The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-04-30

miles behind the Russian lines in an
endeayor to find out where the big
concentrations of Russian troops are
taking place, so as to form an idea
OF where the Russians intend to make
their great push when good weather
comes. Their task. flying over miles
OF practically trackless forests, is
much more like the task of the Amer
lean aviators flying over desert, jungle
and mountain looking for guerilla
bands OF Mexicans. but even the Ger
mans have to beware Of machine guns
and OF anti-alrcraft guns, which the
Mexicans are hardly likely to possess.
On several occasions, on both the
western and eastern fronts in Europe
considerable execution has been done
BY daring aviators swooping down
! close to the ground at unexpected
points we'll behind the enemy's liner
and engaging the enemy with machine
gun. This Is likely to be successful
only with machine of the "pusher"
type-that Is to say. with the pilot
and gunner in front and with the en-
CINE pushing from behind. The "trac-
tor" type. with the engine and air.
screw pulling in front, is less handy
for such job.
Some Notable Achievements.
In one case British aeroplane
wrecked German armored car by
attacking II from above and behind,
and killing the driver, with the result
that the whole thing ran OF the road
and turned over. In another case an
aeroplane stampeded a cavalry camp.
In another. in Syria. an aeroplane
from Egypt attacked Turkish cavalry
on tho march and put them to flight.
In another French aeroplane few
down alongside a train conveying
German troops and raked II from end
to end, causing many casualties. i'f
Such operations should have excel
lent effect In Mexico, especially II
Mexican bands can be caught on the
move across open country where COW
er Is scarce. From what have heard
Of Mexican shooting there is not much
chance Of their hitting the men in an
aeroplane moving at seventy Or eighty
miles an hour.
It seems unlikely that the Mexican
rebels will have any strongly fortified
positions or heavily protected build
ings to be blown, up, nor are there
likely to, be, railway, functions or
bridges in the hands. Of the rebels to
be destroyed. Therefore there should
be little use for the big 200 pound,
300 pound ror even 400, pound bombs
which are used in Europe.
It rather seems as II in Mexico
bomb dropping will be useful In break
ing up camps. firing villages in which
the rebels are known 10 be located,
and IN dispensing bands Of rebels on
thet march. For such. work small
bombs and plenty Of them are Of moro
use than a few big bombs in fact
ordinary hand grenades are as good
as anything. and when II comes to at
tacking line Of men marching along
a bush path nothing Is much better
than the little steel arrows. dropped
in punches Of fifty or a hundred at a
time. in quick succession, which the
French used 80 successfully during
the German retreat from the Marine.
These arrows Will a, 70 straight
through mans head and body from
1000 feet or SO, and have most ter
ritying eject. as. II is impossible to
see or hear them coming. sprinkied
pfentiful1y over a patch OF bush in
which tho enemy was. known to be
hiding. they would probably do con-
siderable execution, - r.
The use Of small incendiary bombs
to fire forests in which tho enemy Is,
encamped Is also to be recommended.
Plenty Of American Machines.
J SO far as getting aercpianes Ia con-
cerned. the United States army should
have no snch difficulty. as those which,
confronted the Allies IN 1914 Thanks
to orders from tho Allies there are
now many fourishing American aero.
plane factories. and most Of these have
learned from European experience
how an asropIans has to b. buiit ;tol
stand campaign ussxe. and what such
an aeroplsne is expected TO do. The
Curtissr Company of fiaumondsport.
n. Y. whose early. tractor biplanes
were too slow and unreliable forswar
work. have now redesisned the whole
machine. hare dtted bigger and moro