The Springdale news., 1918-01-25

back of the German trenches. or a squadron of men come up for relief, or l digging begun on a new series of em- placements but pair of keen eyes. steadily watching from great observ- ation balloons just behind the Allied front, takes notice of 1t. Every movement, every activity, is registered until a schedule of the usual enemy routine is built up and the average amount of motion known. Any depar- ture from this schedule is suspicious. A train running late or with more cars than usual, men in the trenches being relieved too frequently. new loads or emplacements being built too earnestly give the first hint that "Fritz' across the line, IS up to some thing.
 \ keen baIioonlst notes any of these changes, and at once telephones down to the ground An extra train of six cars passed -- at l0:40." Half a mile farther down the line another pair of eyes reports, Large convoy moving mp to front, range so-and= so. Still little farther down an other suspicious circumstance is noted. until the General Staff down below, assembling all these strtws foreseee the beginning of big offensive across the line Counter measures are talk en, batteries directed. conveys and trenches smashed up, and the enemy,s IPlans thrown askew
 Possibly however, the offensive is to come from the balloonist,s own side 1 The observer ascends with full knowl- edge Of all the details of action, em= boldened, probably to move up much nearer the German lines than usual, in the belief that the enemy's artillery will be driven off. The opening bonn bardment Is time of ceaseless and vital work, spotting shot by shot, watching for new enemy batteries to open up, moving the barrage fire back and forth with the advance of the troops Any error here may send the steel wall into the observers own troops or cost scores of lives later by failure to make complete demolition of the enemy's defense.
 Hostile airplane overhead" is apt to break in through the telephone wire at any moment A German aviator, more adventurous than his fellows. Is sweeping Gawn, perhaps under q pro teetine cloud, in an attempt to put out the esar-watchful eyes. The observer makes ready his parachute. the ma chine guns on the ground below click off a rain of lead at the invader. and the Windless men start bringing the tig envelope to ground with all possi- tble speed. Perhaps the invader Is driven off; perhaps the balloon is stricken into flames and the balloon ist forced to parachute to the ground. In either case t is all part of the days work which adds adventure and , romance to the responsible work done by the balloonist.
 Such is, briefly-yery briefly-the duty and work of the balloon obserV- ; CTS. Calm, patient, ever watchful, he rides far above the ground as u c great envelope sways on it's long cable Hours pass, perhaps, but final ly. as inevitably as fate, the reward comes. A single flash, 2 slight move mcnt across the line. and another tipv claw of the German eagie reveals itself for the allied artillerymen be- meath
 The vit.a importance asa develop m 1t of r 5 wo:t has hardly as yet been suspected in this country. Over there balloon observation has become q science which, while perhaps less spectacular than airplane obaerva- tion. is none the less essential. The baloonist. riding steadily for hours at q time with the German lines spread out before him, ana in direct telephone communication with the round, with his batteries, and with other balloons. amasses a maze of de tails and accurate knowledge which hIs more vicarious and longer-winged air brother can not hope to secure.
 The United States is building up ..ob force literally from nothing. Last November the old field out West was overerown with weeds, the gas reservoir out of repair, the whole place stagnant In the last few months. however, the field has been cleared and brought back to activity, the air once again is filled with blg' friendly balloons, and keen-taeed men are being trained for immediate ser vice abroad. Already the first Amerl- can detachments are in France the
 r 4, 1arUa h1iIOOn force