The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-04
BALLOON SERVICE THRILLING AND OF VITAL IMPORTANCE Aviation Corps Captain Tells What Balloon Ob-
 servers Do in War DIRECT FIRING OF
 MANY GUNS BELOW Report by Telephone Every Move ment of Importance Noted
 Behind the Lines of
 the Enemy

Hy il Captain in the Aviation Corps
 Hardy a train moves within five miles hack of the German trenches, or squadron of men come up for relief, o1 digging begun on a new series of em- placements but pair of keen eyes, steadily watching from great observa- tion balloons just behind the allied front, takes notice of it. Every movement, every activity. is registered until schedule of the usual enemy routine is built up and the average amount of nto- tion known. Any departure from this schedule is suspicious. A train running late or with more cars than usual men in the trenches being relieved too ire quently, new roads or emplacements be- ing built too earnestly. give the first hint that Fritz across the line is up to something.
 A keen balloonist notes any of these changes, and at once telephones down to the ground, An extra train of six cars passed - at 10:4o' Half mile farther down the line another pair of eyes re- ports, Large convoy moving up to front, range so-and-so." Still a little farther down another suspicious circumstance is Ifoted, until the general staff down below, assembling all these straws, foresees the beginning of a big offensive across the line. Counter measures are taken, bat teries directed, conveys and trenches smashed up, and the enemy's plans thrown askew.
 Possibly however. the offensive is to come from the balloonst's own side. The observer ascends with full know edge of all the details of action, embol- dened probably to move up much nearer the German lines than usual, in the be- lief that the enemy's artillery will be driven off. The opening bombardment Is a time of ceaseless 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 ob- servers own troops or cost scores of lives later by failure to make a complete demolition of the enemy's defense.
 Hostile airplane overhead is apt to break in through the telephone wire at any moment A German aviator, more adventurous than his fellows, is swoop- ing down, perhaps under protecting cloud, in an attempt to put out the ever watchful eyes. The observer makes ready his parachute, the machine guns on the ground below click off rain of lead at the invader, and the windlass men start bringing the big envelope to ground with all possible speed Perhaps the invader is driven off perhaps the haIloon is stricken into flames and the balloonist forced to parachute to the ground. Tn either case it is all a part of the days work which adds adventure and romance to the responsible work done by the balloonist.
 THE REWARD COMES
 Such is, briefly-very briefly-the duty a, If he haI oh Colt patient, ever watchful he rides far above the ground as the gerat envelope sways on its long cable. Hours pass, perhaps, but finally, as inevitably as fate, the reward comes. A sigle flash. a slight movement across the line, and another tiny claw of the German eagle reveals itself for the allied artillerymen be- meath.
 The vital importance and development Of this work has hardly as yet been sus- pected in this country. Over there balloon observation has become science which, while perhaps less spectacular