The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-01-03
10y a Captain In the Aviation Corps,

10y Captain In the Aviation corps.)
3 Hardly train moves within five
miles back of the German trenches, or
squadron of men come up for relief.
or digging begun on q new series of
cmplacements but a pair of keen eyes,
steadily watching from great observa.
tion balloons just behind the allied
front, takes notice Of 1t. Every move.
men:, every activity, is registered un-
til u schedule Of the usual enemy rou.
tine Is built up and the average amount
OF motion known. Any departure from
this schedule Is suspicious. A train
running late or with more cars than
usual, men in the trenches being re.
Neved too frequently, new roads or
emplacements being built too earnest.
~, give the fist hint that "Fritz,"
across the line, is up to something. |
A keen balloonist notes any of these
changes, and at once telephones down
to the ground, IAN extra train of six
cars passed -- at ten-forty." Half
q mile farther down the line another
pair Of eyes reports, 'Large convoy
moving up to front. range so-and-so."
Still little farther down another sus.
piciOus circumstance is noted, until the
general staff down below, assembling
oil these straws, foresees the beginning
of big offensive across the line. Coun.
ter measures are taken, batteries d.
rected, conveys and trenches smashed
up, and the enemy's plans thrown
askew.
Possibly, however, the offensive is
to come from the balloOnist's own side.
The observer ascends with full knowl-
edge Of all the details of action, EN-.
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 ofplives later by
failure to make complete demolition
of the enemys defense.
Gets Parachute Ready.
Hostile airplane overhead" is opt
to break in through the telephone wire
ut any moment. A German aviator,
more adventurous than his fellows, is
sWooping down, perhaps under pro-
tecting the cloud, III an attempt to put
out the ever-watchrul eyes. The OBJ
server makes ready his parachute, the
machine guns on the ground below
click off a rain of lead at the invader,
and the windlass men start bringing
The big envelope to ground with all pos
sible speed. Perhaps the invader is
driven off; perhaps the balloon is
stricken into flames and the baIloonist
forced to parachute to the ground. In
either case it is all part of the days
work which adds adventure and ro-
nance to the responsible work done by
the balloonist. %$#s
Such is, briefly-very briefy-the
luty and work of the balloon observer.
Calm, patient, ever watchful, he rides
far above the ground as the great en-
relope sways on it's long cable. Hours
pass perhaps, but finally, as inevitably
as fate, the reward comes. A single
flash, slight movement across the
Inc, and another tiny claw of the Ger
man eagle reveals itself for the allied
beneath.
The vital Importance and develop
nent of this work has hardly as yet
been suspected in this country. "Over