Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-12
HOW us. BALLOONS
WATCH WAR front
Every Movement Behind Lines
Noted by Observers 4,5m
Feet High.
USE PHONE TO GROUND

USE PHONE TO GR0UNE
The Germans can't keep . secret bacl
Of their trenches while American bal
: loon observers have their eyes strained
for q sight of the slightest move o.
the Hun. How these observers operate
is Interestingly told by writer whc
contributes the following to the wal
literature provided for the public By
the committee on public information:
Hardly a train moves within five
miles back Of the German trenches. OIL
a squadron of men comes up for relief
or digging begins on new series OF
emplacements but a pair of keen eyes
tion balloons just behind the allied
front. takes notice of 1t. Every move
nent, every activity, is registered until
4 schedule of the usual enemy routine
motion known Any departure from
this schedule Is suspicious. A train
running late or with more cars than
usual. men in the trenches being re-
lieved too frequently. new roads or en-
placements being built too earnestly
give the first hint that Fritz" across
the line. is up to something.
Keep Watch From the Air.
A keen balloonist notes any of these
changes. and at once telephones down
to the ground. IAN extra train of six
cars passed - at 10:40." Half mile
farther down the line another pair of
eyes reports, Large convoy moving up
to front range so-and-so." Still lit
tie farther down another suspicious
circumstance is noted, until the gen,
eral staff down below, assembling all
these straws, foresees the beginning of
a big offensive across the line. Counter
measures are taken. batteries directed,
conveys and trenches smashed up, and
the enemy's plans thrown askew.
Possibly, however, the offensive is to
come from the balloonist's own side. The
observer ascends with full knowledge of
all the details OF action, emboldened prob
ably to move up much nearer the German
lines than usual, in the belief that the
enemy's artillery will be driven off. The
opening bombardment is a time of cease
less and vital work. spotting shot by shot,
watching for new enemy batteries to open
up, moving the barrage fire back and
forth with the advance Of the troops. Any
error here may send the steel wall into
the observers own troops or cost scores
OF lives later by failure to make COM
German Aviator May Sneak Over.
Hostile airplane overhead" is apt to
break in through the telephone wire at
any moment German aviator, more
adventurous than his fellows, is swoop-
ing down. perhaps under a protecting
cloud. in an attempt to put out the ever
ready his parachute, the machine guns
on the ground below click of a rain Of
lead at the invader. and the windlass men
start bringing the big envelope to ground
vader is driven of; perhaps the balloon is
stricken into flames and the balloonist
forced to parachute to the ground. In
either case It is all q part Of the days
work which adds adventure and romance
to the responsible work done by the
ballooonist.
Such is, brfefy-very briefy-the duty
and work Of the balloon observer Calm.
patient, ever watchful. he rides far above
the ground as the great envelope sways
on its long cable. Hours pass. perhaps.
but finally, as inevitably as fate, the re-
ward comes. A single flash, slight
movement across the line, and another
tiny claw Of the German eagle reveals
itself for the allied artillerymen beneath.
The balloon services abroad, how
ever, had been carefully. IL modestly,
developed for military purposes. and
the moment that the war settled into
"
It was at once discovered that work
could be done with them which could
be done in no other way. Balloon OBJ
servation began to assume vital impor-
lance until now hardly a mile of the
front lines is without it's big, clumsy
envelope A constant, ceaseless vigil is
maintained over every move of the enc
my, over every shell fired by either side.
SO that friends below may be saved
from surprise and enemies across the
lines may feel the weight of every shell
hurled at them.
The United States is building up such
a force literally from nothing. Last
November the old field out west was
overgrown with weeds. the gas reser-
yoir out of repair. the whole place stag
nant. In the last few months. however.
back to activity. the air once again is
filled with big. friendly balloons. and
keen-faced men are being trained for
Immediate service abroad. Already the
hrst American detachments are in
France. the vanguard Of a large Ameri-
{. can balloon force. which ultimately will
% a. complete as any other branch OF
IN: work that this force win do win
spoilers and photographers. It will
complete the vast air service which 1t
10 expected will blind the German
army and prepare the way for the ar
tfllery and infantry to break up the
German military resistance. Its min
ute-by-minute observations will head
on all enemy surprises and will at
the same time make 1t possible
for American men and American
munitions to secure the maximum OF
destruction on the other side of no
mans land.
Generally Ascend 4, 800 Feet.
Few Of US here realize that the big
envelopes commonly ascend as high as
1900 feet and that thew afav for bnurs