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information which has been given to me by our artillery officers；
the British system also has proved disastrous to the enemy。 The
practice is to get the range as communicated by the aeroplane； to
bring the artillery into position speedily； to discharge salvo
after salvo with all speed for a few minutes； and then to wheel
the artillery away before any hostile fire can be returned。 The
celerity with which the British artillery comes into； and goes
out of； action has astonished even our own authorities。 This
mobility is of unique value： it is taking advantage of a somewhat
slow…witted enemy with interest。 By the time the Germans have
opened fire upon the point whence the British guns were
discharged； the latter have disappeared and are ready to let fly
from another point； some distance away； so that the hostile fire
is abortive。 Mobility of such a character is decidedly unnerving
and baffling even to a quick…witted opponent。
In his search for hostile artillery the airman runs grave risks
and displays remarkable resource。 It is invariably decided；
before he sets out； that he shall always return to a certain
altitude to communicate signals。 Time after time the guns of the
enemy have been concealed so cunningly from aerial observation as
to pass unnoticed。 This trait became more pronounced as the
campaigns of the Aisne progressed。 Accordingly the airman adopts
a daring procedure。 He swoops down over suspicious places； where
he thinks guns may be lurking； hoping that the enemy will betray
its presence。 The ruse is invariably successful。 The airman
makes a sudden dive towards the earth。 The soldiers in hiding
below； who have become somewhat demoralised by the accuracy of
the British aerial bomb…throwers； have an attack of nerves。 They
open a spirited fusillade in the hope of bringing the airman to
earth。 But their very excitement contributes to his safety。 The
shots are fired without careful aim and expend themselves
harmlessly。 Sweeping once more upwards； the airman regains the
pre…determined level； performs a certain evolution in the air
which warns the observer at his base that he has made a
discovery； and promptly drops his guiding signal directly over
the point from which he has drawn fire。
Operations at night are conducted by means of coloured lights or
an electrical searchlight system。 In the former instance three
lights are generally carriedwhite； red； and greeneach of
which has a distinctive meaning。 If reliance is placed upon the
electric light signalling lamp； then communications are in code。
But night operations are somewhat difficult and extremely
dangerous； except when the elements are propitious。 There is the
ground mist which blots everything from sight； rendering
reconnaissance purely speculative。 But on a clear night the
airman is more likely to prove successful。 He keeps a vigilant
eye upon all ground…lights and by close observation is able to
determine their significance。 It is for this reason that no
lights of any description are permitted in the advance trenches。
The striking of a match may easily betray a position to the alert
eye above。
So far as the British Army is concerned a complete code is in
operation for communicating between aeroplanes and the ground at
night。 Very's lights are used for this purpose； it being
possible to distinguish the respective colours at a distance of
six miles and from an altitude of 2；000 feet。 The lights are
used both by the aeroplane and the battery of artillery。
The code is varied frequently； but the following conveys a rough
idea of how communication is carried out by this means under
cover of darkness。 The aeroplane has located its objective and
has returned to the pre…arranged altitude。 A red light is thrown
by the airman。 It indicates that he is directly over the enemy's
position。 A similarly coloured light is shown by the artillery
officer； which intimates to the airman that his signal has been
observed and that the range has been taken。
In observing the effects of artillery fire a code of signals is
employed between the airman and the artillery officer to indicate
whether the shot is 〃long〃 or 〃short；〃 to the right or to the
left of the mark； while others intimate whether the fuse is
correctly timed or otherwise。 It is necessary to change the code
fairly frequently； not only lest it should fall into the enemy's
hands； but also to baffle the hostile forces； otherwise； after a
little experience； the latter would be able to divine the
significance of the signals； and； in anticipation of being
greeted with a warm fusillade； would complete hurried
arrangements to mitigate its effects； if not to vacate the
position until the bombardment had ceased。
Sufficient experience has already been gathered； however； to
prove the salient fact that the airman is destined to play an
important part in the direction and control of artillery…fire。
Already he has been responsible for a re…arrangement of strategy
and tactics。 The man aloft holds such a superior position as to
defy subjugation； the alternative is to render his work more
difficult； if not absolutely impossible。
CHAPTER X
BOMB…THROWING FROM AIR…CRAFT
During the piping times of peace the utility of aircraft as
weapons of offence was discussed freely in an academic manner。
It was urged that the usefulness of such vessels in this
particular field would be restricted to bomb…throwing。 So far
these contentions have been substantiated during the present
campaign。 At the same time it was averred that even as a
bomb…thrower the ship of the air would prove an uncertain
quantity； and that the results achieved would be quite contrary
to expectations。 Here again theory has been supported by
practice； inasmuch as the damage wrought by bombs has been
comparatively insignificant。
The Zeppelin raids upon Antwerp and Britain were a fiasco in the
military sense。 The damage inflicted by the bombs was not at all
in proportion to the quantity of explosive used。 True； in the
case of Antwerp； it demoralised the civilian population somewhat
effectively； which perhaps was the desired end； but the military
results were nil。
The Zeppelin； and indeed all dirigibles of large size； have one
advantage over aeroplanes。 They are able to throw bombs of
larger size and charged with greater quantities of high explosive
and shrapnel than those which can be hurled from heavier…than…air
machines。 Thus it has been stated that the largest Zeppelins can
drop single charges exceeding one ton in weight； but such a
statement is not to be credited。
The shell generally used by the Zeppelin measures about 47 inches
in length by 8 1/2 inches in diameter； and varies in weight from
200 to 242 pounds。 Where destruction pure and simple is desired；
the shell is charged with a high explosive such as picric acid or
T。N。T。； the colloquial abbreviation for the devastating agent
scientifically known as 〃Trinitrotoluene；〃 the base of which； in
common with all the high explosives used by the different powers
and variously known as lyddite； melinite； cheddite； and so forth；
is picric acid。 Such a bomb； if it strikes the objective； a
building； for instance； fairly and squarely； may inflict
widespread material damage。
On the other hand； where it is desired to scatter death； as well
as destruction； far and wide； an elaborate form of shrapnel shell
is utilised。 The shell in addition to a bursting charge；
contains bullets； pieces of iron； and other metallic fragments。
When the shell bursts； their contents； together with the pieces
of the shell which is likewise broken up by the explosion； are
hurled in all directions over a radius of some 50 yards or more；
according to the bursting charge。
These shells are fired upon impact； a detonator exploding the
main charge。 The detonator； comprising fulminate of mercury； is
p