Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-01-24

The aeroplane, provided IL flies high
enough, has little to fear from small
arms and machine gun fire, and Is
thus able TO cross the enemy's infan-
try positions and inspect the ground
occupied BY the artillery and reserves.
Acropianes as Scouts.
There are military men who be-
lieve that the advent OF the aeroplane
Il largely responsible for the state of
affairs which now exists In France
and Belgium. These scouts of the air
keep commanders wen informed rs
TO what Is taking place In the enemy's
rear. Counter measures are taken inn
modiately and a breaking" OF the
lines Is averted
That the German right wing did
not come to grief during its retreat
from Paris, last September. In said To
be largely due 10 the efficiency OF
German aircraft service. Every
movement of the French and English
cavalry was reported, with the result
that Gen. Won Kmck was always able
to anticipate developments.
But the value Of the aeroplane as
scout had already been shown before
the outbreak of the war. or at least,
soun6 estimates had been made OF II.
For this reason this type of aircraft,
like the captive balloon Is not an en-
tirely rev thing in warfare. For
brand new innovation In field lntelli-
gence the German army Is responsible
This novelty Is the so-called "I.aus-
cherposten,v term of which lis
tening outpost Is the English equiva-
lent.
Observation stations.
The lauscherposten differ from the
ordinary observation station In many
respects. The latter serves mainly IN
the direction of artillery fire though,
naturally, all other data of interest Is
also carefully gathered. As a rule
these observation stations are so wen
advanced In the direction Of the ene-
ny's line that they become very I'M
poitant In infantry attacks. After the
officer In the tree or bush, or hole
I'm the ground. and now and then IN
small, but peripatetic strawheap, mas
governed the artillery prelimlnarles OF
an action, he will telephone TO heau-
quarters what progress the infantry
attacking parties ARE making, sum
moning reinforcements when neces-
sary, suggesting changes in the direc-
ton of attack, retarding, arrestinG or
aecclerating the progress of part OF
the attacking line. becoming, in fact,
the general director of the operation.
The wide sphere of this post may also
be looked upon as development OF
the European war. The purpose Oh
the "lauscherposten" Is TO gain from
the conversation in the trenches WHAT
ever Information of military value "
may hold Needless to say. this is no
easy task At first a German OFFICER
would quietly slip through his own
lines ut night and seek the shelter 81
n bush or other natural cover near
the trenches Of the French or English.
He had with him a small telephone
instrument ana a reel or light WIRE
which he would pay out directly the
load of the wire that was being roll
ed out behind him from a reel in the
foremost German trench became TOO
heavy to drag.
Initiate American Indian.
Very much like the Indian of the
American forest and plains he would
gain the cover that had been selected
during the day and then would re-
port whatever seemed Of value TO
Understand the languages spoken In
the enemy's trenches or outpcsts, ne
had TO know both French and Eng
fish thoroughly.
But in some manner the French and
English learned of the scheme, ana
thereafter cover Offering advantages
tcs ~ "lauschcrposten" was given spe-
cial attention While the sheafs Of
grain were still a feature of the
French and Belgian landscape, Ger
man observers would tie enough
wheat or rye stalks about their per-
son to resemble a stack. This. too,
was discovered.
Another method had to be devised.
At first it was expensive in both time
and effort, but as the adversaries be-
gan TO bring their trenches closer and
closer together, the problem of ap-
preaching the French and English
trenches unseen automatically re-
duced it's proportions. The subter-
ranean passage to the enemy's trench
became shorter and shorter as the dis
lance between the trenches decreased.
The Listening Sentinel.
Today the listening sentinel over
hears the conversation in the French
and English lines without much risk
of being detected. He enters the tun-
mel from his own trenches, creeos
through the narrow passage to where
Il ends in front of the French trench
and takes note of the commands, con-
versations and other noises that may
indicate that an attack on the Ger
man line Is imminent. Though it Is
extremely hazardous TO have the nee
essary opening end in the trench OF
the enemy. this has been done occa-
sonally. Generally, however, the OPP
ening IL outside the trench.
Infoi nation obtained in this man
ner is transmitted TO headquarters by
telephone. The many surprises the
French and English have had in fine
Ing that their plans FOR an attack es-
pecially night opera tons, were known
to the Germans, ere due to the re-
rnarkable work of the listening sem
tinels." 1t is impossible to marshal
he troops for a snrtie from trench
without giving some indication CT
what Is intended. the 'larseherpcs-
TEN takes notice of this and aequaints
headquarters
Officers and men with whom the
Assoc lated Press cor" ,spondent dis
cusset this interesting phase of war
fare were of the opinion that the
"lauscherposten" had proved an in
stitupcn of the great AT valhe. In The
and the tunnel could be used for min
ing the enemy's trench, they said. In
maay cases this has been done. but
only II en- when eth !" an advance or
retreat On their part was thought cei-
tain./
Ethics of Question.
There is no way in which the lis
tening sentinel mey be eliminated.
Though the terrains in France and
Belgium are small in relation 10 mil
itary naneuvers on large scale. ihey