Evening star., 1938-10-09
Maneuvers
Continued From First Page.)

out from the defended area, large
temporary airdrome about in the CEN
ter of this 27-mile-long military res
ervation. Such an airdrome would be
a primary target for enemy aircraft
approaching from the sea.
For. Its warning net beyond the 20
mile Army outposts, the Army has or
ganized the civilian population Of
Eastern North Carolina, just as it
would be forced to do in case Of war.
With the aid of the American Legion
and local governmental agencies. ap-
proximately 1900 civilian observers
have been appointed, four to each of
800 stations scattered through 80
counties.
100-Mile Area Covered.
This net covers evenly an area ex-
tending from 8 little west of Fort
Bragg to stormy Cape Hatteras, about
100 miles to the east and about 100
miles north and south. This area
has been divided into Smile squares
like a gigantic checkerboard. In
each square is one observation post
manned by its four civilian observers
and connected by telephone with key
collection" points. which in turn are
connected with the defense base at
Fort Bragg.
At defense headquarters, in small
| inconspicuous wooded shack on the
outskirts of the building area at Fort
Bragg, is a large map of Eastern North
| Carolina, extending from floor to CELL
ing. On it is one red light for each
of the 300 observation posts. In case
of air attack, any observer, hearing
aircraft in fight, reports by telephone
to his key station, which relays the
warning to Fort Bragg and the red
light for that observer flashes on the
board. AS light after light goes on
across the big map, it becomes pos
sible to gauge the speed and direction
of the attack and to tell whether
attacks are being made from two or
more directions.
Beside the big map is another, show
ing, with similar lights, the positions
of the Army observers at their 20-mile
| posts, white lights the positions of 26
giant searchlights scattered outside
the airdrome area, flashing red lights
the positions Of six batteries of 3-inch
| anti-aircraft guns, and constant red
lights the positions of machine gun
batteries on circle about 2 miles out
| from the airdrome. AS each observer
reports or each searchlight, battery
or machine gun goes into action its
corresponding lights come on.
The result is a picture of the whole
progress OF the air attack and the
defensive battle as realistic in repre-
sentation as the electric scoreboard of
World Series baseball game, and just
as exciting.
Directing the Defense.
From this nerve center, with its
flashing lights and radios telling the
pulse-quickening story Of the oncom-
ing attack, Brig. Gen. Fulton @. c.
Mardner, defense commander, can
direct the whole defense mechanism.
Operation of the system has been
tested in preliminary trials during the
past few days, eliminating last night
in actual bombardment flights over
the defended airdrome for the purpose
Of checking the whole installation. The
story of the attack, as told by the
little lights, was In some respects
highly encouraging. It showed. that
the giant searchlights, directed auto
matically by electrically operated robot
ears, can clearly illuminate bombers
up to attitudes Of at least 10000 feet
for gunners, and they picked up the
attacking bombers on every flight.
1t showed, however, that the CO.
operation of pursuit aviation in an
area closely defended by anti-aircraft
may be q source Of danger rather
than aid. There Is no way Of telling
a friendly airplane from foe at an
altitude of miles or more, and, to be
on the safe side, the batteries must fire
on any airplane unless absolutely cer-
tain it is friendly. Premature firing
at . defense pursuiter might give
away the whole defense plan, includ-
ing positions OF lights and batteries, to
enemy bombers approaching for the
attack. 8
30. although Il = recognized Mat