Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1918-05-01
WHAT ATRMEN ..
MUST SEE
French Aviator Outlines Work
Now Done BY the E'iers. Of
Vast Importance.

Washington, p. C.--The vast respons.
lbHltleS which d:vOlve upon the youthful
a!rman before a successful infantry attack
can be made on the western front axe set
forth by an experienced French aviator in
| the following communication to the Ma
tlohal Geographic Society, issued today
from me Society's Washington headquar-
GERS as Tar geographic Bulletin: w.
zIhe time has passed when one could
make an improVised attack upon the en-
envy relying simply upon superior num-
| t pers ana the morale of the attacking
troops to gain the victory
TO search out, in all their details. the
defensive works of the enemy (barbed-
WIRE entanglements, trenches, block
to locate the trails, railways, munition
ana supply depots, and headquarters of
the commanders; such is the work to be
performed by the scout planes before
| every offensive operation.
| TO direct the firing of all the artillery,
whose task is to destroy the barded- wire
arrangements and the trenches; to bom-
pard the batteries and destroy the larger
| part OF them, to set on fire the munition
depots within its range to prevent or rem
ger pefllouS any passing along the roads
and railways, to delay traffic in the sun
porting railway stations, to control the
destruction of detectives and the efficacy
| OF long-range firing; such are the prin-
| clpal tasks of the scout planes during
the preparatory period of an attack.
Moreover, they assume the enormous
! this program, which is carried out en-
trely through the intermediation of their
! eyes.
FINALLY, on the day Of attack. it is
| they VINO, flying at low altitude over the
assaulting waves of the infantry. signal
ITS progress to the superior command. If
| is they who discover the active batteries
ana 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 Venturine along
! the roads and trains near the battlefield:
| II IS they who watch for the possible
launching OF 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 re-
ports. sent by radio the commander is
enabled to make his authority felt dur
| ing the progress of II operation When,
! IN the midst OF the hazards of battle,
| the energies of the combatants become
! scattered, causing confusion and disorder
! the scout planes, by the accuracy of
! lheT reports permit the harmonizing
ana Vo-ordinating of effort necessary to
| the dnal victory.
ITO describe the airplanes used in
| scouting, the details Of their aYnajne M
and the devices with which they are
G1.A03tpqed. would carry me beyond the
| limits of my space. Evidently il is fhe
observer who must have charge Of The
mission of reconnaissance of photog-
raphy of artillery adjustment or of in
Iantry communications; but he is great
| ly assisted by the pilot, whose skill and
decision contribute in no small measure
to the successful accomplishment of the
aerial task
This, then, is a brief sketch of the
immense task of the scout aviators. You
can understand why both France and
Germany first organized this class, so in
dispensable for conducting land opera
tlohs' offensive as wen as defensive"
Sergeant (after investigation as to
parentage, tc.)-Mon, re seem to have
no qualifications for entrance into a
Scottish regiment-think moo. think
have We n;e property in Scotland?
Recruit (hopefully)-Well, yes, |
have a pair of trousers at the Perth