THE AEROPLANE IN WAR.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 69, 29 March 1913, Page 4

THE AEROPLANE IN WAR.

The British Army Council in its summary of the past year’s training, refers specially to the work done liy the Royal Flying Corps during manoeuvres. It admits that the aircraft immediately disclosed the strategical movements attempted by both army commanders. It is pointed out, .at the same time, that there were no conditions of umpiring or warfare to impede the free-lancing in which the aeroplanes engaged. A military correspondent writes on the subject:— “As far as wo can judge by recent wars aeroplane reconnaissance during peace manoeuvres and actual war conditions are two very different sciences. Neither Tripoli nor Thrace

have brought much credit to the aerial scout. The Italian officers after they' found that their' machines were vulnerable were careful to fly at a height from which flocks of goats could not be distinguished from troops, while in Thrace the only Bulgarian airman who attempted a reconnaissance of the Tchataldja lines was shot within half, an hour by the Turks. It Turkish soldiers can wing aeroplanes at effective; reconnaissance height flying will not have much of a show when it has to face well-trained troops. The British flying corps is almost immobile for want of machines, as constructing firms cannot be brought to deliver. Though the Government spent quite a large sum last summer in prize money, the results have not given the intended impetus to the trade. Although the Cody biplane won the military tests, this type of machine apparently does not find favour with pilots, and there are not half a hundred Codys to go with the machines.”