Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1914-02-27


ment Of the Italian Turkish war will remember
how at the very start of the campaign, before the
first engagement took place, the newly lanueu
Italians were saved from an unpleasant surprise
by the aerial scouts, who observed three advanc-
ing columns of Turks and Arabs OF about o'OUO
men. The Italians, after receiving TINS lnIorma-
ton could successfully calculate distances and ar
range for their defense.
On the following day. October "a the pattle Oh
Sciara-Scat took place, resulting in the loss 10
the Turkish army of 5000 men, during the paC-
tie two aeroplanes were circling the air Inc
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 also OF the Inouh
tain artillery. The aeroplanes were often snot
at by the guns of the enemy, but with no results.
The finding of the enemy was an lntuentlal event.
The situation at the time was such that without
that discovery the Italians would have met with
a defeat which might have aHected Inc Whole
campaign. Thus two men and two Old, nal1 worn
aeroplanes saved a defeat which might have IN
volved the loss of thousands of lives-as was the
case in the Erithrea campaign-at cost or pos
sibly only few dollars the price OF gasolene ana
OIL
Later in the campaign the aeroplane became
Variable advance agent of peace, being used by
the Italian officers to drop man1festoes over the
ence mpment telling the natives of the ltaans IN
tent ons This is a very important matter, be-
cause as shown by Frances long campaign IN
Algeria and Morocco most of the trouble IN colon
los is due to the natives misunderstanding the
nurposes of the invaders who never have
chance to explain their intentions.
Again in the Balkan war the aeroplane was
messenger of peace.
Perhaps the greatest surprise of the Balkan
war was that Adranople, the Gibraltar OF the Bal
kans which the Turks were supposed to defend
to the last breath of life was captured with little
loss of life by a comparatively small force me
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT the old type clumsy machines
manned by unframed pilots, used by the Bulgar-
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 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 Tripolitanian 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 800
French soldiers is credited to single aeroplane
of the French Morocco squadron. In December,
1872 column of 500 French troops had been sur
rounded by rebels to the south of Mogador and
for five days anxiety was felt for their safe
ty Then Lieutenant Do-Hu, in his Bleriot mono
plane was able to convey information to the COM
mander that renforcements were close at hand,
and, encouraged they renewed their defence,
while the rebels seeing orninous signs in the ar
rival of the aeroplane. retreated
Life saving in time Of peace, while it has not
attained 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.