aeroplanes and dirigibles of war-第18节
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to him。 He must also keep in touch with his map and compass; so
as to be positive of his position and direction。 He must be a
first…class judge of distances and heights。
When flying rapidly at a height of 4;000 feet or more; the
country below appears as a perfect plane; or flat stretch;
although as a matter of fact it may be extremely undulating。
Consequently; it is by no means a simple matter to distinguish
eminences and depressions; or to determine the respective and
relative heights of hills。
If a rough sketch is required; the observer must be rapid in
thought; quick in determination; and facile with his pencil; as
the machine; no matter how it may be slowed down; is moving at a
relatively high speed。 He must consult his map and compass
frequently; since an airman who loses his bearings is useless to
his commander…in…chief。 He must have an eagle eye; so as to be
able to search the country unfolded below; in order to gather all
the information which is likely to be of value to his superior
officers。 He must be able to judge accurately the numbers of
troops arrayed beneath him; the lines of the defensive works; to
distinguish the defended from the dummy lines which are thrown up
to baffle him; and to detect instantly the movement of the troops
and the direction; as well as the roads; along which they are
proceeding。 Reserves and their complement; artillery;
railway…lines; roads; and bridges; if any; over streams and
railways must be notedin short he must obtain an eye photograph
of the country he observes and grasp exactly what is happening
there。 In winter; with the thermometer well down; a
blood…freezing wind blowing; wreaths of clouds drifting below and
obscuring vision for minutes at a time; the rain possibly pelting
down as if presaging a second deluge; the plight of the vigilant
human eye aloft is far from enviable。
Upon the return of the machine to its base; the report must be
prepared without delay。 The picture recorded by the eye has to
be set down clearly and intelligibly with the utmost speed。 The
requisite indications must be made accurately upon the map。
Nothing of importance must be omitted: the most trivial detail is
often of vital importance。
A facile pencil is of inestimable value in such operations。
While aloft the observer does not trust to his memory or his eye
picture; but commits the essential factors to paper in the form
of a code; or what may perhaps be described more accurately as a
shorthand pictorial interpretation of the things he has
witnessed。 To the man in the street such a record would be
unintelligible; but it is pregnant with meaning; and when worked
out for the guidance of the superior officers is a mass of
invaluable detail。
At times it so happens that the airman has not been able to
complete his duty within the time anticipated by those below。
But he has gathered certain information which he wishes to
communicate without coming to earth。 Such data may be dropped
from the clouds in the form of maps or messages。 Although
wireless telegraphy is available for this purpose; it suffers
from certain drawbacks。 If the enemy possesses an equipment
which is within range of that of the air…craft and the force to
which it belongs; communications may be nullified by the enemy
throwing out a continuous stream of useless signals which 〃jamb〃
the intelligence of their opponents。
If a messagewritten in codeor a map is to be dropped from
aloft it is enclosed within a special metallic cylinder; fitted
with a vane tail to ensure direction of flight when launched; and
with a detonating head。 This is dropped overboard。 When it
strikes the ground the detonator fires a charge which emits a
report without damaging the message container; and at the same
time fires a combustible charge emitting considerable smoke。 The
noise attracts anyone in the vicinity of the spot where the
message has fallen; while at the same time the clouds of smoke
guide one to the point and enable the cylinder to be recovered。
This device is extensively used by the German aviators; and has
proved highly serviceable; a similar contrivance is adopted by
French airmen。
There is one phase of aerial activity which remains to be
demonstrated。 This is the utilisation of aerial craft by the
defenders of a besieged position such as a ring of fortifications
or fortified city。 The utility of the Fourth Arm in this
province has been the subject of considerable speculation。
Expert opinion maintains that the advantage in this particular
connection would rest with the besiegers。 The latter would be
able to ascertain the character of the defences and the defending
gun…force; by means of the aerial scout; who would prove of
inestimable value in directing the fire of the besieging forces。
On the other hand it is maintained that an aerial fleet would be
useless to the beleaguered。 In the first place the latter would
experience grave difficulties in ascertaining the positions of
the attacking and fortress…reducing artillery; inasmuch as this
could be masked effectively; and it is thought that the aerial
force of the besieged would be speedily reduced to impotence;
since it would be subjected to an effective concentrated fire
from the ring of besieging anti…aircraft guns and other weapons。
In other words; the theory prevails that an aerial fleet; no
matter how efficient; would be rendered ineffective for the
simple reason that it would be the initial object of the
besieger's attack。 Possibly the stem test of experience will
reveal the fallacy of these contentions as emphatically as it has
disproved others。 But there is one point upon which authorities
are unanimous。 If the artillery of the investing forces is
exposed and readily distinguishable; the aerial forces of the
beleaguered will bring about its speedy annihilation; as the
defensive artillery will be concentrated upon that of the
besiegers。
CHAPTER IX
THE AIRMAN AND ARTILLERY
There is one field in which the airman has achieved distinctive
triumphs。 This is in the guidance of artillery fire。 The modern
battle depends first and foremost upon the fierce effec tiveness
of big…gun assault; but to ensure this reliable direction is
imperative。 No force has proved so invaluable for this purpose
as the man of…the…air; and consequently this is the province in
which he has been exceptionally and successfully active。
It will be recalled that in the Japanese investiture of Port
Arthur during the Russo…Japanese war; thousands of lives were
expended upon the retention and assault of 203 Metre Hill。 It
was the most blood…stained spot upon the whole of the Eastern
Asiatic battlefield。 General Nogi threw thousands after
thousands of his warriors against this rampart while the Russians
defended it no less resolutely。 It was captured and re…captured;
in fact; the fighting round this eminence was so intense that it
appeared to the outsider to be more important to both sides than
even Port Arthur itself。
Yet if General Nogi had been in the possession of a single
aeroplane or dirigible it is safe to assert that scarcely one
hundred Japanese or Russian soldiers would have met their fate
upon this hill。 Its value to the Japanese lay in one sole
factor。 The Japanese heavy guns shelling the harbour and the
fleet it contained were posted upon the further side of this
eminence and the fire of these weapons was more or less
haphazard。 No means of directing the artillery upon the vital
points were available; 203 Metre Hill interrupted the line of
sight。 The Japanese thereupon resolved to capture the hill;
while the Russians; equally appreciative of the obstruction it
offered to their enemy; as valiantly strove to hold it。 Once the
hill was captured and the fire of the Japanese guns could be
directed; the fate of the fortress was sealed。
Similar conditions have prevailed during the present campaign;
especially in the western theatre of war; where the ruggedness of
the country has tended to render artillery fire ineffective and
expensive unless efficiently controlled。 When the German Army
attacked the line of the British forces so vehemently and
compelled the retreat at Mons; the devastating fire of the
enemy's artillery was directed almost exclusively by their
airmen; who hovered over the British lines; indicating exactly
the point where gun…fire could work the maximum of havoc。 The
instant concentration of massed artillery fire upon the indicated
positions speedily rendered one position after another untenable。
The Germans maintained the upper hand until at last the aerial
forces of the British Expeditionary Army came into action。 These
airmen attacked the Teuton aerial craft without the slightest
hesitation; and in a short while rendered cloudland absolutely
unhealthy。 The sequel was interesting。 As if