Evening journal., 1918-04-15
IMMENSE TASK
Of scout AUAT0RS
Their Reports are Held Vital
TO the Success of Mod
ern Attack
DIRECT FIRING
OF ALL ARTILLERY

WASHINGTON. April i5.--The vast re-
sponsibilitles which devolve upon the
youthful slFmsn before successful
lnfaniry attack can be made on the
western front are set forth by an ex-
pcrlenced French svlstpr IN the fol
lowing communication TO the National
Geographic Society, issued from The
socletys Washington headquarters as
a war geography bulletin
"rhe time has passed when on could
make sn impr0vised attack upon the
enemy, relying upon simply superior
numbers and the morale OF the attack
ing t.oops 10 gain the victory
ITO search Out IN all their details
Be defensive works % the enemy
grbed-wiFe entanglements, trenches
tnrkh0uses), tho position ef all HE
batteries, 70 locate the trails, railways
munitlon and supply depots and head
quarters Of the commanders, such Is
the work 20 be performed by the seoul
planes before every offensive operation
"'ro direct the frng Of all the artil-
iery, whose task Is 90 destroy the barb.
ed-virc entanglements ana the trenches
to lombard Tire batteries ana destroy
the larger part Of them, 20 set on fire th'
mm!tlou depots within Is range, TO pre-
vent Or render poril0ns any passing
along The roads and railways, TO delay
traffic 10 the supporting railway sta
tlons, TO control the destruction Of oh
itctiyes and the efficacy Of l0ng-ang.
flring,, such are the principal tasks Of
the scoutplaDes during the preparator,
period Of an attack.
Moreover. they assume the enormous
responsibility OF the fa lhful execution
of this program, which Is carried ou
entirely through the intermedlation OF
their eyes.
Finally, on the day Of attack, - Is
they who, flying at a low altitude over
the assaultlne waves Of the infantry
signal It's progress 10 the superior com.
msnd; It Is they who discover the &C
tive batteries and reduce them TO ST.
lence by causing them 20 come under
destructive flro; II ls they who cause
the dispersion Of wagon trains and troop
columns venturing along the roads and
trains near tho battlefleld II Is they
who watch for the possible launching
OF a counter-attack, always 10 be feared
and which they must announce at the
right moment to the infantry and tC
the commander in charge.
Thanks 10 the promptness OF theiI
reports, sent by radio. the commander
Is enabled TO make his authority fel
during the progress OF the operation
When, in the midst OF the hazards o.
battle, the energies Of the combataht
become scattered, causing confusion ant
disorder, the scout planes, by the eccu
racy Of their reports, permit the har
monizing and co-ordlnating Of enor
necessary TO the final victory.
ITO describe the airplanes sused !
scouting, the details OF their armamen
and the devices with which they ar
equipped would carry me beyond N
limits Of my space. Evidently IL is th
observer who must have charge OF Oh
mission Of reconnaissance, Of photog
raphy, Of artillery adjustment or Of In
fanlry communications but he Is gen
orally assisted by the pilot, whose skill
and decis on contribute in no smal
measure TO the successful accomplish
ment of the aerial task.
"This, then, Is a brief sketch OF tn
immense task Of the scout avlators. G0l
can understand why both France anC
Germany first organized this class, 81
Indispensable for conducting land oper
ations, offensive, as well as defensive.