Grand Forks daily herald., 1914-12-22
AERIAL TACTICS IN
WAR WEARING OUT
Many Changes Wrought
Since the Great Contest
Was Started.
lBy E. Percy Noel.l

W 49, S4Sy A>OSs/
North Of France, Nov. 20.-The use
has proved to be one of the most inn
portant features, Of military aviation.
The methods are many. One OF the
most spectacular and at the same time
the most effective have just learned
from soldiers who were in the trench
es before Ypres. It.consists of the use
of colOred fireworks. which can be
seen and the color distinguished by
daylight %
Easy to Indicate objective.
Colored fire sticks-red. green and
the left or right side of the aeroplane,
indicate the range to the military Of
f1cer. BY this means the aviator OBJ
server. several thousand feet In the
air. midway between the lines. can tell
the artillerymen whether their shells
are falling short, are going, too far,
are aimed too much to the right or
left. or are effective. The system of
signaling Is. Of course, secret. but by
cannOn's aim should be altered to hit
the objective can be indicated to a
nicely. .. -..'.
Wireless Phone Sometimes Used.
The wireless Telephone, invented
and first utilized by II captain of the
royal flying corps (Brtish), is used
frequently to direct firing, but Is not
in general use. The observer in the
aeroplane can send messages by this
system-his apparatus having a range
of fifty to 100 miles---but cannot re-
ceive. The receiving station usually is
operated by current from batteries,
seldom from gasoline motor-driven
generator, and is placed we'll behind
the guns, with which it is connected
by field telephone.
English and French United,
Direction OF artillery fire by colored
light signals was first uset, by the
French, but now Is employed by the
English airmep as well In fact, the
English and French forces work SO
closely together now, that it is not un-
common to find English and French
aeroplanes in the same parking space
or camp, well back OF the firing line.
An exchange OF various ideas and de-
wees has resulted in the improvement
of the air service of'both armies.
Methods Change Rapidly.
One of the most important signs Of
progress In military aviation during
the war is found In this fact: What
may be the method OR the practice to-
day may be obsolete in another week.
Rapid changes-npf' necessarily i'm
'provements--characterize all Of the
Franco British air work. I refer, par
.ticularly to changes for the. better in
offensive and defensive work, as we'll
about either the French or English
air services six weeks ago may not be
now.
Alter ''Air-dueline."
Among the most noticeable changes
is the method Of air fighting. I. mean
what is popularly called "air, dueling.",
But In the matter of reconnaissance
also the airmen have improved, TAX
ing desperate chances in flying low to
search for concealed batteries and
shot down. Artiller en- tell me that
in the direction Of, eSAnon ,fire. the .im-,
provemeut has been S1most the differ
ence between failure lind success.
Thinks Germans Less Successful,
One naturally wonders, then, how
the German airmen are doing in d.
recting gun fire and-if half OF wha,
has been told Is true-the reply is,
Not so we'll" The German pilots
take risks. as a rule, and take them
gladly. and they are excellent pilots
on faster machines than the English
have (although there are still faster
French machines) they do not get
over the allies' trenches or within oh
servation of batteries on many occa-
sions without being attacked in the
air. by English or French airmen.
Chance Favers Allies.
The object of the allies of course ie
to keep the, German: from obtaining
the information he desires and to pre-
vent him from carrying back informa-
tion Or signaling back range finding
directions to his lines. They are more
prompt to attack aeroplanes with
aeroplanes than are the Germans.
The latter depend more on their
special aero guns These. SO far as