MILITARY AERONAUTICS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 685, 9 December 1909, Page 7

MILITARY AERONAUTICS.

.BALLOON'S LIMITS. ADVANTAGE OF ARMED AEROPLANES.' ; (By Telegraph-Press Assoclatlon-Oopyrleht.) (Rec. Deoembcr 8, 10.35 p.m.) ; • -:■;'■/: -■;■■■' Paris, December B.' The French Army, manoeuvres show the untrustworthiness of dirigible balloons for use in wartime. . They have to ascend so' high to be beyond the range of projectiles, that'it is impossible for their, occupants to distinguish aoonrately the conditions "obtaining ! and the movements in progress below them, and their value for scouting purposes is thus'reduced."'. Aeroplanes ate superior in. manoeuvring to their gas-sustained rivals. . Aeroplanes V are also able to carry Maxims with. which : to destroy, dirigibles. ; -J . - ■"■:■'.; ■■ The Military. Aviation-School at ; Nice is developing aeroplanes and projectiles for use against'dirigibles, -i ; [It is argued:by. the heUvier-than-air school, that the aeroplane, which already carries two men, can easily be developed to a small gunCarrying capacity; and that its superior speed, and its ability to get. to an elevation where the guns of a dirigible bnlloon cannot bear, will make it the necessary antidote to the gasfilled monster, especially as the latter presents suob. a largo target. AVhile Germany already has a squadron of dirigibles, Franco has just ordered eight aeroplanes. The . comparative cheapness, and the rapidity of construction of the aeroplane are also important factors.] '.'