"
"But I'm sure I read lately that there has been talk of limiting the
activities of air craft in war times?" Hugh questioned.
"Yes, and already it has been settled that bombs shall not be dropped
into besieged cities where civilians may be killed, but only into
forts and on war vessels," the army officer told them. "But, after
all, that is only a small fraction of the uses to which a war
aeroplane may be put. For scouting and learning the movements of
troops, it is a wonder. No matter how skilful a general may be,
his plans are all apt to go amiss if the quick movements of his
forces are discovered by the airman from a mile above. The aviator
may be well out of reach of any missiles modern guns can throw upward,
but with his glasses he can watch every movement and signal the news
to headquarters."
The scouts were astonished to hear all this.
"Where would the genius of a Napoleon have been," remarked Lieutenant
Fosdick in turn, "if aeroplanes had been in common use as far back as
Waterloo? You may remember that the secret of his great success in
battle was the mobility of his troops. He would divide his army and
hurl a part of it so as to strike the enemy unexpectedly on the flank,
timing his own frontal attack so as to complete the confusion.
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