The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-02-25
WAR IN THE AIR
ENGLISH WRITER OUTLINES
THE SITUATION.
No Likelihood Either Side Will
Possess Striking Advantage in
Quality of Machines, But Allies
May Hope to Continue Pace.

London Observer: Some of
those people who assert that the
war will be "won in the air seek
to convey the impression, which
they have in some unaccountable
way received themselves, OF a COM
petc deadlock by exhaustion of land
and sea forces while the conflict is
transferred to the air, and of the
final struggle up there being watch
ed by what is left OF the armies
and fleets, writes The Observers
aviation correspondent. That any
thing in the least resembling this
can occur is not foreshadowed by
developments of aircraft at present
even dimly in sight. What is pos
sible is that one side might secure
an overwhelming advantage in the
skies, so that the other would be
swept from them; then, ii the army
below were not greatly inferior,
complete victory would soon be its
prize.
1t is necessary to grasp the fact
that alone, so thorough triumphu
in the air would not end the war;
it is laid upon te organizers of vic
tory, while ensuring aerial triumph,
to see that it shall not be wasted by
lack of cooperation and backing
up in the only direction in which a
position to dictate terms can exist.
Fleets, both sea and air, but pre-
pare the way for the cIinching of
victory. The allies have it in their
power, if their counscls be not weak
ened by the perseverance doubt
ers, the present-comfort shirks," to
make victory by this means certain
this year, or at the latest next.
Foundations of Ascendancy.
There is no likelihood that either
side will possess any very striking
advantage in quality of machines
but, judging from the developments
on all sides during the last year
the allies have good reason to be-
lieve that even in this respect they
will continue to make the pace. Both
rs to aeroplanes and the engines to
lrive them, British work is excel
lent.
Throughout the last year we had
the best of it in the air, our superior.
/ ity being based at least as much
upon anything else. But a mere
superiority ION points" is not
enough; to put an end to what may
amount almost to deadlock some
thing more requires to be done. The
German amries must be deprived O
}erial observation all along the west
arn front.
AS regards types, there seems tc
be rather less opportunity in air
craft than in marine and land Graf
TO contriye big surprises. 1t is il
the direction in which blows cal
be delivered that aircraft can effec
surprise on a scale now nearly, i
not quite, impossible to other arms
SO far as the general capabilitie
of aircraft go, there is not grea
1eal to choose between the progress
made by the enemy and ourselves
When, as sometimes happens, on
ide or the other captures an ex
lmple of new type of aeroplane
the prize is submitted to careful ex
animation. On occasion valuabl
lessons are learned thereby; but S,
far these lessons have concerned de
tails rather than general principles
Both sides have gained by accident
of this nature; and possibly the en-
emy have gained more than we hav
on balance if, as is generally be
Iieved, one especially untimely Incl
dent gave them an insight into a
important typic development.
| will be agreed by all who know wha
goes on-and the incident referre
to supports this--that British de
signerS have displayed rather NOR
science than the enemy.
An Aerial Blockade.
The issue will be decided chief
by numbers and by personnel. w
know that French, American an
British aviators are as good as tn
Germans; therefore, if we establis
the necessary overwhelming numel
ical preponderance-and this is
matter of manufacture, trainin,
and transport-there ought not t
be any doubt as to the result. c
course, this involves much moi
than the provision of pilots an
machines. Mechanics must be trail