Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-17
AEROPLANE IN WAR.
Duel Of the Planes May Precede the
General Engagement.

From the New York Sun.
Whatever the true explanation Of the
abrupt abandonment Of the British army
maneuvers may be, it is undeniable that
the aeroplane makes it harder than ever
to play the war game satisfactorily Be-
fore the advent of the aeroplane victories
were won or lost in peace maneuvers by
the decision of umpires who were bound
by hard and fast rules. brigade was
led into or surprised in a certain position
commanded by masked batteries. and an
alert umpire marked the brigade de-
stroyed or captured, and ordered II out
Of action. A cavalry patrol rode into the
presence" Of superior force and was
eliminated. A general and his staff ven
tured too far into the enemy's territory
and were surrounded. 1t must be evident
that the evolutionS of the twenty-four
aeroplanes attached to the contending
armies in England did not simplify the
work of the harassed umpires.
There can hardly be any secrets OF
strength and organization or any advan'
tage or handicap of position which an
aviator with powerful binoculars cannot
detect in q war game. 1t is more like
play for him than it is for the march
ing and countermarching soldiers: his
only risk is that inseparable from manag-
ing his machine. If he has a wireless
outfit he instantly flashes his discoveries
by code. and without this adjunct he car
Of the time it would take a cavalryman tc
gallop to headquarters. Twelve av1atOrs
with the Red army and as many with the
Blue army must make 1t physically diff
cult for the commanders to complete any
elaborate strategic operation in a wal
game, for they can rarely hide or els.
semble their notwithstanding not In
the open country where the British ma
neuvers are held. 1t IS probably true thai
the war game ended in a glorious nd
G; n
tor of the maneuvers. must be grimly
amused. for, although the author OF
standard books on cavalry tactics. he sci.
dom distinguished himself in peace ma
neuvers before the Boer war. and during
that conflict he proved himself brilliant
strategist and uniformly successful in the
field.
AS the aeroplane has become indis.
pensable for serious military operati ms
having revolutioniZed reconnaissance. Il
is plain enough that night marches ane
also night assaults must be the rule ane
not the exception when two armies come
within striking distance Of each other
and 1t follows that each army must bt
equipped with powerful searchlights t.
warn it of the advance of an attacking
force. In the darkness the usefulness Of
aeroplanes for reconnaissance is greatly
impaired, even when they carry some kind
of searchlight: moreover, It is almost i'm
possible to command the stability OF thu
machine at night: and it is altogether ou
of the question If a strong or fiuky wind
is blowing.
II aeroplanes in actual warfare are go
ing to keep armies or sections OF armie!
apart by preventing the execution Of for
ward movements. except at night. az
gressive war in the air becomes impera
tive. Each flying machine must have 1t!
light gun and supply of shells or othel
explosives to destroy the enemy's scouts
and until the aerial conflict is over opera
tions on the earth below are not likely t
be decisive. Providence" said Napoleon
sis always on the side OF the last re.
serve" In wars of the future the .-st re
serve may prove to be the survivors Of
the aeroplane duel.