Douglas Island news., 1918-01-04
Sharp American Eyes High in Sky Keeping Close and
 Constant Watch on Ger
 man Trenches "Over There
Dy a captain in thc Ayiation CorpD

tBy a captain in Che Aviation corpD
 Hardly a train moves within five miles back Of thc German trenches or a squadron of men como up for relief or digging begun on a new series of cmplaccmcnts but pair of keen eyes. steadily watching from great observation balloons just be- hind tnc American front, takes mo- lice of it Every movement. every activity. is registered until @ sched- urc is built up and thc average amount ol motion known. Amy de- rarturc from this schedule is sus- pi,ious. A train running late or with more care than usual, men in Che trenches being relieved too ire- gucntly. new roads or emploccmcnts being built too earnestly give the first hint that Fritz" across the line. is up Co something.
 A keen balloouist notes any of these changes and at once tcie- phones down Go thc ground. "An extra train of six ears passed = at lO.40." Half mile farther down Che line another pair of eyes reports. Large convoy moving up Go Che front. range so-aud-so." Still a little farther down another sus- picious circumstance Is noted. until the General Stan down below. as- scmbIiue an these straws. forcsces the beginning ol a biz offensive across Che Iinc. Counter measures are taken. batteries directed. cone VOWS and trenches smashed up. and che cncmy's plans thrown oskcw.
 Offensive on Our Side'
 Possibly. however Che offensive is to come from the baIoouist's own side. The observer asccuds with fun knowledge Of all che details of action. omboldcncd. probably Co move up much nearer Che German lines than usual. iu Che belief that t.c cncmy's artillery win bo driven uT. The opening bomhardmmt Is a time of coaselcss and vital work. spottIue shot by shot. watching for new enemy batteries Go open up. moving thc harraEc dro back and forth with Che advance ot thc troops. Any error here may send che steel wall into Che observers own troops OF cost scores Of lives later by lail- urc to make a complete demolition of Che cucmy's defense.
 "Hostlc acroplanc overhead" Is apt Co break iu through che tClc- phone wire at any moment. A Ger man aviator. moro adventurous than his fellows. is sweeping down. per- haps under a protecting cloud. iu am attempt Co put out the cycr-watch-
 uI eyes. The observer makes ready his parachute. Che machine guns on Che ground below click oG a rain ug ,c.d at Che invader. and thc w.ud- Ia. men start bringing thc big en- yeIops Go ground with an possible speed. Perhaps che invader is driven on: perhaps thc balloon is stricken into flames and Che balloon ist forced to parachute Co Che ground. In either ease it Is oll a part of the days work which adds adventure and romance Co che responsible work done by thc balloon.st
 Such Is. bricay-vcry briefly Che duty and work Of thc balloon ob- server. Calm. patient ever watch
 ul. hc rides far above the ground as Che great envelope swoys on its long cable Hours pass, perhaps but finally. as inevitably as fate. the reward comes. A single Hash. a slight movement across thc line. and another tiny claw of the Ger man eagle reveals itself for the ol- lied artillerymen beneath.
 The vital importance and dcycl- opment ot this work has hardly as yet been suspected in this country. cover there" balloon observation has become a science which, while perhaps less spectacular than air plane observation. Is none the less essential. The balloonist, riding steadily for hours at a time with Che German line spread out before him. and direct telephone communi- cation witch Che ground with his. batteries. and with other balloons omasses a mazc Of details and ac- curatc knowledge which his more vicor.ous and louger-winged air brother cannot hope Co secure.
 Tho United States is building up such a force literally from nothing. Last November thc old field out West was oyergrown with weeds, tho gas reservoir out of repair, the whole place stagnant. In Che last H..u9. r....sH.- N.rH