the mastery of the air(操纵空气)-第29节
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character of escort； Major Rees made the unpleasant discovery that he was
just about to join a little party of ten enemy machines。 But so far from
being dismayed； the plucky airman actually gave battle to the whole ten。
One he quickly drove 〃down and out〃； as the soldiers say。 Attacked by five
others； he damaged two of them and dispersed the remainder。 Not content
with this； he gave chase to two more； and only broke off the engagement
when he had received a wound in the thigh。 Then he flew home to make
the usual laconic report。
No record of heroism in the air could be complete without mention of
Captain Ball； who has already figured in these pages。 When awarded the
V。C。 Captain Ball was already the holder of the following honours： D。S。0。；
M。C。； Cross of a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour； and the Russian order
of St。 George。 This heroic boy of twenty was a giant among a company of
giants。 Here follows the official account which accompanied his award：
〃Lieutenant （temporary Captain） ALBERT BALL； D。S。O。； M。C。； late
Notts and Derby Regiment； and R。F。C。
〃For most conspicuous and consistent bravery from April 25 to May 6；
1917； during which period Captain Ball took part in twenty…six combats in
the air and destroyed eleven hostile aeroplanes； drove down two out of
control； and formed several others to land。
〃In these combats Captain Ball； flying alone； on one occasion fought
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six hostile machines； twice he fought five； and once four。
〃While leading two other British aeroplanes he attacked an enemy
formation of eight。 On each of these occasions he brought down at least
one enemy。
〃Several times his aeroplane was badly damaged； once so severely that
but for the most delicate handling his machine would have collapsed； as
nearly all the control wires had been shot away。 On returning with a
damaged machine； he had always to be restrained from immediately going
out on another。
〃In all Captain Ball has destroyed forty…three German aeroplanes and
one balloon； and has always displayed most exceptional courage；
determination； and skill。〃
So great was Captain Ball's skill as a fighter in the air that for a time
he was sent back to England to train new pilots in the schools。 But the
need for his services at the front was even greater； and it jumped with his
desires； for the whole tone of his letters breathes the joy he found in the
excitements of flying and fighting。 He declares he is having a 〃topping
time〃； and exults in boyish fashion at a coming presentation to Sir Douglas
Haig。 It is not too much to say that the whole empire mourned when
Captain Ball finally met his death in the air near La Bassee in May； 1917。
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CHAPTER XXXIX Aeroplanes in the Great War
〃Aeroplanes and airships would have given us an enormous advantage
against the Boers。 The difficulty of laying ambushes and traps for isolated
columnsa practice at which the enemy were peculiarly adeptwould
have been very much greater。 Some at least of the regrettable reverses
which marked the early stages of the campaign could in all probability
have been avoided。〃
So wrote Lord Roberts； our veteran field…marshal； in describing the
progress of the Army during recent years。 The great soldier was a man
who always looked ahead。 After his great and strenuous career； instead of
taking the rest which he had so thoroughly earned； he spent laborious days
travelling up and down the country； warning the people of danger ahead；
exhorting them to learn to drill and to shoot； thus attempting to lay the
foundation of a great civic army。 But his words； alas！ fell upon deaf ears
with results so tragic as hardly to bear dwelling upon。
But even 〃Bobs〃； seer and true prophet as he was； could hardly have
foreseen the swift and dramatic development of war in the air。 He had not
long been laid to rest when aeroplanes began to be talked about； and； what
is more important； to be built； not in hundreds but in thousands。 At the
time of writing； when we are well into the fourth year of the war； it seems
almost impossible for the mind to go back to the old standards； and to take
in the statement that the number of machines which accompanied the
original Expeditionary Force to France was eighty！ Even if one were not
entirely ignorant of the number and disposition of the aerial fighting forces
over the world…wide battle…ground； the Defence of the Realm Act would
prevent us from making public the information。 But when； more than a
year ago； America entered the war； and talked of building 10；000
aeroplanes； no one gasped。 For even in those days one thought of
aeroplanes not in hundreds but in tens of thousands。
Before proceeding to give a few details of the most recent work of the
Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service； mention must be made
of the armament of the aeroplane。 In the first place； it should be stated that
the war has gradually evolved three distinct types of flying machine： （1）
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the 〃general…purposes〃 aeroplane； （2） the giant bomb dropper； （3） the
small single…seater 〃fighter〃。
As the description implies； the first machine fills a variety of roles； and
the duties of its pilots grow more manifold as the war progresses。
〃Spotting〃 for the artillery far behind the enemy's lines； 〃searching〃 for
ammunition dumps； for new dispositions by the enemy of men； material；
and guns； attacking a convoy or bodies of troops on the march； sprinkling
new trenches with machine…gun fire； or having a go at an aerodromeany
wild form of aerial adventure might be included in the diary of the pilot of
a 〃general…purposes〃 machine。
It was in order to clear the air for these activities that the 〃fighter〃
came into being； and received its baptism of fire at the Battle of the
Somme。 At first the idea of a machine for fighting only； was ridiculed。
Even the Germans； who； in a military sense； were awake and plotting
when other nations were dozing in the sunshine of peace； did not think
ahead and imagine the aerial duel between groups of aeroplanes armed
with machine…guns。 But soon the mastery of the air became of paramount
importance； and so the fighter was evolved。 Nobly； too； did the men of all
nations rise to these heroic and dangerous opportunities。 The Germans
were the first to boast of the exploits of their fighting airmen； and to us in
Britain the names of Immelmann and Bolcke were known long before
those of any of our own fighters。 The former claimed not far short of a
hundred victims before he was at last brought low in June； 1916。 His
letters to his family were published soon after his death； and do not err on
the side of modesty。
On 11th August； 1915； he writes： 〃There is not much doing here。 Ten
minutes after Bolcke and I go up； there is not an enemy airman to be seen。
The English seem to have lost all pleasure in flying。 They come over very；
very seldom。〃
When allowance has been made for German brag； these statements
throw some light upon the standard of British flying at a comparatively
early date in the war。 Certainly no German airman could have made any
such complaint a year later。 In 1917 the German airmen were given all the
fighting they required and a bit over。
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Certainly a very different picture is presented by the dismal letters
which Fritz sent home during the great Ypres offensive of August； 1917。 In
these letters he bewails the fact that one after another of his batteries is put
out of action owing to the perfect 〃spotting〃 of the
