The Elbert County tribune. [volume] (Elbert, Elbert County, Colo.) 18??-1920, 1918-08-16
Photographer Must Encounter
Battle Perils Practically With
out Fighting Chance.
IMPORTANT PLACE IN WAR
Hundreds Of Snapshots Taken From
Air Are cunningiy Fitted ToGeth-
err to Make Complete Photograph
Of Any Given Section.

London.-To cali the British airmen
the eyes of the army is common
metaphor. Even at the beginning of
the war they did much observation for
the artillery besides playing the lead
Ing part In general reconnaissance. But
their present value in all matters of
observation greatly exceeds anything
that was expected at the beginning.
Without aircraft In important num-
bers, and without aircraft, whatever
their numbers, which can hold their
own against the enemy an army is
practically blind; and without their
cameras afrmen would not be the all
seeing eyes that they are. For. as
the airman is the eye of the land
forces, so the camera is the eye of the
airman. 1t at least provides that part
of his vision which is most penetrat-
ing and accurate.
A series of photographs from the
air is a wonderful piece of work.
Hundreds of snapshots go to make 1t,
and these are SO cunningly fitted to-
gether that n complete photograph is
obtained. So the work goes on, sec
ton by section, and by degrees is
procured a picture, which cannot lie,
of the whole of the enemy's defenses
from flank to flank of his lines. AS
his dispositions are constantly chang
Ing, or at least being elaborated in
important respects, there Is no rest
for the aerial photographers and no
end to their work.
Every day on which there Is a rea-
sonable visibility until the end of the
wnr they must fly into the face of
danger to discover new secrets with
their cameras. The danger Is of
particularly unpleasant kind, because
throughout the operation they are
within effective range of Archibald
the antiaircraft gun-which Is the fly
ing mans most inveterate If not his
most deadly enemy. To take a series
of photographs Of an enemy position
needs special GOODNESS and nerve.
A Trip With the aye"
This Is n typical quiet morning in
a day of the photographers OF the air.
A machine Is run out from the sheds.
and pilot and observer mount to their
places. 1t is not fast airplane. as
armed with a machine gun, and attack
from the air will be met with stout and
efficient resistance. Attack from the
ground cannot be answered. 1t can
only be evaded by maneuver.
Through a hole in the fuselage or
body of the machine camera points
earthward. capable of reproducing
considerable area on each plate ex-
posed. The device by which the snap
shots are taken Is as simple as 1t is
ingenious, and 1t Is almost "fool proof"
In half an hour or SO the machine
has crossed the lines at a height of
little more than 1000 feet. Far above
are small, fast scouts, ready to attack
any aerial enemy that may attempt to
Interfere with the work below. From
the first, antiaircraft guns are uncom-
fortably attentive. but the bursts can
at this stage be defeated by climbing,
diving or swerving movements.
1t is when the actual objective of
Photographic attack has been reached
that the real difficulties and dangers
come. Further lodging and diving are
no longer practicable. since an accurate
pictorial record can only be obtained
by steady flying. The alrplane must
be as level as possible when a snap
shot is taken. Yet the enemy knows
the purpose of the invader and chooses
this moment to make his utmost effort
to destroy him. The Archi-bursts are
thicker than ever. The range has been
nicely judged; the bursts are well
aimed.
Under Difficulties.
In the midst OF them the two must
do their work as steadily and quietly
as If the air were still. Up and down.