The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 1916. AERIAL WARFARE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 93, 25 March 1916, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 1916. AERIAL WARFARE.

That Germany proposes to continue her campaign of Rightfulness in aerial warfare is made evident by most recent developments. Count Zeppelin has also announced that the German Government is constructing airships to reach a greater altitude and to carry a heavier load, and it is therefore highly desirable that Britain should do everything possible to provide air-defences for her towns anci cities. It is quite probable tiiat the enemy may show increased activity in their aerial raids with the advent of finer weather, but people in England are exhibiting more calmness and confidence than they did at first. The Government assurance that everything possible is being done to safeguard not only London, but other great centres of population, and that throughout the country there is a network of precautions, has done much to restore confidence, but nevertheless there i.s a call for greater acti-

vity in the construction of aircraft and more definite plans of aption. This was voiced in the House of Commons the other day by Mr Billings, the wellknown editor of "Aeronautics." The

Government's replies are, however, reassuring, and the wrecking of Zeebrugge harbour by our own airmen proves our ability to make the enemy pay heavily for its murderous attacks on British coastal towns. In a recently published work by Mr V. W. Winchester there is discussion as to the profitableness of air raids upon an enemy's capital. So long as only civilians are murdered and buildings sporadically damaged or destroyed 110 military harm is done, but the total or partial destruction of a capital city would be a blow at the nerve' centre and Government. The conclusions drawn by Mr Lanehester from a clos« and technical consideration of aircraft of every type and form is that the question of defending large I owns against enemy aircraft will shortly heone of the most serious and difficult of modern warfare, and certainly in this last year tremendous developments have taken place. Mr Lanchester is of opinion that invasion of the air can only be met in the air.

He urges that Britain should build continually and he makes out an overwhelming rase for putting Britain aerially in the position she holds, and must continue to hold, by sea. Discussing the policy of our reprisals he asks why the Allies could not estab-

lish a reprisal camp as near as practicable to the German frontier, and answer immediately and effectively as possible every raid into pur territory for the purpose of destroying non-combatants' lives and property. But even under such provocation as

the enemy has given the nation withholds its hand from reprisal, preferring to wreak vengeance for wrongdoing l>v real acts of warfare.