He must consult his map and compass
frequently, since an airman who loses his bearings is useless to
his commander-in-chief. He must have an eagle eye, so as to be
able to search the country unfolded below, in order to gather all
the information which is likely to be of value to his superior
officers. He must be able to judge accurately the numbers of
troops arrayed beneath him, the lines of the defensive works, to
distinguish the defended from the dummy lines which are thrown up
to baffle him, and to detect instantly the movement of the troops
and the direction, as well as the roads, along which they are
proceeding. Reserves and their complement, artillery,
railway-lines, roads, and bridges, if any, over streams and
railways must be noted--in short he must obtain an eye photograph
of the country he observes and grasp exactly what is happening
there. In winter, with the thermometer well down, a
blood-freezing wind blowing, wreaths of clouds drifting below and
obscuring vision for minutes at a time, the rain possibly pelting
down as if presaging a second deluge, the plight of the vigilant
human eye aloft is far from enviable.
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