In the early part of the war the Paris correspondent of the _Times_ wrote as follows: ‘A feature of the operations along the front is the active use by the French of their air service, and the many indications given of the progress which has been accomplished in this branch of the service since the outbreak of the war. Realizing that for fighting purposes the chief mission of the aeroplane is to act like a gun of immense range, and that bombardment requires swarms of aeroplanes and not an isolated machine, the French have equipped and organized a number of air squadrons with the object of disturbing and destroying the enemy’s communications, either during or on the eve of military developments, so as to impede the arrival of men and shells from the reserve points during the progress of operations. ‘For this purpose the squadrons are composed of three different types of machines, the names of which indicate the special duties of each type. These squadrons, in spite of the boisterous weather which has prevailed throughout the month, have raided no less than ten important German railway centres in the area of operations, throwing over 400 bombs in their flight, while the chaser planes engaged any protecting enemy aircraft that tried to interfere with the operations. ‘A glance at a map will show how effectively the air services are able to act as an extension of artillery in upsetting the enemy’s transport. Thus Challerange, an important junction on the Vouziers—St. Menehould and Vouziers—Apremont Railways, whence are served the requirements of the army operating in the west of the Argonne; Arnaville and Bayonville, to the south-west of Metz; Vigneuvelles les Hattonchattel, the railway centre for the south-eastern armies operating against Verdun; Autruy, to the north of the Argonne; and Conflans-en-Jarisy, on the Verdun-Metz railway, have been regularly bombarded by aerial squadrons, which in some cases have numbered thirty-five air machines.’ In this connexion it is interesting to recall an extract from an official communiqué that was issued early in the war: July 20—‘Thirty-one aviators yesterday bombarded the railway station of Conflans, an important junction. Three shells of 155 mm. and four of 90 mm. were observed to have been neatly dropped on the station. The engine shed was struck by a shell of 155 mm. Three aviatiks were put to flight by our pursuing aeroplanes, which accompanied the squadron. One aviatik was compelled to land rapidly.’ In the place of an enemy camp or railway junction the attack is made by the Naval Air Service on the submarine base or the dockyard. On many occasions naval airmen have bombarded German submarines in Ghent harbour. In the raid on Cuxhaven, seven seaplanes were conveyed to the vicinity of Heligoland and thence flew over Cuxhaven and dropped bombs on the docks.