nstitute the most complete protection and guns are placed in position
beneath a liberal cover of this character. The branches also offer a
screen for the artillerymen, who can lurk beneath this shelter until the
aeroplane has passed. To complete the illusion dummy guns fashioned
from tree trunks and the wheels of useless limbers are rigged up, and
partially hidden under branches, the idea being to convey the impression
to the man aloft that they are the actual artillery.

The aerial scout observes the dummies beneath the sparse covering of
branches. Congratulating himself upon his sharp eyesight, he returns
to his base with the intelligence that he has found the enemy's guns
he indicates their position upon the map, and in some cases returns to
notify the position of the weapons by smoke-ball or tinsel, when they
are immediately subjected to a severe bombardment. He follows the
shell-fire and sees the arms put out of action. He returns to camp
satisfied with his exploit, oblivious of the smiles and laughter of the
hostile artillerymen, who have their guns safely in position and
well masked some distance away. The dummies are imperfectly concealed
purposely, so that they may be discovered by the aerial scout, while the
real guns are completely masked and ready to belch forth from another
point. In one or two cases the dummies have been rigged up in such a
manner as to convey the impression, when seen from aloft, that a whole
battery has been put out of action, barrels and wheels as well as broken
limbers strewing the ground in all directions.

Moving masses of soldiers are also resorting to cunning in order to
mislead the airman or to escape his observation. At the battle of
Haelen, during which engagement the German warplanes were exceptionally
active, the Belgian soldiers covered their heads with bundles of wheat
snatched from the standing stooks, and under this cover lurked in a
field where the corn was still standing. From aloft their forms defied
detection: the improvised headgear completely covered them and blended
effectively with the surrounding wheat. In another instance the French
misled a German airman somewhat effectively. What appeared to be
cavalry was seen to be retreating along the country road, and the airman
returned hurriedly to report. A German squadron was dispatched in hasty
pursuit. But as it rounded a copse skirting the road it received a
murderous fire at close quarters, which decimated the ranks