Evening star., 1918-02-10
BY LYNNE NJ. LAMM.

In addition to tho daily work Of the
weather bureau in its important serv-
ice to the pub
Weather Ruraau,s lie, q prominent
Work in the War. bureaus activi-
ties during the past year and at this time
is the linking Of its work with the mill
tary operations Of the government In
the war. This cooperation has been
secured through arrangements for fore
casting the weather over the region OF
actual warfare in France, the extension
Of theological work to provide for the
making Of upper-air observations for
the benefit Of the Army aviators. bal
to the government and marine interests
by vessel reporting and seacoast sta
tions and communication facilities in
aid Of the coast patrol.
Never In the history of conflicts OF
the world has the weather proved such
a potent factor as in the war that is
now in progress in, Europe. This Is
largely due to the use of aerop1anes.
dtrigibles and captive balloons, to the
highly perfected and powerful artil.
lery and to the modern methods OF
warfare nrst brought into practice IN
this conflict. Foreknowledge Of exist
ing and expected weather conditions.
both in the air and on the surface. has,
therefore. become Of the utmost tmpor-
tance.
military preparedness Of this country
were begun-when the declaration was
made by the United States that state
Of war existed with the German gov
ernment-it was apparent that the
weather bureau had an important part
to play. In recognition Of this fact the
Secretary Of Agriculture communicated
with the Secretary of War and invited
attention to the service which might
be rendered by the weather bureau in
furnishing the fullest possible tnforma-
tion concerning weather conditions in
the United States and adjacent regions.
He also indicated the service that
trained experts could render as aids to
commanders in planning military OPP
erations. The Secretary Of War heart
lily accepted the suggestions, and prep
arations were made at once for the
fullest cooperation in carrying out the
plan.
It was obvious that the activities of
at least would necessarily be extended
to two primary objects: ~ The fore
casting Of the weather for purely mill
tary operations. and (2) the sounding
OF the upper air for the benefit of avi-
ators. balloonists and artillerists.
In connection with the flrst project.
one of the foremost forecasters of the
bureau has been commissioned major
in the Signal Oh1cers' Reserve Corps
and has been granted a furlough from
the weather bureau for that purpose.
In the furtherance Of his duties it is
expected that the closest cooperation
will exist with the French and English
experts in the use of data obtained by
them. supplemented by additional OBJ
servations in the field and cable re-
ports from the United States and its
possessions
The official in charge of the aerologi-
cal Investigations of the bureau has
also been Commissioned a major and
placed in charge of the military aero
logical work. The Astrological work
performed by the bureau
will be continued, in addition to the
enlarged activities made possible by
congressional appropriation of 100000
for this work.
1t Is planned that, for the duration of
the war. the theological work Of the
weather bureau and the Signal Corps
shall be closely co-ordinated and that
such Of the free-air observations made
at the six primary stations to be oper-
ated by the weather bureau. as may be
required. shall be made Geographically
available to the military authorities,
supplementfng similar observations
made at the various military stations
conducted independently by the Signal
Corps.