THE TREACHEROUS SEARCHLIGHT.

Evening Star, Issue 13003, 24 December 1906, Page 2

THE TREACHEROUS SEARCHLIGHT.

It would seem (says * St. James's Budget'), to jndgc by General Franklin's experience, that tho searchlight is to ail army in tho field something of a twoedged sword. At all events, there is room for considerable improvement in .several directions. ' Tiio searchlight is rather delusive in undulating and bushy country. For "as tho beam moves across the front the shadows of bushes move, and they nro mistaken for tho shadows of men." There is a difficulty in getting up teams under fire to withdraw the searchlight, so that "it appears undesirable to place it in the picket line." And, worst of all, it was found in experience on Salisbury Plain that " hostile troops moving to the attack were able to use tho light for their own convenience, as the beam passed over their heads and lit up the ground they worn marching over without disclosing their position." On the other hand, it is apparently very di.'ttcult to hit the searchlight. In fine, here is an excellent, opportunity i'or scientific investigation, professional ingenuity, and progress —a problem for the Army's new brains.