aeroplanes and dirigibles of war-第43节

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activities；　although　strange　to　relate；　in　the　early　days　of　the

war；　the　work　accomplished　by　the　British　craft；　despite　their

comparatively　low　speed　and　small　dimensions；　excelled　in　value

that　achieved　by　the　warplanes。　　This　was　particularly　noticeable

in　matters　pertaining　to　reconnaissance；　more　especially　at

night；　when　the　British　vessels　often　remained　for　hours　together

in　the　air；　manoeuvring　over　the　hostile　lines；　and　gathering

invaluable　information　as　to　the　disposition　and　movements

of　the　opposing　forces。



But　it　is　probably　in　connection　with　naval　operations　that　the

British　aerial　fleet　excels。　　The　waterplanes　have　established

their　supremacy　over　the　naval　dirigible　in　a　striking　manner。　　

British　endeavour　fostered　the　waterplane　movement　and　has

carried　it　to　a　high　degree　of　perfection。　　The　waterplane　is　not

primarily　designed　to　perform　long　flights；　although　such　may　be

carried　out　if　the　exigencies　demand。　　The　practice　of　deputing

certain　vessels　to　art　as　〃parent　ships〃　to　a　covey　of

waterplanes　has　proved　as　successful　in　practice；　as　in　theory。　　

Again；　the　arrangements　for　conveying　these　machines　by　such

means　to　a　rendezvous；　and　there　putting　them　into　the　water　to

complete　a　certain　duty；　have　been　triumphantly　vindicated。

At　the　time　this　idea　was　embraced　it　met　with　a　certain　degree

of　hostile　criticism：　it　was　argued　that　the　association　of　the

two　fighting；　machines　would　tend　towards　confusion；　and　impair

the　efficiency　of　both。



Practice　has　refuted　this　theory。　　The　British　aerial　raids　upon

Cuxhaven　and　other　places　would　have　been　impossible；　and

probably　valueless　as　an　effective　move；　but　for　the　fact　that　it

was　possible　to　release　the　machines　from　a　certain　point　upon

the　open　sea；　within　easy　reach　of　the　cooperating　naval

squadron。　　True；　the　latter　was　exposed　to　hostile　attack　from

submarines；　but　as　results　proved　this　was　easy　to　repel。　　The

aircraft　were　enabled　to　return　to　their　base；　as　represented　by

the　rendezvous；　to　be　picked　up；　and　to　communicate　the

intelligence　gained　from　their　flight　to　the　authorities　in　a

shorter　period　of　time　than　would　have　been　possible　under　any

other　circumstances；　while　the　risk　to　the　airmen　was

proportionately　reduced。



The　fact　that　the　belligerents　have　built　up　such　huge　aerial

navies　conclusively　proves　that　the　military　value　of　the　Fourth

Arm　has　been　fully　appreciated。　　From　the　results　so　far　achieved

there　is　every　indication　that　activity　in　this　direction

will　be　increased　rather　than　diminished。











End