September 12, 1914 
LAND AND. WATER 
•was fairly advanced. Every Power liad a few small airships 
of no war utility, which I have omitted from the above list. 
In the matter of aeroplanes Germany had a lead in 
efficiency and numbers over any other individual power. The 
Germans and Austrians between them about balanced the 
Triple Entente in actual efficient strength. 
Since good aeroplanes can be built in six weeks or less, it 
is obvious that exact figures mean nothing where they are 
concerned. The question resolves itself into the number of 
jjilots, who take at least six months to train. 
With airships, on the other hand, exact figures go for a 
great deal. It takes a good year to construct a large airship, 
and a very considerable time to 
AIRSHIPS AND THEIR turn out merely a small one. 
BUILDING. That is why we can discount 
stories of scores of German airships 
built since the end of last July. 
We may now briefly consider what has actually happened. 
A Zeppelin has dropped bombs on Antwerp; but, generally 
speaking, no real offensive capacity has yet been indicated. 
The scouting work done has probably been fairl}' good, but 
inferior to similar work done by aeroplanes, as a Zeppelin is 
a fairly easy target. 
This has necessitated caution. The number of Zeppelins 
destroyed to date is three for certain — I doubt if it is more. 
The French appear to have lost one dirigible, name unknown. 
Our own dirigibles have not been near any fighting so far as 
is known, but have rendered invaluable scouting service in 
connection with the Expeditionaiy Force. This sums up the 
airship situation to date. 
We may now turn to the aeroplanes. These appear to 
have been extremely useful in locating troops, guns, kc. A 
considerable number on either side 
AEROPLANES AND have been brought down by rifle 
RIFLE FIRE. fire. This is due to the fact that 
in order to make cflective obr-erva- 
tiou a comparatively low altitude is essential. Also all troops 
appear to have adopted the sanio method of rifle attack — a 
steady fire on a spot some distance ahead. Every aero- 
plane destroyed seems to have run iato such a shower of 
bullets. 
Unless the pilot be hit the chances of an aeroplane being 
injured by rifle fire are very small. Descriptions are usually 
so vague that it is difficult to suggest exact percentages ; 1 ut 
at a rough approximation it looks as though at least half tie 
< 
BATTLE AIRSHIP 
IS 
■ AEROPLANE' 
DIAQBA^ TO ILLUSTBATJt TH« APP20XI3LVTK TAEOKT OFFEESD 
BI TAEI0U3 CLASSES OP AIRCEAFT. THS POTENTIAL DAMAQK 
BI B0:JIB is, it should BB noted, in ABOUT THI SAMH 
PBOPOBTION. 
aeroplane casualties have been, brought about by hasty and ill- 
considered movements on the part of pilots endeavouring to 
get out of the bullet zone. Possibly thx'ee-quarters are to be 
attributed to this cause. The killing of a single soldier in 
ordinary land fighting is calculated to require some thousands 
of bullets; it can certainly need no less to hit an aeroplane 
pilot, despite the fact that he has ii9 cover unless he chances 
to be in a bullet-proof machine. 
In conclusion, although comparatively little has so far 
been heard of the aerial ai-m, we may expect any day to hear 
of further develojimenta. 
A TOPOGRAPHICAL GUIDE TO THE 
WAR ZONE. 
By E. CHARLES VIVIAN. 
Arys. — A town in East Prussia, on the Speiding Lake, 
about twenty miles west of Lyck, and on the Lyck-Rothfliess 
iine of rail. 
Audun-le-Roman. — Situated on tlie railway between 
Thionville and Louguyon, a httle o^•er a mile within the French 
frontier. 
Bojan. — Situated within sight of the Roumanian frontier, 
in the Austrian province of Bukovina. It is about four miles 
from the Russian frontier, and is on the hne of rail from 
Tchernovitz to Moghilev and Odessa. 
Chalons-sur-Marne- — The chief town of the Depart- 
ment of Marne, in France, population about 22,000. It is 107 
miles east of Paris by rail, and is situated on the Marne Canal. 
It is in time of peace the headquarters of the Cth Army Corps, 
and is a miUtary training station of considerable importance. 
Champenoux. — Situated about seven miles north-east 
of Xancy, and about four miles from the Gennan frontier. It is 
slightly south of the strategic railway from Toul to Vic. 
Compeigne. — A thickly-wooded district about twenty 
.miles west of Soi-ssons and fifteen miles north-east of Senlis. 
It is about thirty-six miles north-north-east of Paris. 
Dantzic. — Dantzic, or Danzig, is situated at the south- 
western extremity of the gulf of Dantzic, on the Baltic Sea, and 
is a strongly fortified port of the province of AVest Prussia, of wliich 
it is the capital. The main city is built on the left bank of the 
River Vistula, from two to three miles from its mouth, and 254 
mile."! north-east of Berhn. The fortifications include ramparts 
And ba.stions, and means for flooding the .surrounding country in 
case of attack ; a large garrison is maintained in the town, even 
in times of peace, and the total population is over 100,000. The 
Mottlau, a small tributary of the Vistula, traverses the main town, 
whicii contains a harbour ; most of the port trade, hoWever, is 
done through the Neufahrwasser harbour, which gives directly 
on to the gulf of Dantzic. The principal railway lines are those 
connecting the town with Berlin to the south-west, with Stettin, 
more directly west, and with Koenigsburg at the eastern extremity 
of the Gulf of Dantzic. The manufacture of arms and artillery 
is largely carried on here, and there is also a naval building 
yard and depot, and a marine station. The imports by sea amount 
annually to about £3,000,000, and the sea-borne exports to a 
similar figure ; the principal exports are grain and timber, and the 
chief imports coal, pctroleimi, and fish from the Baltic ports. 
Dyle. — A river of central Belgium, tributary to the Netlie, 
which in turn flows into the Scheldt. The Dyle passes through 
Louvain and Mechlin. 
Fere Champenoise. — -^n important jjiuction of roads 
east of Paris, and about midway between Chalons and 
Coulommiers, about twenty-four miles west-south-west of 
Chalons. It is also a station on the Rheims-Esternay line 
of rail. 
Florenviile. — A town of Belgian Luxembourg, situated 
on the left bank of the river Semois. It is adjacent to the French 
frontier, and is about fifteen miles east from Sedan. 
miles north-west of 
Strasbourg-Bale railway. 
Gebweiler. — Situated fifteen 
Mulhausen, on a branch of the 
Population, about 13,000. 
Goldapp. — The point of junction for the Insterburg-Lyck 
and Stalluponen-Rastenburg strategic railway lines in East 
Prussia. It is situated about twelve miles west of the Russian 
frontier in the Government of Gumbiunen, and is a town of 
considerable importance. 
Gorodok. — A village about eighteen miles east of the 
Austiian frontier, situated in the Russian Government of Podolia, 
near the Lemberg-Odessa line of rail. 
Hal. — A town in Belgium, situated on the River Sambre, 
about nine miles south of Brussels, at the point of junction of the 
Bru.s.sels-Mons and BrusseLs-Tournay railways. It is about 
twenty-five miles north-west of Charleroi. 
Kibarty. — The frontier village, on the Russian side, ol 
one of the Berlin-Petersburg lines of rail. 
