The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1917-10-11

wits and resources fer his orders in
cases of emergency and e-.tr me dan
ger.
aerial warfare OF the prcse Il hour
is much different from the warfare of
but three or four years ago At the
beginning of the war in Europe the
airplane was quite a distinct. and also
quite an extinct feature of the active
battle as compared with its present
place. 1t is certainly less extinct
now, even if it is more distinct than
ever It was used occasionally 81 the
beginning of the war for the purpose
Of observation. in which service il
became so efficient that the war de-
partments began to consider plans for
adopting il as q more essential part
of the war equipment.
Then it was that a system was or
ganized for using the airplanes. A
system Of observation it was, conduct
ed upon the old (and not so old either)
/ disciplinary idea of order and strict
obedience to a command from the SUI
periOr officers The observer was sent
upon his flight and route at certain
hour each day, with orders to return
at a certain hour, and come what
would, he who flew must fly his route
and ascend and descend at his given
hour, though that might mean the
destruction of his own life.
The result of the system thus adopt
ed was entirely unsatisfactory. The
art of flying became so extremely dan
gerOus, that airmen could not be OBJ
tanned to fill the ranks of the fallen
This difficulty in securing airmen. the
place that aircraft had made for it.
self in warfare, the almost sure NOR
tally of the man who dared to launcl
cut at the given hour for his route oi
observation; these things united il
bringing about a great change il
> aerial warfare.
Today the airmen leaves at no giver
hour, no regular period OF departure
? to be celebrated by the. enemy will
their unerring aim and enthusiastic
ambition to bring him to earth. No
is there a regular route, or a givel
2 period for his return. He rather, up
on the advice and consultation of hi
I superiors embarks on his heavenl
journey and come what will he mus
meet them as best he can. But he ha
this advantage, there is no order t
obey but his own, whether that com
b. from wit, experience, or intuition.
y If troublesome conditions arise, an
n he finds himself being overcome b
e the enemy, if he meets them unaware
n is his own general and orders his ow
n retreat, or change, which ever the cas-
may be, and you can depend upon
it will be a charge if there is the leas
hope for a victory and sometime
! when there is none.
This type of aerial warfare that d.
- mands and develops the ingenuity {
= the soldier, that makes him a reliab
I man in every emergency, is the tyI
! of warfare that will call the best
! our land within its array 1t calls fC
! manhood, for generalship, for chara
/. ter, for fearless purpose, and the so
! der who fills the conditions is mo-
! than a soldier. more than what he W;
= ia his position in civil life, he is
man.
, The airplane is the machine of mo
ern warfare that stands out as the S
! preme destructora and protector of e
cry other master of war. With t
machine supreme, and that machil
manned by the best men, the most r
liable men, that the country can pr
! duce, every one a general, we c;
4 readily see the place that the air hol
. in our great enterprise for the sal
= of democracy and human rights.
! We are glad for these words of o.
! secretary, "There is practically ]
! limit to the number of aerial fighte
! which the United States can and W
! furnish in the war for democracy"