The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1918-08-10
Allies Find Powerful and Far
Reaching Illumination an I'M
pOrtant Factor.
USEFUL IN SPOTTIEG TANKS
e,,k lin Hun Bombing Planes at a
Instance and Keep Them Con-
stsntIy in View-Equipped
With Sound Detectors-

wyoonon which it constantly used to
borass and impede the foe. This was
enc electric searchlight, a newcomer
on the field of battle.
Powerful lights were trained every
nfobt upon the advancing Austrians
whenever they came to a river cross
inc or whenever they were obliged to
halt for another reason. This NAM
nored and irritated the enemy ex-
coedinglv. 1t was not only that Sc
rIous danger attended any disclosure
of their operations. They suffered
also from nerves when the long feel
ers Of light brushed over their faces
and hands and revealed every detail
of the work upon which they were
engaged.
The use of %searchlights by our
own evolutionary forces is becoming
an important branch of the engineer
ing service. Not long ago congress
voted an appropriation of 100000
for searehlights of both the field type
and the anti-aircraft type. The lights
commonly used are 36-inch lights, hav-
ing a c~andlepower of 1.000,000,000, and
n maximum range of approximately
10000 yards, or nearly six miles.
First Use in Warfare.
When s~earchlights were first intro
duced in warfare 1t was expected that
they would he primarily service
able in battlefield illumination. The
scheme was to throw light upon the
opposing battle line and show adj
vancing companies of infantry the
kind of ground over which they had
TO go. Another plan was to have
rows of searchlights parallel with the
trenches and sweep the terrain be-
fore them, lighting up the barbed-
wire entanglements laid by the foe
and exposing parties of enemy sol
diers at work repairing them. How
ever, neither Of these uses turned out
to be especially significant. The diff
iculty was that, as soon as the lights
were in operation. they were easily
picked off by the enemy's guns. In
the same manner, they could not be
placed along the line of trenches
More recent experiments have dem
onstated that there is a real useful
ness for field searchlights. They are
now being employed to spot the en-
emy's tank advances. Instead of be-
ing hauled by horses, like the first field
searchlights, the newer one are
mounted on motor trucks. They are
flashed for only a minute or two at a
fine, and are instantly shifted to an
other vantage point. This affords
them a greater measure of self-pro-
lection.
The antiaircraft s~earchlight is the
most valuable type of light now used
by our soldiers. 1t is our most eff
fective defense against the lOw-fying
night-bombing plane Of the Germans.
Antiaircraft guns have proved almost
hopelessly inadequate in coping with
night air raids, and If 1t were not for
the long pointing fingers of the search
light the foe would be able to effect
ONE very deadly work in night at
tacks upon supply depots and ammuni-
ton dumps.
The method Is to pick up a hostile
bombing plane when 1t is about five
miles away from it's objective. For
this purpose the searchlights are To-
Gated at points likely to be attacked.
They are sunk ir holes in the ground
and are heavily sandbagged. Both the
light and the men working II are given
considerable protection.
Fitted With Sound Receivers.
To detect the approach Of airplanes
the searchlight apparatus is furnished
with sound receivers. Without these
receivers the outfit is practically use
less. The receiver can be swung
around to catch the sound vibrations
and they are remarkably accurate IN
discovering the position Of the plane
Usually 1t can be located within a few
degrees. The light is not turned on a
all until the airplane is practically 10
Gated. Then 1t is suddenly flashed OF
the craft. Once a bombing plane Il
found II Is hard for ii to get away iron
/. the inexorable pencil of light. Bomb
ing planes are not like battle planes
they must fly In comparativel
straight lines and are not free Z
twist and turn so as to wriggle on
of range of the light.
The first thing an aviator does whe
he finds himself in the spotlight is
rise. That is just what the operator c
= the %searchlight wants him to do. TIL
higher he goes the less accurate hi
aim becomes and the smaller grow
l. the chance that he can hurl his bomt
Of at aadesired point. Furthermore, he
dazzled by the light and his sense {
security is completely destroyed. Som
umes he can be found out by one
20 the antiaircraft guns. or pursued \
one OF our W airplahes. Even II II
searehlight crew does nothing MOI
n TO brighten an airman and dri,
MIN away 1t has performed a defensi,
act which may save quantities
stores and ammunition a. ..hs.