SAFE FROM AIRCRAFT

Hokitika Guardian, 19 January 1931, Page 5

SAFE FROM AIRCRAFT

NAVY AND LONDON. [United Press Association.—Fy Electrio Telegraph—Copyright]. ' LONDON, January 17. The “Daily Express’’ announces that as the result of the recent Atlantic Fleet exercises, the nnvy, is of the opinion that the-aircraft attacks upon the ships at sea .were defeated. It is stated that anti-aircraft gunnery, organised ' at. Whale Island, Portsmouth, proved $0 effective as to show that no high-flying aeroplane can in future attack British warships at sea. This success is primarily due to the mounting of eight, inch guns on the latest cruisers, which can be , fired effectively at an elevation of 75 or 80 degrees range against .aircraft at., a height of 27,000 feet which is higher than.any bombing aircraft can possibly fly. Against the battleships, the guns put up a curtain of shrapnel through which it would be 1; impossible for aeroplanes to penetrate. The barrange would also keep outlowflying aerophones carrying torpedoes, as a blast of eight inch guns 'would alone bo sufficient to upset low aeroplanes. It is calculated that if ; one aeropsane escaped the gunnery barrage, one hundred and thirty aeroplanes, would have been sacrificed which is an impossible

proportion. : • The War Office has made similar progress with anti-aircraft defence on land, and is now convinced that the danger of an aircraft attack,on London is negligible.