The Washington herald., 1917-12-02
By JOHN L. BALDERsToN,

-lhc ar gcdE.
Only the men behind the scenes il
the air boards are able to foresee whal
that year win be like, to picture ths
daily and nightly scenes Of terror ano
splendor all oves Europe-the civiliani
covering In cellars amid tumult oi
shatterings explosions, the destruction
OF factories and bridges far behind thu
battle lines, the Dissemination o.
communications and transport ant
perhaps the harrYing to an unbearabls
state Of the troops that must marci
along the roads to and from their bill
lets in the war zone. And the mer
who are planning these things. up Il
their ears in technical work, are toe
busy to talk or even think about what
Is going to happen.
The detection Of Russia, the disas
tiers to Italy. have made clear to a
least one, American in what high CON
idence and respect his country Is helC
in England and France. "At the
worst we will see 1t through together
he IL told on every hand 1t makes
him proud to be an American, bu
also a little afraid; afraid that th'
United States, with the best will Ii
the world, will be unable to measure
up to these tremendous expectations.
undoubtedly expect too much, more
than is humanity possible. of our troops
in 1913. Nineteen nineteen, II the wal
lasts 30 long, viii be another story.
U. 8. 10 Fight In Air.
But II Is in the air next year that
America can and will play an enor-
nous part, a part so splendid, 1t Is tc
be hoped. that nobody viii think o1
grumbIing while the tedious business
Of transport and training. OF learning
in quiet sectors the rudiments OF war
fare, makes Gen. Pershipg's army
ready for the great destiny which his
tory reserves for II.
Everything possible Is being done
here and in France, to prepare for the
air drive" That was made clear &c
me in a long conversation recently
with Gen Sir David Henderson. direc-
tor OF military aeronautics, the head
of Britaln's air service. But these
things cannot be discussed.
What all the authorities here are
anxious to bring home to the Amer
lean people is that Germany IL work
ing, too, and that, therefore. 1t Is to
America that the Allies must look to
furnish that great superiority next
year that will make of the air service
a deciding weapon in the grim strug-
gle against autocracy. To make this
clear it Is permissible to give here
some facts concerning these German
preparations.
The Germans, masters OF war as
they are, were quick to realize the
meaning Of the great American air
program They instantly took steps 10
meet IL. During the winter the Ger
man air authorities have been able 70
assure the all highest generaf stan
the number Of battle-planes VIII oe
doubled, in addition to the normal pro-
duction to meet the heavy wastage.
During the later summer and early
autumn all German aeroplane and au-
tomobiIe factories commenced enlarg-
ing their plants to permit the carrying
out of the new building orders.
Tventy-nine factories Of great sizes,
hitherto engaged on other war work
or on civilian manufacturing. were
taken over for aeroplane construction
during last spring and summer. Among
these is the great BerIina piano fac-
tory in Schwerin, now occupied by the
Fokker firm, where fighting otpianes
are being turned out in addition to q
new triplane whose great speed and
ability to climb quickly render II a
most formidable opponent.
Build Bombing Machines
The greatest concentration appears
to be on long-distance bombing ma
chimes, an interesting proof Of the
German view of the course that air
warfare will take next year The new
Ruupler model. with 80 horsepower
Mercedes motors, Is the best of these.
The machine carries three men and
between LOO and 1.S0o pounds OF
bombs, and, when fully loaded, can
climb 1000 feet in thirty-fiye minutes
The six-cyEinder Maybach motor.
lighter than the Mercedes and giving
greater climbing power in less time, Is
also a favorite in the new construc-
ton. Electrical installations, driven
by a small motor which derives Its
power from the revolutions OF the pro-
peller, warm the airman. who also
carry oxygen respirators to enable
them to breathe at enormous attitudes.
An all-metal machine. diff1cult to set
on fire, designed to fly low and CO.
operate with advancing. or 1t is to be
hoped retreating, troops will sonn De
ready to take the air in considerable
numbers.
Nor are the Germans letting grass
BEO" NuCAA ACCN ia
pilots for their new squadrons. For
merIy only cavalrymen were allowed
to volunteer for the air service. Now
applicants from all arms Of the war
machine are received An order from
Gen Ludendorff, captured during a
recent offensive. probably addressed
to all superior officers in the German
army, shows how the man who Is
called "the brains Of Hindenburg"
plans to husband all his air forces to
meet the allied drive in 1918. The or
der SAYS that the allies are employing
their aeroplanes economically, with
asyiew to the great battles Of the fu-
ture," and adds:
We should be wrong to overwork
and wear out our air formations.
which are inferior in numbers. by
sending them out several times a day.
Consequently the infantry and artil-
Iery must be told that II Is impossible
to prevent the enemy planes from n.y.
ing over our lines, and they must not
get nervous when they see them over
head. Airmen are to be used sparing-
Iy in calm times in order that Ger
many may have as many Of them as
possible for great emergencies"
The meaning Of the new German
program Is that Il Is up to America
to furnish. and in time. men and ma
chimes enough to make the ''air drive"
disastrous for Germany. II this were
not done the utmost efforts Of the
other allied powers in the air. great
as those efforts are. might not succeed
in overcoming the German air service
sufficiently next year appreciably to
change the course Of the war.
From the airmen themselves T have
gathered some narratives to indicate
phases of modern warfare in the sky
the story of q typical bombing raid. |
thrilling account Of the capture and |
abduction Of a German pilot. in a fight |
continued on the ground after having
ha0rfrs IN. fba afr ThaaA oro haln-