Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-10-25
NJ ORGANIZES
ENTIRE AIR SERVICE

fariS, u ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Oh
the Associated Press.)--Th entrance OF
America into the war and the prob
ability that it soon would be lending
the allies tremendous aid in the aerial
department of tho struggle q LED
to reorsanize and strengthen
Its own aviation branches materially,
according to the Temps. This reorgan-
fzation does not date exclusively from
the break with the United States. but
rather from he battle of the Som1ne,
but 1t has been accelerated and intensl-
fled by the reports hat hundreds II
not thousands OF airplanes. with the
corresponding aviators to mann them,
are soon to be supplied to the entente
forces.
The reorganization of the German
aerial forces has taken the form or
creating four principal divisions into
which the filters are now placed, rough
ly as follows:
/. Army squadrillas or army filters
division" which are directly under the
command of the army chief Of avia-
ton and the work Of which consists
mainly of expeditions far to the rear of
the lines. They also are employed for
commandments, night flights, photo
graphic work, and the airplanes m
ployed are of the most varied type, &C
cording to the character Of the work
thcy are to do.
Recently captured prisoners say that
q recently constructed biplane OF the
Albatross type is vastly superior to
anything heretofore used by these
squadrillas. 1t is equipped with a ESQ
horse power motor n attains a speed
Of from 100 to 115 miles an hour. 1t can
rise to an altitude Of more than 1000
wards in nine minutes and carries two
machine guns. The machines travel IN
groups of six or eight, according to the
position and needs Of the army to which
they are attached.
2. Corps ~squadrillas or troop fliers,"
which are attached to the staff head
quarters OF the various German armies
and which are commanded by captains.
These generally remain within the sec
tor Of the armies to which they are at
tached and are used in general
for "Reminiscences. photographlng
trenches, batteries and making patrol
flights.
8. Hunting ~squadrillas. as they are
called both by the French and the Ger
mans, are the main attacking instru-
ments of the German air forces, and
for chasing enemy machines which
venture over their lines. They are
charged with the destruction of the
destruction of the stationary balloons.
On the west front, 1t is estimated,
there are about 40 of these squadrillas,
with about a dozen machines to each.
Others in the same category have as
l1lSll ouly ~ P1olCSl1ou VI SIiO 1oi 81
German cities that lie within airplane
fight Of the French and English, such
as Strasburg, Freiburg. Mulhouse,
Friedrichshafen, Stuttgart, Essen, Co
logne and Treves. The pilots Of these
squadrillas are carefully chosen from
among the best of the German aviators,
and their exploits are encouraged by
frequent mention in the general staff
reports.
4. Battle squadrillas or "aotillas"
are under the direction of great head
quarters, and shift from army to army
to carry out commandments on military
establishments behind the front, as
well as ever and again upon open
towns.
Their are three OF these squadrillas
now. Formerly there were more, but
the others have been dismembered and
the aerial service. Squadrillas one and
two are generally transported by train
from place to place, wherever they are
most needed.
There are from 40 to SO machines
In each squadrilla, which when COM
plete and ready for action is divided
into our or five sections. Each air.
plane is armed with two machin gun
and each carries bombs weighing 90 to
100 pounds apiece. Some are said to
carry bombs that weigh more than 200
pounds.
While perfecting their service in the
air, the Germans have also rapidly bet
tered their anti-aircraft measures and
weapons. The II bilimeter guns have
given way to rapid firing guns of 105
milimeter caliber and at certain points
along the front they use shrapnel guns
OF 24O milimeter size.
They possess special bullets for the
destruction OF captive balloons, but in
many instances " used them with
great cruelty against opponents in air
planes. At least one ~squadrilla cap
tain, q Lieutenant Eilers, finally for
babe his men to carry these bullets
with them unless they were definitely
charged with raiding balloons.
The Germans, 1t is said. are con-
stantly putting new types of machines
into the field. The famous Taube went
out Of style long ago, and 1t has now
been followed by he even more ia
nous Fokker, which less than a year
ago was considered the last and final
word in attacking airplanes. It's in
ventor, a Dutchman. Is now said to be
devoting himself to the perfection Of a
machine with a $50 horsepower motor
which will break ali records for speed
and efficiency.
Today the Rumpler seems to be the
favorite machine. though those with 1G0
horsepower motors are not fast enough
to suit. and yet the machines will hard
ly stand up under a heavier motor.
The raids on London were accom-
} plished with Gotha. machines, but
these, though so recent that little is
known about them In France, are al
ready giving way to faster airplanes,
especially to powerful Runpler BIZ
'anes which have tremendous speed
Ind rising power. These machines, OF
which there are not fewer than 80 in
tho third hattie Hnf{llo oo~ r,o1>o ,raot