He is manoeuvring the whole time over the enemy's
firing zone, where anti-aircraft weapons are disposed
strategically, and where every effort is made by artillery to
bring him down, or compel him to repair to such a height as to
render observation with any degree of accuracy well-nigh
impossible.
The methods practised by the German aerial scout vary widely, and
are governed in no small measure by the intrepidity and skill of
the airman himself. One practice is to proceed alone upon long
flights over the enemy's lines, penetrating just as far into
hostile territory as the pilot considers advisable, and keeping,
of course, within the limits of the radius of action of the
machine, as represented by the fuel supply, the while carefully
taking mental stock of all that he observes below. It is a kind
of roving commission without any definite aim in view beyond the
collection of general intelligence.
This work, while productive and valuable to a certain degree, is
attended with grave danger, as the German airmen have repeatedly
found to their cost. Success is influenced very materially by
the accuracy of the airman's judgment.
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