AVIATION AND WAR.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1359, 9 February 1912, Page 3

AVIATION AND WAR.

FRENCH PROGRESS IN 1311. REMARiaHI.E EXPLOITS. Mr. '!'. V. Farman fnnfriljiilo* In the current number of "lilackwcod's Jlugazine'' a mo-t interesting summary of military aviation work in Franco in 1 •'''- France, ho points out, has already Ml military aeroplanes, 73 expert military aviators, almo.-t as many prentice military aviators, and some 'JOO re-enc aviators holding Hit. French Aeru Club's pilot's certificate. At tlm close of next year France hopes to have 500 aeroplanes, and aims at a final force of 1000 aeroplanes. The 1012 ISudgct, ll is believed, will devote .t-W.UtW to aviation. "If the task is undertaken seriously," writes M. Farinan, "and there is every reason to believe such will be the rase, the uuinber of military aviation pilots can be raised to 1000, or even more, in a comparatively short space of time, especiallv as all the aeroplane constructors arc willing and anxious to train an ever-in-cre.nsmgly large contingent of officers to pilot their machines. .Moreover, the already skilled military pilots can serve as professors in the new military aviation establishments. It must, however, be remembered, the military observers also want practice, and the men who ere long will be required on fighting aerial craft will have to receive special training. It is true the defensive and offensive weapons which will bo used on aeroplanes have not yet been invented; but, by consenting to furnish the projectiles to be employed in the Michcliu Aero-Target Competition, the military authorities have given practical proof of their determination to push forward the armament of their aerial fleet without any further delay. . . . SOME ACTUAL EXPLOITS. "Justification for the confidence of the French, in their Fourth Arm can be found in the exploits of their military pilots during the last twelve months, anil especially at the autumn manoeuvres. . . . In the East of France twenty of them flow on their machines from Paris and elsewhere to the appointed places of concentration, thus demonstrating practically that in tho case of war they would not encumber tbo roads, as had been predicted. The machines, which were for the most part employed in scenting and dispatchcarrying, performed their missions with such precision and promptitude that on many occasions the commanders of tho hostile forces were able either to profit bv a weak point in their adversary's defence or to parry an unexpected attack. Most of the aerial craft carried two men, the pilot, and a military observer, Irecause it was admitted that the pwot of a single-seated machine must have his mind and hands too completely occupied with the steering of the machine to have sufficient leisure to observe accurately, or the material possibility to note on map or paper, the exact position of troops, their strength, etc. . . "A striking example of the valuable services tho aeroplane can render nn armv was furnished on August 2S, when three aerial craft—one monoplane piloted by Captain Bcllengcr, and" two" biplanes, piloted respectively by Lieutenant* Menard and Blard—this latter haviug Captain Lcbeau beside him as military observer—were sent from Verdun to Ton], irliieh was supposed to be a hostile citv. Their mission was to ascertain tho exact condition of its defensive works and to gather all other information calculated to facilitate an attack. They started at 3 a.m., and ascending to the altitude of about 4000 ft.. each look n different route. A little more than an hour later they were, however, all three (lying over Toul, where they discovered the" garrison was preparing to repel an attack. Being still at an altitude rendering him invulnerable, Captain Lebenu look a large number of photographs, which, even without the other information obtained, constituted tho most complete document desirable for an attacking force. Tlio little aerial squadron was back at its headquarters in less than three hours after its departure. Tho distance separating Verdun from Toul is about-MI miles, which had in the out and homo voyage been covered twice without anyone of tho machines touching ground. AEROPLANES AND ARTILLERY. "Three days later, on August 31, a different but equally important demonstration of the utility of aeroplanes in war was niado at Froideterre, near Verdun. It so completely solved the question of the assistance arrial craft can render artillery, that General Bailioud, Commander of the Ist Army Corps, told tho Artillery officers to 'remember the 31st August, 1011, because it is (hu dale marking the greatest step forwards made for a very long time in the method of firing.' Batteries of artillery had beeu established at Froidcterro to check the advance of the enemy supposed to be marching on Verdun, but tho hostile force was invisible* 11 the gunners, whose view was intercepted by intervening obstacles and undulations of the land. Four aeroplanes—one single-seated monoplane piloted by Captain Bellengcr, and three double-seated biplanes, piloted respectively by Captain Casse and Lieutenants Blard and Menard, each having a military observer beside him—were ordered to reconnoitre the position of (he advancing army and to bring back information of the elTect of the F'roideterre batteries' fire. Rising to the altitude of over 4000 feet to ensure their own safety, the aeroplanes flew over the enemy arid then, returning to F'roideterre, dropped written indications of the exact spots whero tho shells had fallen, and thus enabled the Artillerymen to rectify their fire. Tho experiment, made with real ammunition, but, of course, without real advancing troops, was repeated' several times, and tho indications of the military observers on the biplanes tallied so completely that the military umpires declared the attacking force, though invisible, would have been annihilated bv the artillery. Colonel Hernard, the wellknown artillery speeialisl, who was present on the occasion, was so much si ruck by the marvellous correctness of the information collected b.v the aviators, and the rapidity with which it was brought to tho gunners, that he affirmed 'two batteries and one aeroplane are five times more redoubtable than three batteries without an aeroplane.' At the same time these experiments showed that for this service, in which the greatest precision is necessary, a double-seated aeroplane is indispensable. Captain Bellongcr, who is undeniably one of the most distinguished French military aviator?, being alone on his monoplane, failed to bring back the absolutely precise information required by the Artillerymen." THE TESTS APPLIED. Mr. Farman proceeds k give tho tests applied to aeroplanes for military purposes—impossible, he says, for any aeroplane built before mil: "It was stipulated that all the competing machines should, in addition to their own weight and that of the motor with the neees.-'ary supply of gasoline and oil for the nonstop flight of ISO miles, carrv, while performing all (he te.-,ts, an additional load of CliOlb. . . . Those feats comprised three landing tests: one landing to be made o mi field of stubble, another on growing lucerne, and the third on ploughed land, with the condition that the machine should not be disabled in (lie attempt, but that, on the contrary, it should ascend from the several landingplaces without the assistance of anv one except the persons manning it: a speed race, proving the aeroplane could travel 37 miles sin hour at least; an altitude test showing (he machine was capable of reaching the height of 1610 ft. in fifteen minutes, and the final speed race of 180 miles." Several machines passed these tests successfully. At present if. seems there is no immediate question of a standard machine, but a uniform steering gear is aimed at. Mr. Farman rather leans to the biplane as the better typo of military machine on the ground of superior stcatli- I ness. "Though travelling jn and not on them, it rides the atmosphere waves very much in the same way as a slow sailingboat rides the waves of the ocean. Indeed, the swift monoplane can bo compared to a torpedo boat and tho Im'piano to a fishing smack." Further, (he triplaue, he says, gives belter facilities for observation, ami though not so fast as the monoplane, has reached a speed of S3 miles an hour. THF AEROPLANE IN ("OMBAT. Mr. Farman goes on fo predict the next development of aerial craft: "It is nol difficult to foresee that as 1311, saw the

ilcliniie ail'.-ptm-.i vf the aeruplane lor voiding, ostal'ello dulv. anil ::> the necessary auxiliary of crliilciy, 10L' will wit-nc-s it-: entrance on—or. more correctly speaking, over-the battlefield as ail instrument of romhal. Al llie ct> lenceniHil ill the Halo-Turkish conflict in Tripoli the Italians dispatched an aeroplane ti throw explo-ives on their adversaries rather with (lie object el spreading terror aniong the Turks and Arabs than with the anticipation of eliciting any great material damage. The result of Hie experiment having surpassed all expectation-, Ihev at once reinforced their aerial Heel. . '• . It is stated the .Italian military authorities have just adopted a neiv bomb, invented by their artillery department, specially for u-e on aeroplanes. . . . It is. of course, at the present moment quite impossible to pronounce on Hie value of the invention; bill, it will be remarked, I lie bomb is destined to be dropped by hand, and it is therefore preltv sure the aviator will be unable In take'verv accurate aim with it. In the mouth of October, after the Liberie catastrophe in Toulon Harbour. Yodriucs, who enjoys the reputatiun of being one of (lie most skilful aviators of the whole world, carried a wreath of immortals on his aeroplane with the intention of dropping it on the wreck of the ill-fated vessel. Yet, though he passed over if at the height of only sixty or seventy feet, lit missed him aim. The wreath fell into tho sea, at a distance of somo fifty feet from the giant of the ocean. It is nevertheless; possible tlit Italians may use their aeroplane bombs with good effect; but if by char.co they fail to do so, it would not be a reason to conclude that it cannot be done. On tho contrary, it is believed that with a proper apparatus it will be possible to drop bombs with great accuracy." The writer gives the details of the Aero Target Competition, designed to encourage experiments in bomb-throwing. He records the fact, that the French authorities have not abandoned altogether the steerable balloon, and gives it as his opinion that the dirigible has its uses in the future. AERIAL WORK IN AFRICA. Finally some interesting facts are given as to French aerial work in Africa: "The military aeroplane station at Biskra, Algeria, is of special importance. It has been created with tho object of establishing rapid communications between that place, which is the terminus of the Algerian railway, ami Touggout, Ouargla, Sahib, and other' French military stations in the desert. Indeed, the project is ultimately to extend those communications across" the whole of the Sahara to Timbuctoo. Touggout is only about 130 miles from Biskra, and the distance separating Ouargla from Touggout is a little less. The first stretch is lavourable to aviation, as the land is flat and sufficiently hard. Aeroplanes could alight on it and ascend from it without danger. Wells are abundant and the inhabitants peaceful. Between Touggout and Ouargla the wells are less numerous,, and the soil sandy plains unpropitious for the lauding of 'aerial craft. However, the soft sand is often broken bv large patches of hard red soil, on which im aeroplane couitl descend in case of need. On (lie other hand, the long stretch of some 100 miles between Ouargla and Salah is particularly well adapted for aerial communications. That route, followed by caravans, is provided with wells, not separated from one another bv a distance of more than 10 or VI miles." Also, there arc along its course several military optical telegraph stations. The desert between Salah and Timbuctoo is more inhospitable. Along the greater portion of the route wells exist, but in the Ouzel region there is no water. Nevertheless, French officers who have travelled there assert there is only one stretch of about 100 miles of erg—that is to say, of hills of moving sand without any water—which it would bo necessary to cross to reach Timbuctoo. And those same officers de-< claro that by descending eastward to the Niger it might be avoided, but that the length of the aerial voyage would thus be considerably increased. "To establish aerial communications between Algeria and tho French military colony of Timbuctoo must take considerable time, on account of the necessary creation of numerous aeroplane stations with their stock of gasolene, oil, spare parts, tools, etc., for repairs, and also on account" of the equally necessary erection of pyramids of white, stones in such regions as do not offer natural landmarks. It is, however, believed that for the greater portion of tho route the white stones surrounding the wells will be sufficient indication, and that in others, such as the Ouzel region, the white chalk cliffs will guide the aerial traveller. However that may be, there seems no reason why the attempt of the French military authorities to establish aerial communications between Biskra and th.o outlying military stations in tho desert regions to the soiith should not provo unsuccessful."