Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1918-03-14

the trenches came into their own AGAR
1t was at once discovered that wor
could be done with them which coul
servation began to assume vital impor
lance until now hardly q mile of tn
front lines is without its big, clums,
envelope. A constant, ceaseless vigi
Is maintained over every move of tn,
enemy, over every shell fired by eitheI
side, so that friends below may b,
saved from surprise and enemies
across the lines may feel the weight o.
every shell hurled at them.
The United States is building vi
such force literally from nothing
Last November the old field out West
was overgrown with weeds, the gas
reservoir out of repair, the whole place
stagnant. In the last few months, how.
ever, the field has been cleared and
brought back to activity the air once
again is filled with big, friendly bal.
looms, and keen-faced men are being
trained for immediate service abroad
Already the first American detach-
accompanying pictures, the vanguard
Of a large American balloon force
which ultimately will be as complete
as any other branch of the army.
Work Is Invaluable.
The work that this force will do will
be invaluable. With the airplane spot
tiers and photographers, it will complete
the vast air service which it is expect
ed will blind the German army and
prepare the way for the artillery and
iAfantry to break up the German mil
itary resistance. Its minute-by- minute
observations will head off all enemy
surprises and will at the same time
make it possible for American men and
munitions to secure the maximum Of
destruction on the other side Of No
Mans Land.
Few of us here realize that the big
envelopes commonly ascend as high as
4, 800 feet and that they stay for hours
poised in midair to perform the re-
sponsible duties assigned them. Usu-
ally the ascent is made anywhere from
2h to Az miles from the enemy's
front-line trenches, depending on the
power of his artillery, the direction Of
the wind, and the activity of the sa-
lient. In any case the observer has a
circle of vision of about eight miles,
and is able to pierce far back into the
enemy's lines. The most detailed and
up-to-the-minute maps, the finest kind
Of field glasses, and instant communi.
cation with the ground make the bsl-
loonist a master of everything spread
out before his gaze.
When the American troops are pre-
pairing to go lover the top" an unusu-
ally large number of balloons will be
concentrated as secretly as possible In
masked camps in order not to betray
what is about to take place. At the
appointed moment they will take the
air and divide up every detail of the
battle amongst them. Some will re-
cord the heavy-artillery fire, shot by
shot; others will see to it that the work
of demolition behind the enemy's lines
Is effective; others will guard against
any requirements or traps.
Must Know Enemy Country.
As the troops go over they will check |
closely the German batteries, the shift |
ing of their infantry and the assem- |
bling of supplies. AS the American |
forces advance the balloons will move |
forward also in unison with them along |
routes previously prepared. Observa-
tons for the barrage will be sent down |
so that it may move back |
and forth with the men and details |
sent so that the enemy's guns setting !
up the destructive counter barrage |
may be silenced.
To do this the American balloonist |
must know every detail of the enemy's |
and opposite him, for q mistake on |
MS part may cost the lives of scores
If men below. No new battery should |
open up across the lines without its
location being spotted on the detail
nap, the number and size of the pieces
md their objective noted, and counter
lew troops should move into the en-
smy trenches without being fully
Known, numbers as well as routes
lifficult work all of it--for the German
has many willy devices for Stimulating
yunfire and camouflaging movements.
And the work also will not be with
nut danger and difficulties, though the
.hances of a fatal outcome are not
arge. If it is not a swooping airman
vent on setting the big gas bag on
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