Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - IX. With the Fourth Army
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
WITH THE FOURTH ARMY T71
of flowers. An obelisk bore the inscription, "A la mémoire des
soldats morts pour la Patric. Armée Fran^aisc 1870-71," to-
gether with a string of names.
Next von Behr and I drove to the flying station at ,
where six Gotha Taubcn with Mercedes motors were housed
in large yellow tents. One of the " doves " had a wing per-
forated with bullets. The holes had been covered over with
little patches. These patches are regarded almost as
medals for valour in the field. The more scars an airman
has on his machine, the more exposed he has been and the
greater has been his daring when above the enemy positions.
I do not know which is the more unpleasant feeling, to know
that one has an enemy aviator right above one’s head or to
know that an anti-aircraft gun is planted right underneath
and taking aim !
Whilst we were at the station, two " doves " spread their
wings for flight. It is beautiful to watch their graceful, easy
movements. Before one can quite realise it, the slender
wheels have left the ground and the machine is slowly rising
from the field and describes a little circle over the tree-tops
round about. It gradually rises in a circling motion higher
and higher and the two enormous iron crosses under its wings
gradually dwindle in size. It reminds one of the carrier
pigeon which first rises to a certain height to get a view of the
surrounding country and then darts off as straight as a die
towards its goal. For when our first Gotha " dove " had
reached a sufficient height, she went off at a tangent from her
last spiral and flew straight south to the French positions
and to the rear of them. Once there, it was the duty of the
" observer," who sits in front with map, notebook and glasses,
to make his observations and then to come back and report
them—that is assuming that he does not happen to be shot
down on his journey. When over the enemy lines, it is neces-
sary to ascend to a height of 2000-2500 metres so as to be
moderately safe from the shrapnel fire from below. But even
at 1600 metres the airman and his companion begin to have a
feeling of security. After a short while, the second Taube
ascended and followed the invisible track of its predecessor
through space.
On my return I looked in to see the French prisoners. Five
of them, from Bordeaux and Narbonne,^ were seated round
* From the i8th and 16th Army Corps or their reserves.
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
