Popular Science Monf/ili/ 



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A few minutes later, watchers at the 

 R. F. C. airdrome see the reconnaissance 

 plane winging its way back home, and 

 shortly it settles safely to earth outside 

 the hangar. 



The observer fills out his report on a 

 blank similar to the specimen shown 

 on page 508 and turns it in to G. H. Q. 

 (General Headquarters). The filing of 

 this report marks the conclusion of the 

 Corps reconnaissance. 



Army reconnaissance squadrons carry 

 cameras and take photographs at many 

 different points. One of these squadrons 

 will often fly several hundred miles into 

 enemy territory in order to gain desired in- 

 formation. Instead of writing down single 

 items as in Corps work,' the observers 

 report the general impression gained from 

 the entire trip. The reason for this is 

 that there are sure to be many movements 

 which are not important, when a large 

 territory is covered. Army reconnais- 

 sance observers study enemy airdromes, 

 make a note of the number of hangars and 

 planes on the ground and watch the move- 

 ments in towns and large encampments. 

 Rivers and canals are also looked for, 

 particularly if there are any ships on them. 

 The size and type of boat must be re- 

 ported; also to which side it is nearer. 



What the Observer Looks For in 

 Army Reconnaissance 



The railroads, highways, woods and 

 towns are studied as in Corps reconnais- 

 sance, except that an especial look-out is 

 kept for hostile kite-balloons, "blimps," 

 and aircraft. Each squadron is escorted 

 by scout machines whose duty it is to keep 

 off attacking planes. The pilot of an 

 Army reconnaissance plane must not 

 give offensive battle to the enemy. The 

 scouts are there for that. Should an 

 enemy plane get through the formation, 

 however, it is the observer's duty to see 

 the enemy first and open fire. If he 

 doesn't it probably means that his plane 

 will "crash," and not only will he arid his 

 mate go down to death, but the records 

 for which they risked so much will be 

 destroyed. 



Army reconnaissances are carried out 

 at from one to twelve thousand feet, and 

 strict orders are issued that there be no 

 straggling. A favorite pastime of the 

 Germans is to send three or more ma- 



chines into the air to look for our strag- 

 glers. Perched high in the sky, generally 

 about eighteen thousand feet, these 

 hawks watch and wait. Suppose a fight- 

 ing scout has motor trouble or wants to 

 look around a little. He swings out of 

 line and the others close in. Soon the 

 squadron is almost out of sight, home- 

 ward bound with the precious reports. 

 The scout flies along at about fourteen 

 thousand feet. Then down from their 

 perch swoop the Germans. The rat-tat- 

 tat of their machine-guns warns the allied 

 pilot of his peril. He may down one or 

 possibly two of his antagonists, but in the 

 end he crashes to earth the loser in an un- 

 equal fight. That is why R. F. C. orders 

 read "Do not straggle; to do so m.eans 

 the loss of pilot and plane." 



In Corps reconnaissance the pilot does 

 not run such a risk, as he flies over a com- 

 paratively small territory and can gen- 

 erally dash for home if attacked. Of 

 course he has to contend with anti-air- 

 craft shells and the possibility of a sur- 

 prise attack from the air; but for all that 

 his lot is easier than that of other pilots 

 who venture far into enemy territory. 



You will be astonished to learn that the 

 average age of R. F. C. pilots doing 

 reconnaissance work is twenty and of 

 observers twenty-two. It requires young 

 blood and muscle to stand the strain, risk 

 and excitement of this branch of the air 

 service. That results so far have more 

 tkan justified expectations, is a tribute to 

 the skill and bravery of these youngsters. 



Food Animals Killed on One Railroad 

 in a Year Would Feed 70,000 Soldiers 



A PLACARD posted on the premises of 

 a certain railroad which runs through 

 the Cotton Belt states that during the 

 twelve months ending June, 1917, 2,792 

 head of cattle, horses and sheep were killed 

 by the trains. This is the equivalent of 

 one million pounds of food, and would be 

 sufficient to feed seventy thousand soldiers 

 for thirty days. This line operates only 

 1,809 miles of track, and that lies in the 

 cotton country, where food animals are 

 not produced to any large extent. What 

 the returns would be for such states as 

 Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, or Kansas one 

 can only surmise. 



