aeroplanes and dirigibles of war-第27节
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itself; the debris soaked with the escaping fuel becoming
ignited。 In any event; after such a fall the machine is certain
to be a wreck。 The motor may escape damage; in which event it
is salvaged; the machine subsequently being purposely sacrificed
to the flames; thereby rendering it no longer available to the
enemy even if captured。 In many instances the hostile fire has
smashed some of the stays and wires; causing the aeroplane to
lose its equilibrium; and sending it to earth in the manner of
the proverbial stone; the aviators either being dashed to pieces
or burned to death。
What are the vulnerable parts of the aeroplane? While the
deliberate intention of either combatant is to put his antagonist
hors de combat; the disablement of the machine may be achieved
without necessarily killing or even seriously wounding the
hostile airman。 The prevailing type of aeroplane is highly
susceptible to derangement: it is like a ship without armour
plate protection。 The objective of the antagonist is the motor
or the fuel…tank; the vital parts of the machine; as much as the
aviator seated within。
A well…planted shot; which upsets the mechanism of the engine; or
a missile which perforates the fuel tank; thereby depriving the
motor of its sustenance; will ensure victory as conclusively as
the death of the aviator himself。 Rifle fire can achieve either
of these ends with little difficulty。 Apart from these two
nerve…centres; bombardment is not likely to effect the desired
disablement; inasmuch as it cannot be rendered completely
effective。 The wings may be riddled like a sieve; but the
equilibrium of the machine is not seriously imperilled thereby。
Even many of the stays may be shot away; but bearing in mind the
slender objective they offer; their destruction is likely to be
due more to luck than judgment。 On the other hand; the motor and
fuel tank of the conventional machine offer attractive targets:
both may be put out of action readily; and the disablement of the
motive power of an enemy's craft; be it torpedo…boat; battleship;
or aeroplane; immediately places the same at the assailant's
mercy。
Nevertheless; of course; the disablement of the airman brings
about the desired end very effectively。 It deprives the driving
force of its controlling hand; The aeroplane becomes like a ship
without a rudder: a vessel whose helmsman has been shot down。 It
is unmanageable; and likely to become the sport of the element in
which it moves。 It is for this reason that aviators have been
urged to direct their fire upon the men and mechanism of a
dirigible in the effort to put it out of action。 An uncontrolled
airship is more likely to meet with its doom than an aeroplane。
The latter will inevitably glide to earth; possibly damaging
itself seriously in the process; as events in the war have
demonstrated; but a helpless airship at once becomes the sport of
the wind; and anyone who has assisted; like myself; in the
descent of a vessel charged with gas and floating in the air; can
appreciate the difficulties experienced in landing。 An
uncontrolled Zeppelin; for instance; would inevitably pile up in
a tangled twisted ruin if forced to descend in the manner of an
ordinary balloon。 Consequently the pilot of a dirigible realises
to the full the imperative urgency of keeping beyond the
point…blank fire of aerial mosquito craft。
The assiduity with which British aviators are prepared to swarm
to the attack has been responsible for a display of commendable
ingenuity on the part of the German airman。 Nature has provided
some of its creatures; such as the octopus; for instance; with
the ways and means of baffling its pursuers。 It emits dense
clouds of inky fluid when disturbed; and is able to effect its
escape under cover of this screen。
The German aviator has emulated the octopus。 He carries not only
explosive bombs but smoke balls as well。 When he is pursued and
he finds himself in danger of being overtaken; the Teuton aviator
ignites these missiles and throws them overboard。 The aeroplane
becomes enveloped in a cloud of thick impenetrable smoke。 It is
useless to fire haphazard at the cloud; inasmuch as it does not
necessarily cover the aviator。 He probably has dashed out of the
cloud in such a way as to put the screen between himself and his
pursuer。
In such tactics he has merely profited by a method which is
practised freely upon the water。 The torpedo boat flotilla when
in danger of being overwhelmed by superior forces will throw off
copious clouds of smoke。 Under this cover it is able to steal
away; trusting to the speed of the craft to carry them well
beyond gunshot。 The 〃smoke screen;〃 as it is called; is an
accepted and extensively practised ruse in naval strategy; and is
now adopted by its mosquito colleagues of the air。
CHAPTER XIII
TRICKS AND RUSES TO BAFFLE THE AIRMAN
The airman has not been allowed to hold his undisputed sway in
military operations for long。 Desperate situations demand
drastic remedies and already considerable and illuminating
ingenuity is being displayed to baffle and mislead the scout of
the skies。
It is a somewhat curious and noteworthy fact; that the Germans
were among the first to realise the scope of the airman's
activities; and the significance of their relation to the
conveyance of intimate information and the direction of artillery
fire。 Consequently; they now spare no effort to convey illusory
information; in the hope that the hostile force may ultimately
make a false move which may culminate in disaster。
Thus; for instance; as much endeavour is bestowed upon the
fashioning of dummy trenches as upon the preparation of the
actual lines of defence。 And every care will be taken to
indicate that the former are strongly held。 The dug…outs are
complete and at places are apparently cunningly masked。 If the
airman is flying swiftly; he is likely to fail to distinguish the
dummy from the real trenches。 To him the defences appear to be
far more elaborate and more strongly held than is the actual
case。
The advantage of this delusion is obvious when a retreat is being
made。 It enables the enemy to withdraw his forces deliberately
and in perfect order; and to assume another and stronger position
comparatively at leisure。 The difficulty of detecting the
dummies is emphasised; inasmuch as now; whenever the sound of an
aeroplane is heard; or a glimpse thereof is obtained; the men
keep well down and out of sight。 Not a sign of movement is
observable。 For all the airman may know to the contrary; the
trenches may be completely empty; whereas; as a matter of fact;
they are throbbing with alert infantry; anxious for a struggle
with the enemy。
This is one instance where the dirigible is superior to the
aeroplane。 The latter can only keep circling round and round
over the suspicious position; the movement through the air
interferes with close continuous observation。 On the other hand;
the dirigible can maintain a stationary position aloft for hours
on end。 Then the issue is resolved into a contest of patience;
with the advantage to the airman。 The soldiers in the trenches
fret and fume under cover; confined concealment is irksome and is
a supreme test of the nerves。 Unless the soldiers are made of
very stern stuff; physical endurance succumbs。 Some rash act
apparently very trivialmay be committed; it suffices for the
vigilant sentinel overhead。 He detects the slender sign of life;
forms his own conclusions; and returns to his headquarters with
the intelligence that the enemy is playing 〃Brer Rabbit。〃
It has also become increasingly difficult for the airman to
gather absolutely trustworthy data concerning the disposition and
movement of troops。 Small columns are now strung out along the
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