But as an enemy chaser, the
airplane was still regarded with much distrust and incredulity. Some
said it was useless; was it not sufficient that the airplanes of the
army corps and those for bombardments could defend themselves? Others of
less extreme opinions thought it should be limited to the part of
protector. This opposition was overcome by the sudden development of the
German enemy-chasing airplanes after July, 1915, subsequent to our raids
on Ludwigshafen and Karlsruhe, which aroused furious anger in Germany.
In the beginning the belligerent nations had collected the most
heterogeneous group of all the airplane models then available. But the
methodical Germans, without delay, supplied their constructors with
definite types of machines in order to make their escadrilles
harmonious. At that time they used monoplanes for reconnaissances,
without any special arrangement for carrying arms, and incapable of
carrying heavy weights; and biplanes for observation, unarmed, and
possessing only a makeshift contrivance for launching bombs. The
machines of both these series were two-seated, with the passenger in
front.
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