For the autumn army manœuvres of 1910, which were due to take place in
Picardy, it was decided to make as complete a test as possible of the
value of the aeroplane as a scout in time of war. Ten or fifteen
machines were requisitioned for the experiments, some being stationed
with each of the manoeuvring forces.
To augment the military pilots, several civilian airmen readily gave
their services, notably Mr Hubert Latham with his Antoinette, and M.
Louis Paulhan, flying a Farman.
Although this was the first time aeroplanes had been used in mimic
warfare, and although the airmen themselves, and the military
authorities, were naturally unacquainted with the best methods of
utilising the new "arm," astonishing results were nevertheless obtained.
Two French officers. Lieutenant Sido and Adjutant Menard, were highly
successful in their work. This was due to the fact they had gone through
a careful course of training and were, in consequence, familiar with the
task of compiling precise and informing reports of all that they saw
when upon a reconnoitring flight.
Lieutenant Sido acted as observer upon the Farman biplane which they
were using, and Adjutant Menard undertook the work of pilot. The former
carried maps with him, and made frequent notes as the machine flew from
point to point.
The value of the work these two officers were able to perform, is best
indicated by setting forth the actual result of two of their
reconnoitring flights. On the first occasion, acting under definite
instructions, they left a place named Poix at 6 a.m., and flew over a
sixty-kilometre course, being an hour and five minutes in the air,
before returning to their starting-point.
This is the form in which they presented their report to Headquarters:—
6.5 A.M.—
At Thieuloy, three squadrons of _chasseurs-a-cheval_, hidden
behind the southern edge of the village on the road from Thieuloy
to St Maur.
6.30 A.M.—
At Feuquieres, a brigade of infantry on the march eastward on the
road from Feuquieres to Brombos. Head of main body just leaving
Feuquieres. Six batteries of artillery parked south of
Feuquieres.
6.32 A.M.—
At point 1800 metres north of Feuquieres, two companies on
outpost, one facing north and the other northeast, astride the
Feuquieres-Sarcus road. One company has dug rifle-pits to the
west, and the other company section trenches to the east of the
road. A Blériot monoplane has just landed behind the company west
of the road. We followed its flight for three minutes.
6.40 A.M.—
Agneres—A company in column of route marching from Agneres
towards Mereaucourt along the Saint Martin-de-Ponsis ravine.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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