SUBMARINE AND AEROPLANE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1431, 31 July 1915, Page 4

SUBMARINE AND AEROPLANE.

From all parts of tlie British Empire the Admiralty is receiving suggestions as to new ways of destroying submarines and Urns protecting not only ships of His Majesty’s Navy, but vessels of the mercantile marine. Mr L. BHn Desbleds, well known as a lecturer on aeronautics, has put torward a scheme tor meeting the submarine warfare on commerce by the employment in a special manner of aeroplanes carrying anti-sub-marine bombs. Writing in the Syren, he advocates the formation of a national air service, operating with the sanction of the Government, and controlled by a central body, but so constituted as to permit initiative on the part of each local air squadron. In effect, lie proposes to utilise the volunteer spirit for the creation of au auxiliary air service; just as every town of importance has its territorials, so every seaport of any consequence would have its air squadron. He points out that a modern aeroplane can easily fly for five hours at an average speed of 70 miles an hour, and cany during a flight of that duration a load of 300 II) to 4jo.fi of bombs or explosives. Such aeroplanes would maintain a reconnaissance iu territorial waters, observe the movements of submarines, transmit their observations by wireless, and convoy merchant vessels.”