Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-09-18
Ho,v Big Gums See ThrougE me Eve il, tEe sky'
BY THE EVENING JOURNALS MILL
TARY EXPERT.

PERSHING'S FISTS" ARE LEARN
ING THIS WEEK HOW TO CO-ORDTN-
ATE THEIR ACTIVITIES WITH THE
TEETH" AND EYES" OF THE ARMY.
The American Expeditionary Force Is
entering on the final period Of It's train
ing to strike the German lines. The
infantrymen, the FISTS" are being
taught how to cooperate with the
teeth" the big and little guns, and
with the eyes" the aeroplane and
kite balloon observers.
The American infantrymen have az
ready been lover the top" behind
creeping barrage fire. This Is one OF
the most delicate maneuvers in mod
ern warfare. II teamwork" Is not
exact. the men win be slaughtered by
their own guns. Success or failure
may rest on fractions Of a second.
And now American soldiers are real
izing for the first time the vital inn
portance OF air work. The direction
OF artillery fire by night and day sig
mailing from aircraft is an exact mill
tary science. The aero observer Is the
man behind the man behind the gun.
Henry Woodhouse, governor OF the
Aero Club Of America, TO whom I am
indebted for the basic facts OF this
article, has written the frst work on
this subject. His forthcoming Text
book OF Military Aeronautics" Will
shortly be published by The Century
Company, and will be used as a STAN
dard work for the instruction OF our
aviation and artillery personnel.
Aerodromes are located from 10 70
nrfn
Enemy positions are often hidden be-
hind hills miles away. out Of sight OF
the batteries.
When a battery is ready for action,
the aviator assigned TO IL for spot
ting" is instructed TO have his ma
chine over a given objective at a speci-
fed time.
On his flight out he "hovers" over
his battery TO receive final slgnalled
Instructions. He is provided with a
special, minutely-scaied map covering
the sector Immediately in front Of the
batteries lone aviator may spot for
from one TO four batteries) to which
he is assigned.
This map is marked off In i5-foot
squares. The letters and numbers de-
signaling these squares, signalled back
10 the battery, enable the commander
to place his shells with unerrlng ac-
curacy on practically any square foot
OF territory within range Of his guns.
A battery commander who expends
more than three shells I'm locating a
target IS considered inefficient
The observer, having located the
position Of the target and conveyed
the information TO the artillery, re-
ceives in return the signal observe
for line" Keeping on the side Of the
battery furthest from the sun, so sig
nails can be read easily, the observer
spots the first shot TO see II the bat
terry has the right line.
When this is done. the signal Job
serve for range" comes. The observer
now flies in an elongated figure eight,
always turning towards the target, and
spots for range, signaling II the shot
IS "over" or short" OF target.
Range having been obtained, the
signal Observe for fuse" Is sent. and
the observer tells the battery whether
the shells are bursting directly over
lhe target OF not.
When the signal land Is sent, the
leroplane comes down at a place pre-
viOusly selected.
The methods and codes used FOR
signaling from and 10 aircraft have