Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 January 1916 — ELABORATE DEVICE TO DECEIVE ENEMY AVIATORS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ELABORATE DEVICE TO DECEIVE ENEMY AVIATORS

This is probably the most elaborate deceptive device used by any of the belligerent armies. The French ave posted a large number of their 220-centimeter mortars in woods and other places, where they are hidden from the enemy’s "air eyes." In order to deceive the German aviators, the French have placed very clever fake guns around the real mortars. They are substantially built of wood and metal to look genuine, and uniformed figures are placed about to represent the gun squads. When an aviator appears overhead, soldiers a long way off pull strings to make the figures move. Smoke also comes out of the gun muzzle.