FRANCE'S WEAPON.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 8, 11 January 1915, Page 6

FRANCE'S WEAPON.

INSTANT DEATH FROM COLD SHOCK. The Daily Mail correspondent, writing from Paris, says ; The new air bomb of the French air service is now in use. I have talked, with Tan airman who lias been allowed to experiment with it upon the enemy. He gives a lucid description of the effect of the bomb, which is clearly visible from the altitude of an aeroplane. “I have used both the dynamite bomb and the new bomb,” said this airman. “The two are very similar in size and weight, but the effect as seen from above is very different. When the dynamite bomb falls upon a body .of men you can see the bodies leap up in the air. It is like a small volcano in action.

“When the new bomb bursts it simply lays everything out flat within the area of its explosion. It seems to exert the whole of its force in waves like the ripples when a la.i go stone is thrown into a pond. Men go down like nine-pins, buildings collapse like a house of playing cards, guns are turning over ias if by some unseen hand.

“The explosion raises practically no dust or smoke. Even the earth disturbed by the case of the bomb striking the ground is instantly flattened out by the same extraordinary waves of force.

•*‘Extreme cold is produced at the moment of explosion, cold so intense, that I felt it myself when I dropped my first bomb at a height of 800 ft. I was taking greatchances in flying so low, hut I wished to see the effect of the bomb. It fell on a section of Germans bivouacking in the field. I estimate that at least thirty men were killed within the area of the explosion. Had they been massed more densely more would have been killed.

“Death from these bombs comes instantiy *from ’ intense cold and concussion.” The material composing the new bombs is simple. It can be conveyed to any air base, and the bomb can be filled by the airmail of his assistant before he starts. five terrible weapons. French airmen have now five terrible weapons of destruction for use in aeroplane fighting. They are : 1. The steel arrows les fleech'es, 6in. long, grooved to ensure straight downward flight', about an ounce in weight,' and ’earned in a box which launches 1000 at a time.' Dropped from an average flying height one of these will hit a matt‘ with driving force of 1001 b. It will go clean through a rider and his horse. The airmen carry several thousands on each flight. An airman was recently mentioned in despatches for the skill and daring with which he used his bombs and arrows. 2. The quickfiring air-gun. This is carried in many of the Ffench monoplahes. Two have been mounted in biplanes in order to command the whole field of flight. They iiave accounted for many of the enemy’s machines. 3. The shell pistol, reserved for action against the Zeppelins. A lucky shot from one of these will put a Zeplepin out of action. 4. The dynamite bomb. This weighs 901 b., arid is dropped by>tjie airman :or his observer. This has been used for blowing rip bridges. ■ 5 r The. new air bomb.