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the hostile territory to a point thirty； forty； or more miles
beyond the outposts。
The procedure is to instruct the flier either to carry out his
observations of the territory generally； or to report at length
upon a specified stretch of country。 In the latter event he may
fly to and fro over the area in question until he has acquired
all the data it is possible to collect。 His work not only
comprises the general disposition of troops； defences； placing of
artillery； points where reserves are being held； high…roads；
railways； base camps； and so forth； but he is also instructed to
bring back as correct an idea as possible of what the enemy
proposes to do； so that his Commander…in…Chief may adjust his
moves accordingly。 In order to perform this task with the
requisite degree of thoroughness it is often necessary for the
airman to remain in the air for several hours continuously； not
returning； in fact； until he has completed the allotted duty。
The airman engaged in strategical aerial reconnaissance must
possess； above all things； what is known as a 〃military〃 eye
concerning the country he traverses。 He must form tolerably
correct estimates of the forces beneath and their character。 He
must possess the ability to read a map rapidly as he moves
through the air and to note upon it all information which is
likely to be of service to the General Staff。 The ability to
prepare military sketches rapidly and intelligibly is a valuable
attribute； and skill in aerial photography is a decidedly useful
acquisition。
Such men must be of considerable stamina； inasmuch as great
demands are made upon their powers of endurance。 Being aloft for
several hours imposes a severe tax upon the nervous system； while
it must also be borne in mind that all sorts and conditions of
weather are likely to be encountered； more particularly during
the winter。 Hail； rain； and blizzards may be experienced in
turn； while the extreme cold which often prevails in the higher
altitudes during the winter season is a fearful enemy to combat。
Often an airman upon his return from such a reconnaissance has
been discovered to be so numbed and dazed as a result of the
prolonged exposure； that considerable time has elapsed before he
has been sufficiently restored to set forth the results of his
observations in a coherent； intelligible manner for the benefit
of the General Staff。 Under these circumstances it is not
surprising that the most skilful and experienced aviators are
generally reserved for this particular work。 In addition to the
natural accidents to which the strategical aerial observer is
exposed； the dangers arising from hostile gun…fire must not be
overlooked。 He is manoeuvring the whole time over the enemy's
firing zone； where anti…aircraft weapons are disposed
strategically； and where every effort is made by artillery to
bring him down； or compel him to repair to such a height as to
render observation with any degree of accuracy well…nigh
impossible。
The methods practised by the German aerial scout vary widely； and
are governed in no small measure by the intrepidity and skill of
the airman himself。 One practice is to proceed alone upon long
flights over the enemy's lines； penetrating just as far into
hostile territory as the pilot considers advisable； and keeping；
of course； within the limits of the radius of action of the
machine； as represented by the fuel supply； the while carefully
taking mental stock of all that he observes below。 It is a kind
of roving commission without any definite aim in view beyond the
collection of general intelligence。
This work； while productive and valuable to a certain degree； is
attended with grave danger； as the German airmen have repeatedly
found to their cost。 Success is influenced very materially by
the accuracy of the airman's judgment。 A slight miscalculation
of the velocity and direction of the wind； or failure to detect
any variations in the climatic conditions； is sufficient to prove
his undoing。 German airmen who essayed journeys of discovery in
this manner； often failed to regain their lines because they
ventured too far； misjudged the speed of the wind which was
following them on the outward run； and ultimately were forced to
earth owing to the exhaustion of the fuel supply during the
homeward trip； the increased task imposed upon the motor； which
had to battle hard to make headway； caused the fuel consumption
per mile to exceed calculations。
Then the venturesome airman cannot neglect another factor which
is adverse to his success。 Hostile airmen lie in wait； and a
fleet of aeroplanes is kept ready for instant service。 They
permit the invader to penetrate well into their territory and
then ascend behind him to cut off his retreat。 True； the invader
has the advantage of being on the wing； while the ether is wide
and deep； without any defined channels of communication。 But
nine times out of ten the adventurous scout is trapped。 His
chances of escape are slender； because his antagonists dispose
themselves strategically in the air。 The invader outpaces one；
but in so doing comes within range of another。 He is so harassed
that he either has to give fight； or； finding his retreat
hopelessly cut off； he makes a determined dash； trusting to his
high speed to carry him to safety。 In these driving tactics the
French and British airmen have proved themselves adepts； more
particularly the latter； as the chase appeals to their sporting
instincts。 There is nothing so exhilarating as a quarry who
displays a determination to run the gauntlet。
The roving Teuton scout was considerably in evidence in the early
days of the war； but two or three weeks' experience emphasised
the sad fact that； in aerial strategy； he was hopelessly
outmatched by his opponents。 His advantage of speed was
nullified by the superior tactical and strategical acumen of his
antagonists； the result being that the German airman； who has
merely been trained along certain lines； who is in many cases
nothing more than a cog…wheel in a machine； and who is
proverbially slow…witted； has concluded that he is no match for
the airmen of the Allies。 He found from bitter experience that
nothing afforded the Anglo…French military aviators such keen
delight as to lie in wait for a 〃rover；〃 and then to swoop into
the air to round him up。
The proportion of these individual scouts who were either brought
down； or only just succeeded in reaching safety within their own
lines； and who were able to exhibit serious wounds as evidence of
the severity of the aerial tussle； or the narrowness of the
escape； has unnerved the Teuton airmen as a body to a very
considerable extent。 Often； even when an aeroplane descended
within the German lines； it was found that the roving airman had
paid the penalty for his rashness with his life； so that his
journey had proved in vain； because all the intelligence he