ARMY AIRMEN.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 58, 14 July 1913, Page 4

ARMY AIRMEN.

At the recent Army manoeuvres W England airmen had the opportunity of showing in some measure one of the chief uses of aircraft in war, reconnaissance of the enemy. From the nature of the case, the observation of the effect of artillery fire cannot be practised at manoeuvres, remarks the "Broad Arrow." The most difficult task of the artillery officer is the observation of fire. Targets are so distant and often so far concealed that the effect of fire cannot be judged from the firing point or from any available observation point with any accuracy. Much ammunition may be wasted in searching areas for an enemy that may bo known to be within them, though he cannot be loeatrd accurately in this task of observation ever since aircraft became a real entity in warfare it lias been realised that great assistance might be given by aerial observers. At the practice camp on Salisbury Plain airmen have been practising the observation of artillery fire, and the communication of their observations to the batteries. It is. stated that they have been successful in their efforts. From an aeroplane the whole area over which the guns of a brigade can bring fire to bear will be under the observer's eye, the position of troops invisible to the artillery officer on the ground can be indicated, , and when fire is opened the airman will be able to see whether it is effective. With aerial observed; in many cases observation ineffective fire will be reduced to a minimum. The. power of artillery depends on its fire being effective; to make sure it is effective it must be ohversed; in many cases observation from the ground is not possible. Trained observers in aircraft will be able to do what men on the ground cannot do, 'and the information they will be able to communicate, will increase enormously the power of artillery to affect ' tho •' result !of a battle.