New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-04-23
ARMY MUST RELY ON
WHAT AVIATOR SEES
Airmen's Reports Vital toSuCCess
Of Attacking Force

Washington, D. c.. April 23-The
vast responsibilities which devolye
upon the youthful airman before a.
successful infantry attack can be
MADE on the western front are set
forth by an experienced French avia-
tor in the following communication
10 the National Geographic society. is
SUED today from the society's Wash
ngton HEADQUARTERS as a war geogra-
ply bulletin:
The time has passed when one
could make an improvised attack
Upon the enemy, relying simply upon
superior numbers and the morale of
the attacking troops to gain the VIC
tory.
TO search out, in all their details
the defensive works Of the enemy
tbarbed wire entanglements trenches
ock-houses) the position Of all his
batteries to locate the trails, rail-
ways. munition and supply depots,
anC headquarters of the commanders:
such is the work to be performed by
the scout planes before every often
SiVe operation.
To direct the firing OF all the a.
tlllery whose task is t. destroy the
barbed-wire entanglem en1a and the
trenches; to lombard the batteries
md destroy the larger part Of them.
to set on fire the nlunition depots
within its range, to prevent or reIl-
der perilous any passing along the
reads and railways to delay traffic
in the supporting railway stations, to
control the destruction of objectives
and the efficacy Of long range firing
such are the principal tasks of the
scout planes during the preparatory
period Of an attack.
moreover, they assume the enor-
nous responsibility of the faithful
execution of this program, which is
carried out entirely tnrousA Inc in-
fermentation of thel;> oyes.
FINALLY, on the day of attack It
Is they who. flying at a low altitude
over the assaulting waves of the In
fantry, signal its progress to the SUI
perior command; it is they who dis
cover the active batteries and reduce
them to silence by causing them to
come under destructive fire; it is they
who cause the dispersion Of wagon
trains and troop columns venturing
along the roads and trains near the
battlefield; it is they who watch for
the possible launching of a, counter
attack, always to be feared, and
which they must announce at the
right moment to the infantry and to
the commander in charge.
'Thanks to the promptness of their
reports sent by radio. the commander
is enabled to make his authority felt
during the progress of the operation.
When. in the midst Of the battle, the
energies of the conbatants became
scattered. causing confusion and dis
order, the. scout planes, by the &C
cUracw Of their reports, permit the
harm onizing and co-ordinating Of
effort necessary to the final victory.
"To describe the airplane used in
scouting, the details of their arma-
nlent and the devices with which they
are equipped, would carry me beyond
the limits of my space. Evidently it
IL the observer who must have charge
of the mission of reconnaissance, of
photogra ply, of artillery adjustment
of infantry communications; but
he is greatly assisted by the pilot
whose skill and decision contribute in
no small measure to the successful
&C mplishment Of the aerial task.
This then. is q brief sketch Of
the immense task of the scout aVia-
tors. You can understand why both
France and Germany first organized
this class, SO Indispensable for con-
Quoting land operations, offensive as
well as defensive.'