Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-04-16


Berroeta's communication is issued hS
the society as the following bulletin
OF its war geography series:
THE preparation, conduct, and re-
suits of an offensive military opera
ton in Europe bear but a faint re-
semblance to those Of a battle at tho
beginning OF hostilities.
THE extraordinary effective appli,
cation of aircraft to the use of wal
has greatly accelerated this radical
transformation. Today aviation reigns
supreme over the field Of battle
controlling the faintest pulsations o.
the great volcano.
"The object OF the present discussion
Is 20 trace the various phases Of Its
evolution and. although it would bt
particularly hold to prophesy in tht
matter OF military operations. to sug'
ges: the decisive influence for victor!
that the entrance Of the American
suuadrons on the French front ma!
have.
There are, at the present time
three branches Of aviation which differ
in the duties performed. In the ma
chine used, and in the armament pro-
vided.
These are:
IL. The divisional or reconnais'
sance aviation. valuable ally of the
4. ~ ha l.nt hnG(
firing it directs, of the infantry it as
sists in leading during the battle.
"2. The aviation Of combat, young
er sister of the first and the most
faithful ally she has for her protec'
tion from the aggressions of hostile
airplanes. Attack the Boche. dowr
him, or compel him to fee Is its clear
ly offensive motto.
"3. The aviation of bombardment
hitherto chiefly employed in reprisals
for the aerial raids Of the enemy. but
now called to a much greater ant
perhaps a decisive role.
although essentially distinct. these
branches of aviation can only be ef-
fectively employed by the constant
CO. ordination of their efforts.
LET us consider the conditions and
influences attending their birth and
development and the roles they are tC
play in the battles Of tomorrow, in
which your sons and brothers are &c
participate.
when the war was declared the
chief strength of the French and Ger
man armies lay in the masses Of thciI
infantry, in the power of their artil.
lcry. and in the skill Of their cavalry
However. 1t seemed the part OF wis
dom to put the few hundred airplanes
we possessed at the service OF the
lighting forces, in order to facilitate
the success of their undertakings. The
offensive strength of both the French
and German squadrons was very small
in comparison with the millions oi
combatants ready to clash with each
other. supported by the fire OF several
thousand cannon.
But these airplanes possessed the
power of exploring the field Of battle
TO an extent far beyond that of the
cavalry, for which this delicate and
dangerous duty had hitherto been re-
served. To them, accordingly. from
the beginning Of the war, was intrust-
ed the observation of the movements
of the hostile armies.
During the whole period, termed
the war movement that is to say. un-
til the battle of the Marne, the
French commanders were kept prompt
W II &asTaasd Rf thsst ef-tAf
German forces, thanks to the darin
reconnaissance of our pilots. who, ac
flights far within the line of the enc
my and at a low altitude. in the rea
of hostile forces. The aviation OF re
connaissance was thus created durtr'
the first days of hostilities.
Air Service Development.
"The number Of aircraft in use wa
L
rarely encountered in the course o
these reconnoitering expeditions.
adversaries did chance to meet, all tn
pilots could do was to shake thei
fists at each other or discharge thei
revolvers without the slightest chanc
of hitting. It was. however. from
these gestures that aerial combat too
it's birth. the history Of which will re
main as one of the most brilliant epic
of the present war.
Taking advantage OF their eXcur
sions within the lines of the encm!
the pilots carried with them a fey
ARTILLERY projectiles which they drop
ped on hostile assemblages, camps o
columns. Such was the beginning o
aerial bombardment. which. at tina
epoch, was left to the initiative OF eacl
pilot. The bombs were thrown with
out aiming. over the edge of the cock
pit, and It was counted a lucky sho
when the projectilc hit the intende,
target. Moreover. the airplanes o
this period were not capable OF carry
ing heavy loads: so that the pilots. a
a rule, had to be satisfied with smal
steel arrows. which they dropped up
on the enemy wherever they foun'
them assembled in large groups"
Dominick Did II. Congressman
Fred. II. Dominick, of the Third dis
trict. has been receiving the congratu
lations of his friends upon his success
in having the bond bill amended II
the house, by striking out section
thereby saving to the taxpayers o
South Carolina and other states Of tn
union millions Of dollars. This is
distinct victory for the third distric
representative. and his friends are re
| joicing over his success.
Section Of the bond bill whicl
under the amendment offered by Con
gresham Domintck would have beel
| 70 notInnoI ~,