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BALLOONS. The 1st Balloon Company arrived in the area of the 2nd Division about the 18th, making a total of 2 balloons for the month's operation. A review of the balloon's work on the Marne and Vesle is given in the Vesle chapter.

PURSUIT. In the advance to the Vesle the Pursuit Squadrons were compelled to fly further and further from their fields, first at Ormeaux and later at Saints, until their radius of action became almost nil. The aerodrome was never closer than 45 kilometers from the lines. From the commencement of the German attack of July 15th, the plan of employment of pursuit units contemplated the maintenance of a double tier barrage at intermediate and at high altitudes uninterruptedly from dawn to dark. The number of machines out of commission rendered it impossible to do this in sufficient strength throughout the are and for a short time there was tried squadron formations not echelonned by flights. These proved unwieldly, easily thrown into confusion, incapable of being controlled by a single leader, and forced to operate without top protection. Later every squadron was echelonned by its separate flights and no patrol was sent out at intermediate altitudes except when accompanied by another patrol at high altitude.