the mastery of the air(操纵空气)-第13章
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month； but the greatest number of killed in any one of the raids was eleven；
while on September 28 the raiders were driven off before they could claim
any victims。 The establishment of a close barrage of aerial guns did much
to discourage the raiders； and gradually London； from being the most
vulnerable spot in the British Isles； began to enjoy comparative immunity
from attack。
Paris； too； during the Great War has had to suffer bombardment from
the air； but not nearly to the same extent as London。 The comparative
immunity of Paris from air raids is due partly to the prompt measures
which were taken to defend the capital。 The French did not wait； as did the
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British； until the populace was goaded to the last point of exasperation； but
quickly instituted the barrage system； in which we afterwards followed
their lead。 Moreover； the French were much more prompt in adopting
retaliatory tactics。 They hit back without having to wade through long
moral and philosophical disquisitions upon the ethics of 〃reprisals〃。 On
the other hand； it must be remembered that Paris； from the aerial
standpoint； is a much more difficult objective than London。 The enemy
airman has to cross the French lines； which； like his own； stretch for miles
in the rear。 Practically he is in hostile country all the time； and he has to
get back across the same dangerous air zones。 It is a far easier task to
dodge a few sea…planes over the wide seas en route to London。 And on
reaching the coast the airman has to evade or fight scattered local defences；
instead of penetrating the close barriers which confront him all the way to
Paris。
Since the first Zeppelin attack on Paris on March 21； 1915； when two
of the air…ships reached the suburbs； killing 23 persons and injuring 30；
there have been many raids and attempted raids； but mostly by single
machines。 The first air raid in force upon the French capital took place on
January 31； 1918； when a squadron of Gothas crossed the lines north of
Compiegne。 Two hospitals were hit； and the casualties from the raid
amounted to 20 killed and 50 wounded。
After the Italian set…back in the winter of 1917； the Venetian plain lay
open to aerial bombardment by the Germans； who had given substantial
military aid to their Austrian allies。 This was an opportunity not to be lost
by Germany； and Venice and other towns of the plain were subject to
systematic bombardment。
At the time of writing； Germany is beginning to suffer some of the
annoyances she is so ready to inflict upon others。 The recently constituted
Air Ministry have just published figures relating to the air raids into
Germany from December 1； 1917； to February 19； 1918 inclusive。 During
these eleven weeks no fewer than thirty…five raids have taken place upon a
variety of towns； railways； works； and barracks。 In the list figure such
important towns as Mannheim （pop。 20；000） and Metz （pop。 100；000）。
The average weight of bombs dropped at each raid works out about 1000
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lbs。 This welcome official report is but one of many signs which point the
way to the growing supremacy of the Allies in the air。
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THE MASTERY OF THE AIR
PART II AEROPLANES AND
AIRMEN
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CHAPTER XIV Early Attempts in Aviation
The desire to fly is no new growth in humanity。 For countless years
men have longed to emulate the birds〃To soar upward and glide； free as
a bird； over smiling fields； leafy woods； and mirror…like lakes；〃 as a great
pioneer of aviation said。 Great scholars and thinkers of old； such as Horace；
Homer； Pindar； Tasso； and all the glorious line； dreamt of flight； but it has
been left for the present century to see those dreams fulfilled。
Early writers of the fourth century saw the possibility of aerial
navigation； but those who tried to put their theories in practice were beset
by so many difficulties that they rarely succeeded in leaving the ground。
Most of the early pioneers of aviation believed that if a man wanted to
fly he must provide himself with a pair of wings similar to those of a large
bird。 The story goes that a certain abbot told King James IV of Scotland
that he would fly from Stirling Castle to Paris。 He made for himself
powerful wings of eagles' feathers； which he fixed to his body and
launched himself into the air。 As might be expected； he fell and broke his
legs。
But although the muscles of man are of insufficient strength to bear
him in the air； it has been found possible； by using a motor engine； to give
to man the power of flight which his natural weakness denied him。
Scientists estimate that to raise a man of about 12 stone in the air and
enable him to fly there would be required an immense pair of wings over
20 feet in span。 In comparison with the weight of a man a bird's weight is
remarkably smallthe largest bird does not weigh much more than 20
poundsbut its wing muscles are infinitely stronger in proportion than the
shoulder and arm muscles of a man。
As we shall see in a succeeding chapter； the 〃wing〃 theory was
persevered with for many years some two or three centuries ago； and later
on it was of much use in providing data for the gradual development of the
modern aeroplane。
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CHAPTER XV A Pioneer in Aviation
Hitherto we have traced the gradual development of the balloon right
from the early days of aeronautics； when the brothers Montgolfier
constructed their hot…air balloon； down to the most modern dirigible。 It is
now our purpose； in this and subsequent chapters； to follow the course of
the pioneers of aviation。
It must not be supposed that the invention of the steerable balloon was
greatly in advance of that of the heavier…than…air machine。 Indeed；
developments in both the dirigible airship and the aeroplane have taken
place side by side。 In some cases men like Santos Dumont have given
earnest attention to both forms of air…craft； and produced practical results
with both。 Thus； after the famous Brazilian aeronaut had won the Deutsch
prize for a flight in an air…ship round the Eiffel tower； he immediately set
to work to construct an aeroplane which he subsequently piloted at
Bagatelle and was awarded the first 〃Deutsch prize〃 for aviation。
It is generally agreed that the undoubted inventor of the aeroplane；
practically in the form in which it now appears； was an English engineer；
Sir George Cayley。 Just over a hundred years ago this clever Englishman
worked out complete plans for an aeroplane； which in many vital respects
embodied the princi
