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aviator。 This idea was first put into my head by considering the
way in which Germans walk and carry themselves； and by nothing
the difference in nimbleness between the cyclists in the streets
of German and French towns。 It was confirmed by a conversation I
had with a German aviator who was also a dramatist； and who came
to see me upon some copyright matter in 1912。 He broached the
view that aviation would destroy democracy； because he said only
aristocrats make aviators。 （He was a man of good family。） With a
duke or so in my mind I asked him why。 Because； he explained； a
man without aristocratic quality in tradition； cannot possibly
endure the 〃high loneliness〃 of the air。 That sounded rather
like nonsense at the time； and then I reflected that for a
Prussian that might be true。 There may be something in the
German composition that does demand association and the support
of pride and training before dangers can be faced。 The Germans
are social and methodical； the French and English are by
comparison chaotic and instinctive； perhaps the very readiness
for a conscious orderliness that makes the German so formidable
upon the ground； so thorough and fore…seeking； makes him slow and
unsure in the air。 At any rate the experiences of this war have
seemed to carry out this hypothesis。 The German aviators will
not as a class stand up to those of the Allies。 They are not
nimble in the air。 Such champions as they have produced have
been men of one trick； one of their great men； Immelmannhe was
put down by an English boy a month or so agohad a sort of
hawk's swoop。 He would go very high and then come down at his
utmost pace at his antagonist； firing his machine gun at him as
he came。 If he missed in this hysterical lunge； he went on
down。。。。 This does not strike the Allied aviator as very
brilliant。 A gentleman of that sort can sooner or later be
caught on the rise by going for him over the German
lines。
The first phase； then； of the highest grade offensive； the
ultimate development of war regardless of expense； is the
clearance of the air。 Such German machines as are up are put
down by fighting aviators。 These last fly high； in the clear
blue of the early morning they look exactly like gnats； some
trail a little smoke in the sunshine； they take their machine
guns in pursuit over the German lines； and the German anti…
aircraft guns； the Archibalds； begin to pattern the sky about
them with little balls of black smoke。 From below one does not
see men nor feel that men are there； it is as if it were an
affair of midges。 Close after the fighting machines come the
photographic aeroplanes； with cameras as long as a man is high；
flying lowat four or five thousand feet that isover the enemy
trenches。 The Archibald leaves these latter alone； it cannot
fire a shell to explode safely so soon after firing； but they are
shot at with rifles and machine guns。 They do not mind being
shot at； only the petrol tank and the head and thorax of the
pilot are to be considered vital。 They will come back with forty
or fifty bullet holes in the fabric。 They will go under this
fire along the length of the German positions exposing plate
after plate； one machine will get a continuous panorama of many
miles and then come back straight to the aerodrome to develop its
plates。
There is no waste of time about the business； the photographs are
developed as rapidly as possible。 Within an hour and a half
after the photographs were taken the first prints are going back
into the bureau for the examination of the photographs。 Both
British and French air photographs are thoroughly scrutinised and
marked。
An air photograph to an inexperienced eye is not a very
illuminating thing； one makes our roads； blurs of wood； and
rather vague buildings。 But the examiner has an eye that has
been in training； he is a picked man； he has at hand yesterday's
photographs and last week's photographs； marked maps and all
sorts of aids and records。 If he is a Frenchman he is only too
happy to explain his ideas and methods。 Here； he will point out；
is a little difference between the German trench beyond the wood
since yesterday。 For a number of reasons he thinks that will be
a new machine gun emplacement； here at the centre of the farm
wall they have been making another。 This battery hereisn't it
plain？ Well； it's a dummy。 The grass in front of it hasn't been
scorched； and there's been no serious wear on the road here for a
week。 Presently the Germans will send one or two waggons up and
down that road and instruct them to make figures of eight to
imitate scorching on the grass in front of the gun。 We know all
about that。 The real wear on the road； compare this and this and
this； ends here at this spot。 It turns off into the wood。
There's a sort of track in the trees。 Now look where the trees
are just a little displaced！ （This lens is rather better for
that。） /That's/ one gun。 You see？ Here； I will show you
another。。。。
That process goes on two or three miles behind the front line。
Very clean young men in white overalls do it as if it were a
labour of love。 And the Germans in the trenches； the German
gunners； /know it is going on。/ They know that in the
quickest possible way these observations of the aeroplane that
was over them just now will go to the gunners。 The careful
gunner； firing by the map and marking by aeroplane； kite balloon
or direct observation； will be getting onto the located guns and
machine guns in another couple of hours。 The French claim that
they have located new batteries； got their /tir de
demolition/ upon them in and destroyed them within five
hours。 The British I told of that found it incredible。 Every
day the French print special maps showing the guns； sham guns；
trenches； everything of significance behind the German lines；
showing everything that has happened in the last four…and…twenty
hours。 It is pitiless。 It is indecent。 The map…making and
printing goes on in the room next and most convenient to the
examination of the photographs。 And； as I say； the German army
knows of this； and knows that it cannot prevent it because of its
aerial weakness。 That knowledge is not the last among the forces
that is crumpling up the German resistance upon the Somme。
I visited some French guns during the /tir de
demolition/ phase。 I counted nine aeroplanes and
twenty…six kite balloons in the air at the same time。 There was
nothing German visible in the air at all。
It is a case of eyes and no eyes。
The French attack resolves itself into a triple system of gun…
fire。 First for a day or so； or two or three days； there is
demolition fire to smash up all the exactly located batteries；
organisation； supports； behind the front line enemy trenches；
then comes barrage fire to cut off supplies and reinforcements；
then； before the advance； the hammering down fire； 〃heads down；〃
upon the trenches。 When at last this stops and the infantry goes
forward to rout out the trenches and the dug…outs； they go
forward with a minimum of inconvenience。 The first wave of
attack fights； destroys； or disarms the surviving Germans and