224 Ttff Ypres t'iMÉs.
increased number of anti-aircraft guns. Owing to the lack of suitable aeroplanes for long
reconnaissance the formidable enemy movement against the Ypres line developed
undetected from the air. In those days the Royal Flying Corps had almost to beg to be
allowed to help. Air Chief Marshal Trenchard tells how, when he approached a certain,
corps commander in order to ask to be allowed to carry out artillery observation, he
received the reply "You come to us to push your wares, but soon we shall be begging for
your help."
The glory of the first battle of Ypres belongs to those who fought on the ground
the Royal Flying Corps could do little more than watch from above. The infantry were
at first sceptical of their helpthey disliked hostile observers above them and owing to
their inability to distinguish between friendly and hostile aeroplanes, fired on both alike.
On October 26 Lieutenant C. G. Hosking of No. 4 Squadron with Captain T. Crean as
observer did a tactical reconnaissance. The clouds were very low, so it was arranged
POLDENNOEK CHATEAU. BEFORE THE WAR.
that they should fly over one of our batteries to observe for ranging. The machine came
down near Ypres in flames and was completely demolished. Pilot and passanger had both
been wounded by our own infantry fire when at a height of about a thousand feet with the
large Union Jack plainly visible. The mishap was due to the cross of the Union Jack
being mistaken for the German marking and thereafter the French target was painted on
British aeroplanes with the alteration only of blue for red and red for blue, to preserve
national distinctions.
While the operations against Hill 60 were in progress, the Germans were once again
planning an attack against the salient, an attack which was destined to develop into the
fierce struggle known as the second battle of Ypres. On April 22, 1915, French aerial
observers, flying over their lines between Bixshoote and Langemarck late in the afternoon,
were surprised to see what appeared to be thick yellow smoke issue from the German
