The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1914-02-28

| ment Of the Italan-Turkish will remember
how at the very start of the campaign, before the
first engagement took place, the newly landed
Italians saved from an unpleasant surprise
by the aerial scouts who observed three advanc-
ing columns Of Turks and Arabs of about 5000
men, The Italians, after receiving this informa-
ton could successfully calculate distances and ar.
range for their defense.
On the following day, October "a. the battle Of
Sciara-Sciat took place. resulting in the loss to
the Turkish army of 5000 men. During the bat
tie two aeroplanes crcng the air. Tue
flights took place above the line of fire. so as to
be able to direct the firing of the big guns from
the battleship Carlo Alberto and alsQ/of the noun
tain artillery. The aeroplanes Were often shot
at by the guns of the enemy. butt with no results.
The finding of the enemy was IAN influential event.
The situation at the time Vas such that without
that discovery the Italia would have met with
defeat which might have affected the whole
campaign. Thus twE men and two old. half worn
aeroplanes saved p defeat which might have in
VOWED the losS of thousands of lves-as was the
case in the krithrea campagn-at cost Of pos
slDiy only few dollars, the price of gasoene and
LateY in the campaign the aeroplane became
verltaS6le advance agent of peace being used by
the italian officers to drop manifestoes over the
eng -ampment telling the natives of the Italians in
tentions. This is very important matter, be-
cause as shown by Frances long campaign in
Algeria ana MOROCCO, WOSt OF tHe lrouule III Coioh
les is due to the natives misunderstanding the
purposes of the invaders, who never have
chance to explain their intentions.
Again in the Balkan the aeroplane was
messenger of peace.
Perhaps the greatest surprise of the Balkan
war was that Adrianople, the Gibraltar Of the Bal
kans, which the Turks were supposed to defend
to the last breath of life captured with little
loss of life by comparatively small force. The
aeropane-even the old type clumsy machines
manned by unframed pilots used by the Bugar-
ians-deserves the greatest credit for the saving
of life and money.
The Bulgarian air scouts, though unframed in
military matters and poorly equipped mechanic
ally, went out over the besieged city and brought
to their commanders information which enabled
them to attack the weakest spots. Then others
messengers of peace, whom humanity should
recognize now that they have saved thousands Of
lives in both the Trpolitanian and Balkan wars
scared over the city and dropped messages to the
besieged, which If not of peace made for peace.
An admirable feat In saving the lives of 500
French soldiers is credited to a single aeroplane
of the French Morocco squadron. In December.
1912, column of 500 French troops had been sur.
rounded by rebels to the south of Mogador and
for five days some anxiety felt for their safe
ty. Then Lieutenant Do-Hu, in his Beriot mono
plane was able to convey information to the COM
mander that reinforcements close at hand,
and encouraged, they renewed their defence.
while the rebels, seeing ominous signs in the ar
rival of the aeroplane retreated
Life saving in time of peace, while 1t has not
attained more than fraction of the number of
lives saved in war, is, perhaps more interesting
to most people than the latter being closer to
daily needs and experiences of the general public