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.
The completeness and detail of this statement certainly surprised the
officers who received it. No one, save a well-trained military observer,
could have presented such a report. Its value was self-evident. It
revealed, indeed, in a manner that was undeniable, the extremely useful
work which could be done, in time of war, by a well-handled scouting
aeroplane.
II. Second conclusive test—Detecting an army in retreat—France’s
determination to possess an air-fleet.
On another early-morning flight, during these same Picardy manœuvres,
Lieutenant Sido and Adjutant Menard made a second important aerial
reconnaissance, surveying a specified tract of country occupied by the
"enemy."