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with technical training and sees that it gets them； there is a
real keenness upon the work； and the men in these great mobile
hangars talk shop readily and clearly。
I have already mentioned and the newspapers have told abundantly
of the pluck； daring； and admirable work of our aviators； what is
still untellable in any detail is the energy and ability of the
constructive and repairing branch upon whose efficiency their
feats depend。 Perhaps the most interesting thing I saw in
connection with the air work was the hospital for damaged
machines and the dump to which those hopelessly injured are
taken； in order that they may be disarticulated and all that is
sound in them used for reconstruction。 How excellently this work
is being done may be judged from the fact that our offensive in
July started with a certain number of aeroplanes； a number that
would have seemed fantastic in a story a year before the war
began。 These aeroplanes were in constant action； they fought；
they were shot down； they had their share of accidents。 Not only
did the repair department make good every loss； but after three
weeks of the offensive the army was fighting with fifty more
machines than at the outset。 One goes through a vast
Rembrandtesque shed opening upon a great sunny field； in whose
cool shadows rest a number of interesting patients； captured and
slightly damaged German machines； machines of our own with scars
of battle upon them； one or two cases of bad landing。 The star
case came over from Peronne。 It had come in two days ago。
I examined this machine and I will tell the state it was in； but
I perceive that what I have to tell will read not like a sober
statement of truth but like strained and silly lying。 The
machine had had a direct hit from an Archibald shell。 The
propeller had been clean blown away； so had the machine gun and
all its fittings。 The engines had been stripped naked and a good
deal bent about。 The timber stay over the aviator had been
broken； so that it is marvellous the wings of the machine did not
just up at once like the wings of a butterfly。 The solitary
aviator had been wounded in the face。 He had then come down in a
long glide into the British lines； and made a tolerable
landing。。。。
2
One consequence of the growing importance of the aeroplane in
warfare is the development of a new military art； the art of
camouflage。 Camouflage is humbugging disguise； it is making
thingsand especially in this connection； military thingsseem
not what they are； but something peaceful and rural； something
harmless and quite uninteresting to aeroplane observers。 It is
the art of making big guns look like haystacks and tents like
level patches of field。
Also it includes the art of making attractive models of guns；
camps； trenches and the like that are not bona…fide guns； camps；
or trenches at all； so that the aeroplane bomb…dropper and the
aeroplane observer may waste his time and energies and the enemy
gunfire be misdirected。 In Italy I saw dummy guns so made as to
deceive the very elect at a distance of a few thousand feet。 The
camouflage of concealment aims either at invisibility or
imitation； I have seen a supply train look like a row of
cottages； its smoke…stack a chimney； with the tops of sham
palings running along the back of the engine and creepers painted
up its sides。 But that was a flight of the imagination； the
commonest camouflage is merely to conceal。 Trees are brought up
and planted near the object to be hidden； it is painted in the
same tones as its background； it is covered with an awning
painted to look like grass or earth。 I suppose it is only a
matter of development before a dummy cow or so is put up to chew
the cud on the awning。
But camouflage or no camouflage； the bulk of both the French and
British forces in the new won ground of the great offensive lay
necessarily in the open。 Only the big guns and the advanced Red
Cross stations had got into pits and subterranean hiding places。
The advance has been too rapid and continuous for the armies to
make much of a toilette as they halted； and the destruction and
the desolation of the country won afforded few facilities for
easy concealment。 Tents； transport； munitions； these all
indicated an army on the marchat the rate of half a mile in a
week or so； to Germany。 If the wet and mud of November and
December have for a time delayed that advance； the force behind
has but accumulated for the resumption of the thrust。
3
A journey up from the base to the front trenches shows an
interesting series of phases。 One leaves Amiens； in which the
normal life threads its way through crowds of resting men in
khaki and horizon blue； in which staff officers in automobiles
whisk hither and thither； in which there are nurses and even a
few inexplicable ladies in worldly costume； in which restaurants
and cafes are congested and busy； through which there is a
perpetual coming and going of processions of heavy vans to the
railway sidings。 One dodges past a monstrous blue…black gun
going up to the British front behind two resolute traction
enginesthe three sun…blistered young men in the cart that
trails behind lounge in attitudes of haughty pride that would
shame the ceiling gods of Hampton Court。 One passes through
arcades of waiting motor vans； through arcades of waiting motor
vans； through suburbs still more intensely khaki or horizon blue；
and so out upon the great straight poplar…edged roadto the
front。 Sometimes one laces through spates of heavy traffic；
sometimes the dusty road is clear ahead； now we pass a vast
aviation camp； now a park of waiting field guns； now an
encampment of cavalry。 One turns aside； and abruptly one is in
FranceFrance as one knew it before the war； on a shady
secondary road； past a delightful chateau behind its iron gates；
past a beautiful church； and then suddenly we are in a village
street full of stately Indian soldiers。
It betrays no military secret to say that commonly the rare
tourist to the British offensive passes through Albert； with its
great modern red cathedral smashed to pieces and the great gilt
Madonna and Child that once surmounted the tower now； as everyone
knows； hanging out horizontally in an attitude that irresistibly
suggests an imminent dive upon the passing traveller。 One looks
right up under it。
Presently we begin to see German prisoners。 The whole lot look
entirely contented； and are guarded by perhaps a couple of men in
khaki。 These German prisoners do not attempt to escape； they
have not the slightest desire for any more fighting； they have
done their bit； they say； honour is satisfied； they give
remarkably little trouble。 A little way further on perhaps we
pass their cage； a double barbed…wire enclosure with a few tents
and huts within。
A string of covered waggons passes by。 I turn and see a number
of men sitting inside and looking almost as cheerful as a
beanfeast in Epping Forest。 the make facetious gestures。 They
have a subdued sing…song going on。 But one of them looks a
little sick； and then I notice not very obtrusive bandages。
〃Sitting…up cases；〃 my guide explain