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So far as the British practice is concerned the waterplane is
designed to operate in conjunction with； and not apart from； the
Navy。 It has been made the eyes of the Navy in the strictest
interpretation of the term。 In any such combination the great
difficulty is the establishment of what may be termed a mobile
base； inasmuch as the waterplane must move with the fleet。 This
end has been achieved by the evolution of a means of carrying a
waterplane upon； and launching it from； a battleship； if
necessary。
For this purpose a docking cradle or way has been provided aft
where the aeroplane may be housed until the moment arrives for
its employment。 Several vessels have been devoted to this
nursing duty and are known as parent ships to the waterplane
service。 All that is requisite when the time arrives for the
use of the seaplane is to lift it bodily by derrick or crane
from its cradle and to lower it upon the water。 It will be
remembered that the American naval authorities made an
experiment with a scheme for directly launching the warplane
from the deck of a battleship in the orthodox； as well as
offering it a spot upon which to alight upon returning from a
flight； while Wing…Commander Samson； R。N。； D。S。O。； the famous
British airman； repeated the experiment by flying from a
similar launching way installed upon H。M。S。 Hibernia。 But
this practice has many shortcomings。 So far as the British
and French navies are concerned； the former process is
preferred。 Again； when the waterplane returns from a flight
it is admitted that it is simpler； quicker； and safer for it
to settle upon the water near the parent ship and to be lifted
on board。
As a sea…scout the waterplane is overwhelmingly superior to
the dirigible as events have conclusively proved。 Its
greater mobility and speed stand it in excellent stead
because it is able to cover a larger area within a shorter
space of time than its huge and unwieldy contemporary。
Furthermore； it is a difficult target to hit and accordingly
is not so likely to be brought down by hostile fire。 There
is another point in its favour。 The experience of the war
has proved that the numerically inferior enemy prefers to
carry out his naval operations under the cover of the mist
and haze which settle upon the water； and yet are of
sufficient depth to conceal his identity and composition。
Such mists as a rule comprise a relatively thin bank of
low…lying vapour； which while enveloping the surface of the
water in an impenetrable pall； yet permits the mast…heads
of the vessels to stand out clearly； although they cannot
be detected from the water…level or even from the control
and fighting tops of a warship。 A scouting waterplane；
however； is able to observe them and note their movement；
and accordingly can collect useful information concerning
the apparent composition of the hidden force； the course it
is following； its travelling speed； and so forth； which it
can convey immediately to its friends。
The aeroplane has established its value in another manner。
Coal…burning vessels when moving at any pronounced speed
invariably throw off large quantities of smoke； which may
be detected easily from above； even when the vessels
themselves are completely hidden in the mist。 It was this
circumstance which revealed the presence of the British
squadron in the affair of the Bight of Heligoland。
The German airman on patrol duty from the adjacent base on
the island of Heligoland detected the presence of this
smoke； above the low…lying bank of fog； although there were
no other visible signs of any vessels。 Fully cognisant of
the fact that the German Fleet was at anchor in a safe place
he naturally divined that the smoke proceeded from a hostile
squadron； evidently bent upon a raid。 He returned to his
headquarters； conveyed the intelligence he had collected to
his superior officers； upon receipt of which a German cruiser
squadron was sent out and engaged the British vessels to its
own discomfiture。 But for the airman's vigilance and smartness
there is no doubt that the British squadron would have
accomplished a great coup。
This incident； however； served to reveal that the aerial scout is
prone to suffer from over…keenness and to collect only a partial
amount of information。 Upon this occasion the German watchman
detected the presence of the British torpedo…boat and light
cruiser force。 Had he continued his investigations and made a
wider sweep he would have discovered the proximity of the British
battle…cruiser squadron which routed the German force； the latter
having acted on incomplete information。
While the low…lying sea…fog is the navigator's worst enemy； it is
the airman's greatest friend and protection。 It not only
preserves him against visual discovery from below； but is an
excellent insulator of sound； so that his whereabouts is not
betrayed by the noise of his motor。 It is of in calculable value
in another way。 When a fog prevails the sea is generally as
smooth as the pro verbial mirror； enabling the waterplanes to be
brought up under cover to a suitable point from which they may be
dispatched。 Upon their release by climbing to a height of a few
hundred feet the airmen are able to reach a clear atmosphere；
where by means of the compass it is possible to advance in
approximately the desired direction； safe from discovery from
below owing to the fog。 If they are 〃spotted〃 they can dive into
its friendly depths； complete their work； and make for the parent
ship。
Low…lying sea…fogs are favourable to aerial raids provided the
scout is able to catch sight of the upper parts of landmarks to
enable him to be sure of the correctness of his line of flight…in
cases where the distance is very short compass direction is
sufficiently reliable…because the bank of vapour not only
constitutes a perfect screen； but serves as a blanket to the
motor exhaust； if not completely； at least sufficiently to
mislead those below。 Fogs； as every mariner will testify； play
strange tricks with the transmission of sound。 Hence； although
those on the vessels below might detect a slight hum； it might
possibly be so faint as to convey the impression that the aviator
was miles away； when； as a matter of fact； he was directly
overhead。 This confusion arising from sound aberration is a
useful protection in itself； as it tends to lure a naval force
lying in or moving through the fog into a false sense of
security。
The development of the submarine revealed the incontrovertible
fact that this arm would play a prominent part in future
operations upon the water： a presage which has been adequately
fulfilled during the present conflict。 The instinct of
self…preservation at once provoked a discussion of the most
effective ways and means of disguising its whereabouts when it
travels submerged。 To this end the German naval authorities
conducted a series of