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aeroplanes and dirigibles of war-第17节

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of the velocity and direction of the wind; or failure to detect

any variations in the climatic conditions; is sufficient to prove

his undoing。  German airmen who essayed journeys of discovery in

this manner; often failed to regain their lines because they

ventured too far; misjudged the speed of the wind which was

following them on the outward run; and ultimately were forced to

earth owing to the exhaustion of the fuel supply during the

homeward trip; the increased task imposed upon the motor; which

had to battle hard to make headway; caused the fuel consumption

per mile to exceed calculations。



Then the venturesome airman cannot neglect another factor which

is adverse to his success。  Hostile airmen lie in wait; and a

fleet of aeroplanes is kept ready for instant service。  They

permit the invader to penetrate well into their territory and

then ascend behind him to cut off his retreat。  True; the invader

has the advantage of being on the wing; while the ether is wide

and deep; without any defined channels of communication。  But 

nine times out of ten the adventurous scout is trapped。  His

chances of escape are slender; because his antagonists dispose

themselves strategically in the air。  The invader outpaces one;

but in so doing comes within range of another。  He is so harassed

that he either has to give fight; or; finding his retreat

hopelessly cut off; he makes a determined dash; trusting to his

high speed to carry him to safety。  In these driving tactics the

French and British airmen have proved themselves adepts; more

particularly the latter; as the chase appeals to their sporting

instincts。  There is nothing so exhilarating as a quarry who

displays a determination to run the gauntlet。



The roving Teuton scout was considerably in evidence in the early

days of the war; but two or three weeks' experience emphasised

the sad fact that; in aerial strategy; he was hopelessly

outmatched by his opponents。  His advantage of speed was

nullified by the superior tactical and strategical acumen of his

antagonists; the result being that the German airman; who has

merely been trained along certain lines; who is in many cases

nothing more than a cog…wheel in a machine; and who is

proverbially slow…witted; has concluded that he is no match for

the airmen of the Allies。  He found from bitter experience that

nothing afforded the Anglo…French military aviators such keen

delight as to lie in wait for a 〃rover;〃 and then to swoop into

the air to round him up。



The proportion of these individual scouts who were either brought

down; or only just succeeded in reaching safety within their own

lines; and who were able to exhibit serious wounds as evidence of

the severity of the aerial tussle; or the narrowness of the

escape; has unnerved the Teuton airmen as a body to a very

considerable extent。  Often; even when an aeroplane descended

within the German lines; it was found that the roving airman had

paid the penalty for his rashness with his life; so that his

journey had proved in vain; because all the intelligence he had

gained had died with him; or; if committed to paper; was so

unintelligible as to prove useless。



It was the success of the British airmen in this particular field

of duty which was responsible for the momentous declaration in

Field…Marshal Sir John French's famous despatch:〃The British

Flying Corps has succeeded in establishing an individual

ascendancy; which is as serviceable to us as it is damaging to

the enemy 。 。 。 。 The enemy have been less enterprising in

their flights。  Something in the direction of the mastery of the

air has already been gained。〃



The methods of the British airmen are in vivid contrast to the

practice of the venturesome Teuton aerial rovers described above。 

While individual flights are undertaken they are not of unknown

duration or mileage。  The man is given a definite duty to perform

and he ascends merely to fulfil it; returning with the

information at the earliest possible moment。  It is aerial

scouting with a method。  The intelligence is required and

obtained for a specific purpose; to govern a contemplated move in

the grim game of war。



Even then the flight is often undertaken by two or more airmen

for the purpose of checking and counterchecking information

gained; or to ensure such data being brought back to

headquarters; since it is quite possible that one of the party

may fall a victim to hostile fire。  By operating upon these

lines there is very little likelihood of the mission proving

a complete failure。  Even when raids upon certain places

such as Dusseldorf; Friedrichshafen or Cuxhaven are planned;

complete dependence is not placed on one individual。  The machine

is accompanied; so that the possibility of the appointed task

being consummated is transformed almost into a certainty。



The French flying men work upon broadly similar lines。  Their

fleet is divided into small squadrons each numbering four; six;

or more machines; according to the nature of the contemplated

task。  Each airman is given an area of territory which is to be

reconnoitred thoroughly。  In this way perhaps one hundred or more

miles of the enemy's front are searched for information at one

and the same time。  The units of the squadron start out; each

taking the appointed direction according to the preconceived

plan; and each steering by the aid of compass and map。  They are

urged to complete the work with all speed and to return to a

secret rendezvous。



Later the air is alive with the whirring of motors。  The machines

are coming back and all converging to one point。  They vol…plane

to the earth and gracefully settle down within a short distance

of each other at the rendezvous。  The pilots collect and each

relates the intelligence he has gained。  The data are collated

and in this manner the General Staff is able to learn exactly

what is transpiring over a long stretch of the hostile lines; and

a considerable distance to the rear of his advance works。 

Possibly five hundred square miles have been reconnoitred in this

manner。  Troops have been massed here; lines of communication

extend somewhere else; while convoys are moving at a third place。 

But all has been observed; and the commanding officer is in a

position to re…arrange his forces accordingly。  It is a

remarkable example of method in military tactics and strategy;

and conveys a striking idea of the degree to which aerial

operations have been organised。



After due deliberation it is decided that the convoys shall be

raided; or that massed troops shall be thrown into confusion; if

not dispersed。  The squadron is ordered to prepare for another

aerial journey。  The roads along which the convoys are moving are

indicated upon the map; or the position of the massed troops in

bivouac is similarly shown。  The airmen load their machines with

a full charge of bombs。  When all is ready the leader ascends;

followed in rapid succession by the other units; and they whirr

through the air in single file。  It now becomes a grim game of

follow…my…leader。



The leader detects the convoy; swoops down; suddenly launches his

missiles; and re…ascends。  He does not deviate a foot from his

path to observe the effects of his discharge; as the succeeding

aeroplane is close behind him。  If the leader has missed then the

next airman may correct his error。  One after another the

machines repeat the manoeuvre; in precisely the same manner as

the units of a battleship squadron emulate the leading vessel

when attacking the foe。  The tactical evolutions have been laid

down; and there is rigid adherence thereto; because only thereby

may success be achieved。  When the last war…plane has completed

its work; the leader swings round and repeats the dash upon the

foe。  A hail of bullets may scream around the men in the air; but

one and all follow faithfully in the leader's trail。  One or more

machines may fail in the attack; and may even meet with disaster;

but nothing interferes with the movements of the squadron as a

whole。  It is the homogeneity of the attacking fleet which tells;

and which undermines the moral of the enemy; even if it does not

wreak decisive material devastation。  The work accomplished to

the best of their ability; the airmen speed back to their lines

in the same formation。



At first sight reconnoitring from aloft may appear a simple

operation; but a little reflection will reveal the difficulties

and arduousness of the work。  The observer; whether he be

specially deputed; or whether the work be placed in the hand of

the pilot himselfin this event the operation is rendered

additionally trying; as he also has to attend to his machine

must keep his eyes glued to the ground beneath and at the same

time be able to read the configuration of the panorama revealed

to him。  He must also keep in touch with his map and compass; so

as to be positive of hi

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