where¡¡it¡¡has¡¡been¡¡attempted¡¡in¡¡the¡¡present
conflict£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡foiled¡£
The¡¡opposing¡¡force¡¡was¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡the¡¡attack
with¡¡equal¡¡or¡¡superior¡¡numbers¡£¡¡The¡¡eye
of¡¡the¡¡army£»¡¡the¡¡aeroplane£»¡¡detected¡¡the¡¡movements
in¡¡every¡¡instance¡£
THE¡¡AEROPLANE¡¡DETECTING¡¡THE¡¡MOVEMENTS¡¡OF
ARMIES¡£In¡¡the¡¡early¡¡stages¡¡of¡¡the¡¡war£»¡¡when
the¡¡Germans¡¡drove¡¡the¡¡left¡¡of¡¡the¡¡French¡¡army
towards¡¡Paris£»¡¡the¡¡world¡¡expected¡¡an¡¡investment
of¡¡that¡¡city¡£¡¡Suddenly£»¡¡and¡¡for¡¡no¡¡apparent
reason£»¡¡the¡¡German¡¡right¡¡was¡¡forced¡¡back¡¡and
commenced¡¡to¡¡retreat¡£
It¡¡was¡¡not¡¡known¡¡until¡¡weeks¡¡afterwards¡¡that
the¡¡French¡¡had¡¡assembled¡¡a¡¡large¡¡army¡¡to¡¡the
west¡¡and¡¡northwest¡¡of¡¡Paris£»¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡take¡¡the
Germans¡¡in¡¡flank¡¡the¡¡moment¡¡an¡¡attempt¡¡should
be¡¡made¡¡to¡¡encircle¡¡the¡¡Paris¡¡forts¡£
The¡¡German¡¡aviators£»¡¡flying¡¡over¡¡Paris£»¡¡discovered
the¡¡hidden¡¡army£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡is¡¡well¡¡they¡¡did
so£»¡¡for¡¡it¡¡is¡¡certain¡¡if¡¡they¡¡had¡¡surrounded¡¡the
outlying¡¡forts£»¡¡it¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡an¡¡easy¡¡matter
for¡¡the¡¡concealed¡¡forces¡¡to¡¡destroy¡¡their¡¡communications£»
and¡¡probably¡¡have¡¡forced¡¡the¡¡surrender
of¡¡a¡¡large¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡besiegers¡£
The¡¡aeroplane¡¡in¡¡warfare£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡has¡¡constantly
noted¡¡every¡¡disposition¡¡of¡¡troops£»¡¡located
the¡¡positions¡¡and¡¡judged¡¡the¡¡destination¡¡of¡¡convoys£»
the¡¡battery¡¡emplacements£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡direction
in¡¡which¡¡large¡¡forces¡¡have¡¡been¡¡moved¡¡from
one¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡line¡¡to¡¡the¡¡other£»¡¡thus¡¡keeping¡¡the
commanders¡¡so¡¡well¡¡informed¡¡that¡¡few¡¡surprises
were¡¡possible¡£
THE¡¡EFFECTIVE¡¡HEIGHT¡¡FOR¡¡SCOUTING¡£It¡¡has
been¡¡shown¡¡that¡¡aeroplane¡¡scouting¡¡is¡¡not¡¡effective
at¡¡high¡¡altitudes¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡not¡¡difficult¡¡for¡¡aviators
to¡¡reach¡¡and¡¡maintain¡¡altitudes¡¡of¡¡five¡¡thousand
feet¡¡and¡¡over£»¡¡but¡¡at¡¡that¡¡elevation¡¡it¡¡is¡¡impossible
to¡¡distinguish¡¡anything¡¡but¡¡the¡¡movement
of¡¡large¡¡forces¡£
SIZES¡¡OF¡¡OBJECTS¡¡AT¡¡GREAT¡¡DISTANCES¡£At¡¡a
distance¡¡of¡¡one¡¡mile¡¡an¡¡automobile£»¡¡twenty¡¡feet
in¡¡length£»¡¡is¡¡about¡¡as¡¡large¡¡as¡¡a¡¡piece¡¡of¡¡pencil
one¡¡inch¡¡long£»¡¡viewed¡¡at¡¡a¡¡distance¡¡of¡¡thirty¡five
feet¡£¡¡A¡¡company¡¡of¡¡one¡¡hundred¡¡men£»¡¡which¡¡in
marching¡¡order£»¡¡say¡¡four¡¡abreast£»¡¡occupies¡¡a¡¡space
of¡¡eight¡¡by¡¡one¡¡hundred¡¡feet£»¡¡looks¡¡to¡¡the¡¡aviator
about¡¡as¡¡large¡¡as¡¡an¡¡object¡¡one¡¡inch¡¡in¡¡length£»¡¡four
and¡¡a¡¡half¡¡feet¡¡from¡¡the¡¡eye¡£
The¡¡march¡¡of¡¡such¡¡a¡¡body¡¡of¡¡men£»¡¡viewed¡¡at
that¡¡distance£»¡¡is¡¡so¡¡small¡¡as¡¡almost¡¡to¡¡be¡¡imperceptible
to¡¡the¡¡eye¡¡of¡¡an¡¡observer¡¡at¡¡rest¡£¡¡How
much¡¡more¡¡difficult¡¡it¡¡is¡¡to¡¡distinguish¡¡a¡¡movement
if¡¡the¡¡observer¡¡is¡¡in¡¡a¡¡rapidly¡moving¡¡machine¡£
For¡¡these¡¡reasons¡¡observations¡¡must¡¡be¡¡made
at¡¡altitudes¡¡of¡¡less¡¡than¡¡a¡¡mile£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡hazard
of¡¡these¡¡enterprises¡¡is£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡very¡¡great£»
since¡¡the¡¡successful¡¡scout¡¡must¡¡bring¡¡himself
within¡¡range¡¡of¡¡specially¡¡designed¡¡guns£»¡¡which
are¡¡effective¡¡at¡¡a¡¡range¡¡of¡¡3000¡¡yards¡¡or¡¡more£»
knowing¡¡that¡¡his¡¡only¡¡hope¡¡of¡¡safety¡¡lies¡¡in¡¡the
chance¡¡that¡¡the¡¡rapidly¡moving¡¡machine¡¡will¡¡avoid
the¡¡rain¡¡of¡¡bullets¡¡that¡¡try¡¡to¡¡seek¡¡him¡¡out¡£
SOME¡¡DARING¡¡FEATS¡¡IN¡¡WAR¡£It¡¡would¡¡be¡¡impossible
to¡¡recount¡¡the¡¡many¡¡remarkable¡¡aerial
fights¡¡which¡¡have¡¡taken¡¡place¡¡in¡¡the¡¡great¡¡war¡£
Some¡¡of¡¡them¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡be¡¡unreal£»¡¡so¡¡startling¡¡are
the¡¡tales¡¡that¡¡have¡¡been¡¡told¡£¡¡We¡¡may¡¡well¡¡imagine
the¡¡bravery¡¡that¡¡will¡¡nerve¡¡men¡¡to¡¡fight
thousands¡¡of¡¡feet¡¡above¡¡the¡¡earth¡£
One¡¡of¡¡the¡¡most¡¡thrilling¡¡combats¡¡took¡¡place
between¡¡a¡¡Russian¡¡aeroplane¡¡and¡¡a¡¡Zeppelin£»¡¡over
Russian¡¡Poland£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡time¡¡of¡¡the¡¡first¡¡German
invasion¡£¡¡The¡¡Zeppelin¡¡was¡¡soaring¡¡over¡¡the
Russian¡¡position£»¡¡at¡¡an¡¡altitude¡¡of¡¡about¡¡a¡¡mile¡£
A¡¡Russian¡¡aviator¡¡ascended¡¡and¡¡after¡¡circling
about£»¡¡so¡¡as¡¡to¡¡gain¡¡a¡¡position¡¡higher¡¡than¡¡the
airship£»¡¡darted¡¡down£»¡¡and¡¡crashed¡¡into¡¡the¡¡great
gas¡¡field¡£
The¡¡aviator¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡it¡¡meant¡¡death¡¡to¡¡him£»
but¡¡his¡¡devotion¡¡led¡¡him¡¡to¡¡make¡¡the¡¡sacrifice¡£
The¡¡Zeppelin£»¡¡broken¡¡in¡¡two£»¡¡and¡¡robbed¡¡of¡¡its
gas£»¡¡slowly¡¡moved¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡earth£»¡¡then¡¡gradually
increased¡¡the¡¡speed¡¡of¡¡its¡¡descent£»¡¡as¡¡the
aeroplane¡¡clung¡¡to¡¡its¡¡shattered¡¡hulk£»¡¡and¡¡by¡¡the
time¡¡it¡¡neared¡¡the¡¡earth¡¡its¡¡velocity¡¡was¡¡great
enough¡¡to¡¡assure¡¡the¡¡destruction¡¡of¡¡all¡¡on¡¡board£»
while¡¡the¡¡ship¡¡itself¡¡was¡¡crushed¡¡to¡¡atoms¡£
One¡¡of¡¡the¡¡most¡¡spectacular¡¡fights¡¡of¡¡the¡¡war
occurred¡¡outside¡¡Paris£»¡¡when¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡German
Taubes¡¡attempted¡¡to¡¡make¡¡its¡¡periodical¡¡tour
of¡¡observation¡£¡¡One¡¡of¡¡the¡¡French¡¡aeroplanes£»
which¡¡had¡¡the¡¡advantage¡¡of¡¡greater¡¡speed£»
mounted¡¡to¡¡a¡¡greater¡¡altitude£»¡¡and¡¡circled¡¡about
the¡¡Taube¡£
The¡¡latter¡¡with¡¡its¡¡machine¡¡gun¡¡made¡¡a¡¡furious
attack£»¡¡during¡¡these¡¡maneuvers£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡French
ship¡¡did¡¡not¡¡reply¡¡until¡¡it¡¡was¡¡at¡¡such¡¡an¡¡elevation
that¡¡it¡¡could¡¡deliver¡¡the¡¡attack¡¡from¡¡above¡£
Then¡¡its¡¡machine¡¡gun¡¡was¡¡brought¡¡into¡¡play¡£¡¡As
was¡¡afterwards¡¡discovered£»¡¡the¡¡wings¡¡and¡¡body
of¡¡the¡¡Taube¡¡were¡¡completely¡¡riddled£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was
a¡¡marvel¡¡how¡¡it¡¡was¡¡possible¡¡for¡¡the¡¡German¡¡aviator
to¡¡remain¡¡afloat¡¡as¡¡long¡¡as¡¡he¡¡did¡£
Soon¡¡the¡¡Taube¡¡was¡¡noticed¡¡to¡¡lurch¡¡from¡¡side
to¡¡side£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡dart¡¡downwardly¡£¡¡The¡¡monoplane£»
in¡¡the¡¡pursuit£»¡¡gradually¡¡descended£»¡¡but¡¡it
was¡¡not¡¡able¡¡to¡¡follow¡¡the¡¡destroyed¡¡Taube¡¡to¡¡the
earth£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡finally¡¡turned¡¡over£»¡¡and¡¡went
swirling¡¡to¡¡destruction¡£
The¡¡observer£»¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡the¡¡aviator£»¡¡had¡¡both
been¡¡killed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡fire¡¡from¡¡the¡¡monoplane¡£
In¡¡the¡¡trenches¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Marne£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡northeast
of¡¡Paris£»¡¡where¡¡the¡¡most¡¡stubborn¡¡conflict¡¡raged
for¡¡over¡¡a¡¡week£»¡¡the¡¡air¡¡was¡¡never¡¡clear¡¡of¡¡aeroplanes¡£
They¡¡could¡¡be¡¡seen¡¡in¡¡all¡¡directions£»¡¡and
almost¡¡all¡¡types¡¡of¡¡machines¡¡were¡¡represented¡£
The¡¡principal¡¡ones£»¡¡however£»¡¡were¡¡monoplanes¡£
THE¡¡GERMAN¡¡TAUBE¡£The¡¡German¡¡Taube¡¡is¡¡a
monoplane£»¡¡its¡¡main¡¡supporting¡¡surfaces£»¡¡as¡¡well
as¡¡the¡¡tail¡¡planes£»¡¡are¡¡so¡¡constructed¡¡that¡¡they
represent¡¡a¡¡bird¡£¡¡Taube¡¡means¡¡dove¡£¡¡It¡¡would
have¡¡been¡¡more¡¡appropriate¡¡to¡¡call¡¡it¡¡a¡¡hawk¡£
On¡¡the¡¡other¡¡hand£»¡¡the¡¡French¡¡monoplane£»¡¡of
which¡¡the¡¡Bleriot¡¡is¡¡the¡¡best¡¡known¡¡example£»¡¡has
wings¡¡with¡¡well¡¡rounded¡¡extremities£»¡¡and¡¡flaring
tail£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡the¡¡two¡¡can¡¡be¡¡readily¡¡distinguished¡£
On¡¡one¡¡occasion£»¡¡during¡¡the¡¡lull¡¡in¡¡the¡¡battle£»
two¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Taubes¡¡approached¡¡the¡¡area¡¡above¡¡the
French¡¡lines£»¡¡and¡¡after¡¡ascending¡¡to¡¡a¡¡great
height£»¡¡began¡¡the¡¡volplane¡¡toward¡¡their¡¡own¡¡lines¡£
Such¡¡a¡¡maneuver¡¡was¡¡found¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡most¡¡advantageous£»
as¡¡it¡¡gave¡¡the¡¡scouting¡¡aeroplane¡¡the
advantage¡¡of¡¡being¡¡able¡¡to¡¡discover¡¡the¡¡positions
and¡¡movements¡¡with¡¡greater¡¡ease£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same
time£»¡¡in¡¡case¡¡of¡¡accident¡¡to¡¡the¡¡machine£»¡¡the¡¡impetus
of¡¡the¡¡flight¡¡would¡¡be¡¡to¡¡their¡¡own¡¡lines¡£
Three¡¡of¡¡the¡¡French¡¡aeroplanes¡¡at¡¡once¡¡began
their¡¡circling¡¡flight£»¡¡mounting¡¡higher¡¡and¡¡higher£»
but¡¡without¡¡attempting¡¡to¡¡go¡¡near¡¡the¡¡Taubes¡£
When¡¡the¡¡French¡¡ships¡¡had¡¡gained¡¡the¡¡proper
altitude£»¡¡they¡¡closed¡¡in¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡German¡¡ships£»
before¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡could¡¡reach¡¡their¡¡own¡¡lines¡¡in
their¡¡volplaning¡¡act¡£
This¡¡meant¡¡that¡¡they¡¡must¡¡retreat¡¡or¡¡fight£»¡¡and
the¡¡crack¡¡of¡¡the¡¡guns¡¡showed¡¡that¡¡it¡¡meant¡¡a
struggle¡£¡¡The¡¡monoplanes¡¡circled¡¡about¡¡with
incredible¡¡skill£»¡¡pouring¡¡forth¡¡shot¡¡after¡¡shot¡£
Soon¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Taubes¡¡was¡¡seen¡¡to¡¡flutter¡£
This¡¡was¡¡the¡¡signal¡¡for¡¡a¡¡more¡¡concentrated¡¡attack
on¡¡her¡£
The¡¡army¡¡in¡¡the¡¡trenches£»¡¡and¡¡on¡¡the¡¡fields¡¡below£»
witnessed¡¡the¡¡novel¡¡combat¡£¡¡The¡¡flying
ships¡¡were¡¡now¡¡approaching¡¡the¡¡earth£»¡¡but¡¡the
gunners¡¡below¡¡dared¡¡not¡¡use¡¡their¡¡guns£»¡¡because
in¡¡the¡¡maneuvers¡¡they¡¡would¡¡be¡¡as¡¡likely¡¡to¡¡strike
friend¡¡as¡¡foe¡£
The¡¡wounded¡¡Taube¡¡was¡¡now¡¡shooting¡¡to¡¡the
earth£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡two¡¡monoplanes¡¡began¡¡to¡¡give¡¡their
attention¡¡to¡¡the¡¡other¡¡ship£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡attempting
to¡¡escape¡¡to¡¡the¡¡north¡£¡¡The¡¡flash¡¡of¡¡the¡¡guns¡¡of
all¡¡the¡¡fliers¡¡could¡¡be¡¡plainly¡¡seen£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡sounds
were¡¡drowned¡¡by¡¡the¡¡roar¡¡of¡¡the¡¡great¡¡conflict¡¡all
about¡¡them¡£
The¡¡Taube¡¡could¡¡not¡¡escape¡¡the¡¡net¡¡around¡¡her¡£
She£»¡¡too£»¡¡was¡¡doomed¡£¡¡A¡¡shot¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡strike
the¡¡gasoline¡¡tank£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡framework¡¡was¡¡soon
enveloped¡¡in¡¡flames¡£¡¡Then¡¡she¡¡turned¡¡sidewise£»
as¡¡the¡¡material¡¡on¡¡one¡¡side¡¡burned¡¡away£»¡¡and
skidding¡¡to¡¡the¡¡left¡¡she¡¡darted¡¡to¡¡the¡¡earth£»
a¡¡shapeless¡¡mass¡£
It¡¡was¡¡found¡¡that¡¡the¡¡aviator¡¡was¡¡not¡¡hurt¡¡by
the¡¡shot£»¡¡but¡¡was£»¡¡undoubtedly£»¡¡killed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡impact
with¡¡the¡¡earth¡£¡¡The¡¡observer¡¡was¡¡riddled
with¡¡bullets£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡likely¡¡dead¡¡before¡¡the¡¡ship
reached¡¡the¡¡earth¡£
In¡¡the¡¡western¡¡confines¡¡of¡¡Belgium£»¡¡near¡¡Ypres£»
the¡¡British¡¡employed¡¡numerous¡¡aircraft£»¡¡many¡¡of
them¡¡biplanes£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡all¡¡times¡¡they¡¡were¡¡in¡¡the
air£»¡¡reporting¡¡observations¡£¡¡Many¡¡of¡¡the¡¡flying
fights¡¡have¡¡been¡¡recorded£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡reports¡¡when
published¡¡will¡¡be¡¡most¡¡thrilling¡¡reading¡£
HOW¡¡AEROPLANES¡¡REPORT¡¡OBSERVATIONS¡£It
may¡¡be¡¡of¡¡some¡¡interest¡¡to¡¡know¡¡how¡¡aeroplanes
are¡¡able¡¡to¡¡report¡¡observations¡¡to¡¡the¡¡commanders
in¡¡the¡¡field£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡airship¡¡itself¡£¡¡Many
ingenious¡¡devices¡¡have¡¡been¡¡devised¡¡for¡¡this¡¡purpose¡£
SIGNAL¡¡FLAGS¡£The¡¡best¡¡known¡¡and¡¡most¡¡universally
used¡¡method¡¡is¡¡by¡¡the¡¡use¡¡of¡¡signaling
flags¡£¡¡Suppose¡¡the¡¡commander¡¡of¡¡a¡¡force¡¡is¡¡desirous
of¡¡getting¡¡the¡¡range¡¡of¡¡a¡¡hidden¡¡battery£»
or¡¡a¡¡massed¡¡force¡¡in¡¡his¡¡front¡£¡¡The¡¡observer¡¡in
the¡¡aeroplane¡¡will¡¡sail¡¡over¡¡the¡¡area¡¡a
СÌáʾ£º°´ »Ø³µ [Enter] ¼ü ·µ»ØÊéÄ¿£¬°´ ¡û ¼ü ·µ»ØÉÏÒ»Ò³£¬ °´ ¡ú ¼ü ½øÈëÏÂÒ»Ò³¡£
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