ond the range of the gun, or by carrying
out baffling evolutions such as irregular undulating flight, wheeling,
and climbing. According to the reports of the British and French airmen
the "Archibald" has failed to establish the glowing reputation which was
anticipated, for the simple reason that, unless it has a clear straight
road and can maintain its high speed, it can easily be out-distanced by
the fleet human bird.

The motor-car suffers from another serious disability. It cannot
manoeuvre with sufficient celerity. For instance, if it is necessary to
turn round in a narrow lane, valuable time is lost in the process, and
this the airman turns to account. In hilly country it is at a still
greater disadvantage, the inclines, gradients, and sinuosities of the
roads restricting its effectiveness very pronouncedly. It must also be
remembered that, relatively speaking, the "Archibald" offers a better
target to the airman than the aeroplane offers to the man behind the
anti-aircraft gun on the motor below. A few well-placed bombs are
sufficient to induce the pursuers to cease their activities. Even if the
missiles fail to strike the motor-car itself they can wreak disaster in
directly by rendering the road impassable or dangerous to negotiate
at high speed. On the whole therefore, the "Archibald" is a greatly
exaggerated weapon of offence against aircraft, and, so far as is known,
has failed to fulfil expectations. In fact, the Germans have practically
abandoned the idea of using it in the manner of a pursuing arm; they
work the weapon as a fixture, depending upon the car merely as a
means of moving it from point to point. Thus, in reality, it has been
converted into a light field-piece, and may almost be included in the
category of fixed weapons for combating aerial operations.

CHAPTER XV. ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNS. IMMOBILE WEAPONS

The immobile anti-aircraft gun, as distinct from that attached to a
travelling carriage such as a motor-car, may be subdivided into two
classes. The one is the fixed arm which cannot be moved readily, mounted
upon a permanent emplacement; the other is the field-piece which, while
fired from a stationary position, may be moved from point to point
upon a suitable carriage. The distinction has its parallel in ordinary
artillery, the first-named weapon coinciding with the heavy siege
gun, which is built into and forms part and parcel of the defensive or
offensive scheme, while the second is analog