AEROPLANES AND DIRIGIBLES OF WAR

By Frederick A. Talbot

Contents

PREFACE

CHAPTER I. | THE INTRODUCTION OF AIRCRAFT INTO MILITARY OPERATIONS
CHAPTER II. | THE MILITARY USES of THE CAPTIVE BALLOON
CHAPTER III. | GERMANY'S RISE TO MILITARY AIRSHIP SUPREMACY
CHAPTER IV. | AIRSHIPS OF WAR
CHAPTER V. | GERMANY'S AERIAL DREADNOUGHT FLEET
CHAPTER VI. | THE MILITARY VALUE OF GERMANY'S AERIAL FLEET
CHAPTER VII. | AEROPLANES OF WAR
CHAPTER VIII. | SCOUTING FROM THE SKIES
CHAPTER IX. | THE AIRMAN AND ARTILLERY
CHAPTER X. | BOMB-THROWING FROM AIR-CRAFT
CHAPTER XI. | ARMOURED AEROPLANES
CHAPTER XII. | BATTLES IN THE AIR
CHAPTER XIII. | TRICKS AND RUSES TO BAFFLE THE AIRMAN
CHAPTER XIV. | ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNS. MOBILE WEAPONS.
CHAPTER XV. | ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNS. IMMOBILE WEAPONS
CHAPTER XVI. | MINING THE AIR
CHAPTER XVII. | WIRELESS IN AVIATION
CHAPTER XVIII.    | AIRCRAFT AND NAVAL OPERATIONS
CHAPTER XIX. | THE NAVIES of THE AIR

PREFACE

Ever since the earliest days of the great conquest of the air, first by the dirigible balloon and then by the aeroplane, their use in time of war has been a fruitful theme for discussion. But their arrival was of too recent a date, their many utilities too unexplored to provide anything other than theories, many obviously untenable, others avowedly problematical.

Yet the part airships have played in the Greatest War has come as a surprise even to their most convinced advocates. For every expectation shattered, they have shown a more than compensating possibility of usefulness.

In this volume an endeavour has been made to record their achievements, under the stern test of trial, as an axiom of war, and to explain, in untechnical language, the many services to which they have been and may be applied.

In the preparation of the work I have received assistance from many sources—British, French, Russian and German—from official reports and from men who have played a part in the War in the Air. The information concerning German military aircraft has been obtained from Government documents, most of which were placed at my disposal before the outbreak of war.

The use of aircraft has changed the whole art and science of warfare. With its disabilities well in hand, with its strength but half revealed, the aerial service has revolutionised strategy and shorn the unexpected attack of half its terrors. The Fourth Arm is now an invaluable part of the complex military machine.

F. A. TALBOT.

CHAPTER I. THE INTRODUCTION OF AIRCRAFT INTO MILITARY OPERATIONS

It is a curious circumstance that an invention, which is hailed as being one of the greatest achievements ever recorded in the march of civilisation, should be devoted essentially to the maiming of humanity and the destruction of property. In no other trend of human endeavour is this factor so potently demonstrated as in connection with Man's Conquest of the Air.

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