If, however, the dominating aviator is armed with a machine gun
he occupies the superior position, because he can pour a steady
hail of lead upon his enemy. The employment of such a weapon
when the contest is being waged over friendly territory has many
drawbacks. Damage is likely to be infficted among innocent
observers on the earth below; the airman is likely to bombard his
friends. For this very reason promiscuous firing, in the hope
of a lucky shot finding a billet in the hostile machine, is not
practised. Both parties appear to reserve their fire until they
have drawn within what may be described as fighting distance,
otherwise point blank range, which may be anything up to 300
yards.
Some of the battles between the German and the French or British
aeroplanes have been waged with a total disregard of the
consequences. Both realise that one or the other must perish,
and each is equally determined to triumph. It is doubtful
whether the animosity between the opposing forces is manifested
anywhere so acutely as in the air. In some instances the combat
has commenced at 300 feet or so above the earth, and has been
fought so desperately, the machines climbing and endeavouring to
outmanoeuvre each other, that an altitude of over 5,000 feet has
been attained before they have come to close grips.
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