The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1918-02-12

the moment that the war settled into
the trenches came into their own again.
It was at once discovered that work
could be done with them which could
be done in no other way. Balloon OBJ
servation began to assume vital impor-
lance until now hardly mile Of the
front lines is without its big, clumsy
envelope. A constant, ceaseless vigil
Is maintained over every move Of the
enemy, over every shell fired by either
side, so that friends below may be
saved from surprise and enemies
across the lines may feel the weight Of
every shell hurled at them.
The United States is building up
such force literally from nothing.
Last November the old field out West
was overgrown with weeds, the gas
reservoir out of repair, the whole place
stagnant. In the last few months, how
ever, the field has been cleared and
brought back to activity, the air once
again is filed with big, friendly bal
looms, and keen-faced men are being
trained for immediate service abroad.
Already the first American detach-
ments are In France, as shown in the
accompanying pictures, the vanguard
of large American balloon force
which ultimately will be as complete
as any other branch Of the army.
Work Is Invaluable.
The work that this force will do will
be invaluable. With the airplane spot
tiers and photographers, 1t will complete
the vast air service which it is expect
ed will blind the German army and
prepare the way for the artillery and
infantry to break up the German mil
1tary resistance. Its minute-by-minute
observations will head off all enemy
surprises and will at the same time
make it possible for American men and
munitions to secure the maximum of
destruction on the other side Of No
Mans Land.
Few of us here realize that the big
envelopes commonly ascend as high as
$500 feet and that they stay for hours
poised in midair to perform the re-
'sponsible duties assigned them. Usu-
ally the ascent is made anywhere from
PA to Az miles from the enemy's
front-line trenches, depending on the
power Of his artillery, the direction Of
the wind, and the activity Of the sa-
lient. In any case the observer has
circle of vision of about eight miles,
and Is able to pierce far back into the
enemys lines. The most detailed and
up-to-the-minute maps, the finest kind
Of field glasses, and instant commun1-
cation with the ground make the bal
loonist a master Of everything spread
out before his gaze.
When the American troops are pre-
pairing to go lover the top" an unusu-
ally large number Of balloons will be
concentrated as secretly as possible in
masked camps in order not to betray
what is about to take place. At the
appointed moment they will take the
air and divide up every detail Of the
battle amongst them. Some will re-
cord the heavy-artillery fire, shot by
of demolition behind the enemy's lines
Is effective; others will guard against
any e-enforcements or traps.
Must Know Enemy Country. !,
AS the troops go over they will check
closely the German batteries, the shift
ing. Of their infantry, and the assem-
bling Of supplies. AS the American
forces advance the balloons will move
forward also in unison with them along
routes previously prepared. Observa-
lions for the barrage will be sent down
SO that it may move back
and forth with the men and details
sent SO that the enemy's guns setting
up the destructive counter barrage
may be silenced.
To do this the American balloonist |
must know every detail Of the enemy's |
land opposite him, for a mistake on
his part may cost the lives Of scores
of men below. No new battery should |
open up across the lines without its
location being spotted on the detail
map, the number and size of the pieces
and their objective noted, and counter
fire preparations made against it. No
new troops should move into the en-
envy trenches without being fully
Known, numbers as well as routes
difficult work all Of it-for the German
has many willy devices for Stimulating
yunf1re and camouflaging movements.
And the work also will not be with
,ut danger and difficulties, though the
chances of fatal outcome are not
arge. If 1t is not swOoping airman
vent on setting the big gas bag on
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