved　of　incalculable　value　to　the　Grand　Duke　Nicholas；　who　has

expressed　his　appreciation　of　the　services　rendered　by　his

fliers。　　The　French　likewise　have　been　favoured　by　Fortune　in

this　respect。　　Their　aerial　navy　is　likewise　concentrated　upon

a　single　frontier；　although　a　pronounced　proportion　has　been

reserved　for　service　upon　the　Mediterranean　sea…board　for

co…operation　with　the　fleet。　　France　suffers；　however；　to　a

certain　degree　from　the　length　of　her　battle…line；　which　is　over

200　miles　in　length。　　The　French　aerial　fleet　has　been

particularly　active　in　the　Vosges　and　the　Argonne；　where　the

difficult；　mountainous；　and　densely　wooded　country　has　rendered

other　systems　of　observation　of　the　enemy's　movements　a　matter　of

extreme　difficulty。　　The　Germans　have　laboured　under　a　similar

handicap　in　this　territory；　and　have　likewise　been　compelled　to

centre　a　considerable　proportion　of　their　aerial　fleet　upon　this

corner　of　the　extended　battlefield。



It　is　in　this　region　that　the　greatest　wastage　has　been　manifest。

I　have　been　informed　by　one　correspondent　who　is　fighting　in　this

sternly　contested　area；　that　at　one　time　a　daily　loss　of　ten

German　machines　was　a　fair　average；　while　highwater　mark　was

reached；　so　far　as　his　own　observations　and　ability　to　glean

information　were　concerned　by　the　loss　of　19　machines　during　a

single　day。　　The　French　wastage；　while　not　so　heavy　upon　the

average；　has　been　considerable　at　times。



The　term　wastage　is　somewhat　misleading；　if　not　erroneous。　　It

does　not　necessarily　imply　the　total　loss　of　a　machine；　such　as

its　descent　upon　hostile　territory；　but　includes　damage　to

machines；　no　matter　how　slight；　landing　within　their　own　lines。　　

In　the　difficult　country　of　the　Vosges　many　aeroplanes　have　come

to　earth　somewhat　heavily；　and　have　suffered　such　damage　as　to

render　them　inoperative；　compelling　their　removal　from　the

effective　list　until　they　have　undergone　complete　overhaul　or

reconstruction。　　Upon　occasions　this　wastage　has　been　so

pronounced　that　the　French　aviators；　including　some　of　the

foremost　fliers　serving　with　the　forces；　have　been　without　a

machine　and　have　been　compelled　to　wait　their　turn。



I　am　informed　that　one　day　four　machines；　returning　from　a

reconnaissance　in　force；　crashed　successively　to　the　ground；　and

each　had　to　be　hauled　away　to　the　repair　sheds；　necessitating

withdrawal　from　service　for　several　days。　　Unfortunately　the

French；　owing　to　their　decision　to　rule　out　certain　machines　as

unsuited　to　military　service；　have　not　yet　perfected　their

organisation　for　making　good　this　wastage；　although　latterly　it

has　been　apprecably　reduced　by　greater　care　among　the　aviators　in

handling　their　vessels。



The　fast　vessels　of　the　French　aerial　fleet　have　proved

exceptionally　valuable。　　With　these　craft　speeds　of　95　and　100

miles　or　more　per　hour　have　been　attained　under　favourable

conditions；　and　pace　has　proved　distinctly　advantageous；　inasmuch

as　it　gives　the　French　aviators　a　superiority　of　about　40　per

cent　over　the　average　German　machine。　　It　was　the　activity　and

daring　of　the　French　fliers　upon　these　high　speed　machines　which

induced　the　German　airmen　to　change　their　tactics。　　Individual

effort　and　isolated　raiding　operations　were　abandoned　in　favour

of　what　might　be　described　as　combined　or　squadron　attack。　　Six

or　eight　machines　advancing　together　t