AEROPLANES IN WAR.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1088, 29 March 1911, Page 7

AEROPLANES IN WAR.

SCOUTING IN MEXICO. By Telegraph—Pre3s Association-Copyricht San Antonio, March 27. Four aeroplanes arc making a practical test of scouting under actual war conditions in Mcxico. FIRST AIRMAN IN REAL WAR. FLIGHT OVER BESIEGED TOWN. An airman's experiences in making the first reconnaissance in real warfare were telegraphed to New York on February 12 by Mr. Charles Hamilton, who, a tew davs previously, had flown over and around Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, and returned across the American frontier with an account of the conditions of the city, which was under scige by the Mexican insurrectionists. Mr. Hamilton had obtained the promiso of the insurgent leader Orozco that his men would not firo on the aeroplane, but it was doubtful how the besieged Mexican Regulars would regard the unannounced visit. He ascended at El laso late in the afternoon in his 110-I).n. biplane Black Demon, rose to a height of 1000 ft., and flew across the border, a few miles distant. ■ "As I crossed the TJio Grande, heading straight for Juarez," Mr. Hamilton telegraphed, "I could see the sun glittering on tho bayonets of tho soldiers patrolling the border and on the besieged city twenty miles away. Sentries were posted on roofs of houses in tho suburbs within a lino of brown entrenchments, with an occasional snider-web of barbed wire. The roofs of the churches, theatre, and .the grandstand of tho bullfight ring were alive with soldiers, but the Streets were deserted, except for an occasional eentr.y. Tho tlnv was calm and clear. I attracted no attention till I was almost over tho city,. when my throbbing motor caused tho soldiers to look upwards. Startled Troops." "A moment later they all ducked into cover, and every roof was deserted. _ I circled tho town once, and was beginning a second circle when there was a change. Realising that I was merely observing them, tho troops swarmed out of their retirement shouting something I could not hear because of tho noiso of the motor. I descended 400 ft., and made another circuit. Every detail of tho city's defences was as clear as possible. "At any time in my flight I could have dropped a bomb and been sure to hit what I aimed at. I believe that it would have been next to impossible to hit me. If I had intended" attack I would liavo ascended to a height of 2000 ft., whence I could havo produced tho same effect." On his return flight, Mr. Hamilton says, ho startled an American sentry who was standing in dignity on tho bank of tho Kio Grande, with liis back to tho airman. The latter glided down towards him from a thousand feet. Tho moment ho heard tho motor the sentry turned and brought liis riflo to the present. Then, as tho aeroplane rushed directly towards him he gave a yell and plunged into the river. Mr. Hamilton altered his course and flew onward. The sentry, when last seen, was standing waist deep in the river, shaking his fist and evidently exercising his vocabulary.