ARMY WEATHER FORECASTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 61, 12 March 1915, Page 5

ARMY WEATHER FORECASTS.

A GEBMAN IHIfOTATIOH.

: Conditions of the,weather.are ! regarded as so important thai the Germans have a trained number of meteorologists and astronomers in Belgium _to ; forecast the. weather two days ahead for ■ the: commanders in the field. - "Jfature" considers this of such importance that it advises, the British Governmnt to adopt similar

"It is likely to '"cause some surprise," says ''Nature," "to learn that , the Germane before their attack on the British east const towns of Scarborough Hartlepool and Whit by bad made a wery detailed study of .climatic conditions. When.they first invaded Belgium the troops, .were accompanied by a whole staff : of scientists.' 'On .August 16 the astronomers and meteorologists -who were attached- to the group then stationed at Aix-la-Chapelle took up their headquarters at liege, and about August 25 they had moved their headquarters to the Observatory of Uecle. Here they remained until the beginning of September, when-they were relieved by other astronomers and meteorologists from Berlin. ■•--—-• ■}

"Immediately after .their arrival at this observatory the Belgian, personnel there was discharged. The instruments of the institution were, however, appropriated by the Germans, and to them were added the very latest set of weather instruments, which had .been brought irom Berlin. On September 3 the scientists looked around for a hydrogen factory which they needed to be able to fill their balloons which they employed for forecasting the approach of fog or mist. These observations were found very effective to the army in the siege of Antwerp. The weather, reports were carefully made, and sent to the commanders in the field' forty-eight hours in advangp. 'There also is evidence that the German scientists made similar observations and forecasts in connection with their attack on Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby, f orecastmg the weather conditions for the raid two days in advance. These weather predictions are usually., accurate, as the instruments used are of ■the most delicate and latest pattern: The German weather station by this time most likely has been' moved to Ostend or Zeebrugge. It hitherto has been scarcely known that the weather forecasters of the German army in the field constitute a most important role ia thifl German war of destruction. ■>