Flying Torpedoes and New York.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 February 1922, Page 3

Flying Torpedoes and New York.

“A GRIM SPECTRE.” SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 10. - While the American Administration has been busy aiming at reducing military and naval estimates, as well as cutting down her warship and submarine programmes, there has been considerable discussion as to the danger of New York being mysteriously visited by destructive aerial forces which might completely wipe out the big American seat of several million of population, and in this respect a vivid word-picture of the destruction of New York City by radio-controlled aerial torpedoes in the event of another war, painted by Joseph Wright, former commanding officer of courts and boards of the Tliircl Naval District, was read before the Sinking Fund Commission in New York when an application of former Rear-Admiral Glennon, former district commander, for cession to the Government of the 95-acre naval air station at Rockaway was called for discussion. Commander Wright, who said be wrote “solely as a private citizen,” de-

clared the Rockaway station was absolutely necessary for the defence of New York and had been so certified by the Secretary of the United States Navy. “Thte whole world knows the important part New York City and its harbour played in the World War,” lie said. “It would be one of the first places of attack. A barbarous enemy could destroy the entire city in a few

ninutes.; Picture an aeroplane leaving lie ground or the deck of a ship, with-

out a human being oil it, flying a hundred miles or more until it arrives over its destination, a defenceless city, into which it is sent crashing with thousands of pounds of high explosives and asphyxiating gases—the entire outfit flown straight to its helpless target, guided and controlled throughout by wireless.

“Such is the aerial torpedo, only one of the many new things in aviation during 1921. Imagine a thousand of those engines—two, three thousands — hurtling out of the skies upon New York City or any of the large cities of our country, and you have an idea of the grim spectre haunting the minds of the protectors of our country. It is a real grim spectre against which wc must provide a defence, hence this application. “Such an aeroplane torpedo could cover the distance between Europe and our shores in several hours and lull

with approximate accuracy on any of thy large cities in the United States. They can now be used in shorter distances from the decks of vessels with absolutely accurate and deadly results.

“Each great nation is now quietly engaged in developing aerial weapons as well as peaceful enriers, building up within Its borders great civilian aircraft manufacturing industries will' trained personnels. The new uo

lions are employed in peaceful pursuits its far as possible, title heavy bombing machines being used for civilian transportation routes. They literally crisscross Europe to-day, with junctions at all capital cities.”

Although Commander Wright painted such a cataclysmic-picture of a possible visitation to American cities from Europe, it must not be um|erstood that the inventive genius of the United States lias been in any way dormant, for many strange schemes have been propounded recently whereby aerial inventions might be called into account for the defence of Uncle Sam’s territory from the invader. Americans have themselves shown their ability to sheer aerial torpedoes to wreck foreign centres of population, but the people of America have not been much stirred by these fantastic schemes, believing that the day of world wars is at an end and that with the deliberations of the Washington Disarmament Conference big conflicts now will he minimised largely. Now that Commander Wright has broken into print, a not inconsiderable section of the American public has been much impressed by the menace of the air. especially at such centres at New York, Boston, and other cities of the Eastern seaboard.