The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1914-09-25
AIRCRAFT HAVEN'T SHOWN THEIR
USEFULNESS IN WAR, SAYS COREY

venmacher, in Belgium. His machine
was the largest and most powerful
Bleriot- Gnome in the French lines.
Because of the tremendous load of
"lncendiary" shells, hand grenades,
and explosive bombs Pegoud carried
the armor was stripped from the ma
chlne before the start. Pegoud was
unable at the. outset to lift the ma
chine more than 500 feet in the air.
AS a measure Of protection
ne flew at night. In lack of exact
AnoWledge, gossip has it that his load
Of bombs weighed 500 pounds. He dis
charged every one before he returned.
Bombs Could Not Find Mark.
Inc net result as far as can be as
>ertalned was that the frightened Ger
mans blanketed their fires so that the
aeroplanist could not find his target.
it was at first stated that two convoys
II ammunition were destroyed by his
combs. This has not been confirmed.
it is highly likely, of course, that if an
ammunition caisson were struck by
IN explosive projectile it would be
destroyed. The "incendiary" bombs he
carried are almost harmless-as harm
IS counted in this war-if they fall
among the tents Of an encampment.
Objects Size Dwindles.
"Granted new high explosive
which produces the effect desired
when dropped from a plane, one has
still to hit the mark" said the British
officer heretofore quoted. AT a
height Of 1000 feet the hangers of
Aldershot seemed about the size of
ones finger nail. At 1000 feet it is
quite impossible to distinguish body
OF khaki-clad troops against the ordin-
airy background. Only by the merest
chance could bomb hit the target
aimed at"
The French are believed to have
omething like 700 aeroplanes and the
Germans about 500-or so the num-
bers were at the outset of the war. It
is definitely known that each side has
been continually engaged in expert
ments upon the other by means of
bombs. The French, at least, have in
dictated they will give this up as
Dad job. Even the moral effect has
worn off.
Bothersome at Night.
In the day time marching troops
lave uO difficulty LII dVOlOluS uEOp-
ping bombs. Bomb throwing at light
is highly harassing to the thrown at,
'ut the animated targets have the
consolation that, like lighting, an
aeroplanist never strikes twice in the
same place.
"Our reports from Belgium are that
in broken, wooded, hilly country an
airman is quite unable to distinguish
with any certainty the number or dis
POSITION of the troops beneath him."
said the British officer. HE might
make a fairly accurate estimate of
what was going on upon a plain be-
meath him.
Even so, if the present state Of de-
yelopment he would only be able to
report that certain number of small
or large bodies of troops were under
way in given direction. Such reports
have been of great value to us, but
they must be supplemented by feeling
7ut the country by cavalry scouts"
Never heless, the countries engaged
IN this great war are adding to their
aeroplane squadrons as rapidly as pos
sible. It is conceded that they have
not justified the high hopes that; were
entertained of them before the war
began.
But they are one of the great dice
Of war, and they will be thrown again
and again, in the hope that at last
there may turn up q winning hand.