Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1918-08-14
Photographer Must Encounter
Battle PeriIs Practically With
out Fighting Chance.
IMPORTANT PLACE IN WAR
Hundreds of Snapshots Taken From
Air Are cunningIy Fitted Toueth-
er to Make Complete Photograph
Of Any Given Section.

Iietdp4loI. EVEN d. the beginning OF
the war they did much observation for
the artillery besides playing the lead
ing part in general reconnaissance. Rut
their present value in all matters of
observation greatly exceeds ANYTHING
that was expected at the beginning,
Without aircraft in important mum
bers, and without aircraft, whatever
their numbers, which can hold their
own against the enemy, an army is
practically blind; and without their
cameras airmen 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. It at least provides that part
Of his vision which is most penetrat-
ing and accurate.
A series Of photographs from the
air is wonderful piece of work.
Hundreds of snapshots go to make it,
and these are so cunningly fitted to-
gether that q 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 enemys 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 10
end to their work.
Every day on which there is g re9-
sonable visibility until the end of the
war they must fly into the face of
danger 20 discover new secrets with
their cameras. The danger is Of a
particularly unpleasant kind, because
throughout the operation they are
within effective range Of ArchiDaId--
the antiaircraft sun-which is the fly,
lag mans most inveterate if not his
most deadly enemy. To take a series
Of photographs Of an enemy position
needs 4 special GOODNESS and nerve.
a Trip with the "s=ye."
This is q typical quiet morning in
a day Of the photographers OF the air.
4 machine is run out from the sheds,
and pilot and observer mount to their
places. It is not q fast airplane, as
speed is row counted, but each man is
armed with a machine gun, and attack
efficient resistance. Attack from the
ground cannot be answered. It can
only be evaded by vancouver.
Through a hole in the fuSelage or
body OF tie machine q 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 it is
ingenious, and it is almost 'fCOl proof"
In half an hour or SO the machine
has crossed the lines at a height of
little more than 4000 feet. Far above
are small, fast scouts, ready to attack
any aerial enemy that Ray attempt to
interfere with the work below. From
the first, antiaircraft guns are uncCIn-
fOrtably attentive, but the bursts can
at this stage be defeated by climbing,
diving or swerving movements.
1t is when the actual objective Of
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 airplane 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,
over the narrow section of ground
whose secret must be won, the pilot
steers. for the most part an even
course. Shells burst closely round
them, on this side and that, beneath
and above. At moments the pilot is
forced to swerve, but he must quickly
get level and resume his ordered
course.
Meanwhile the observer studies in
tently the Ditted earth below, which
would M a.,r to the uninitiated as in
definite as a huge pIowed field But
his practiced eye picks out its essen
tial features, and, regardless Of the
shells, he presses his lever at carefully
timed intervals. At last the deed is
l0ne-just as shell bursts close under |
their tail and losses them upward rs
4 wave might lift a cork. Fortunately |
he damage is slight.
"Finished?" asks the pilot through |
lis telephone.
"Finished," says the observer.
And they swing for home with an
Inevitable sense of relief.
It is all in the days work-a very
job. But even the airman's |
most ordinary job is out Of the co;n-
non as a risky experience. AS for tie !
obtained, it may prove Of |
vital Importance. The camera is l.1cre !
han ar eye; it is a weapon. Aud The |
land that controls it must be as pur-
}0seful and steady as if it held rifle. |