TORPEDO IN THE AIR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 220, 10 September 1908, Page 4

TORPEDO IN THE AIR.

GERMANY PURCHASES A FORMIDABLE WEAPON. 11Y LAND OR SEA. Berlin, July 10. Messrs Kraft), of Essen, have acquired the patent rights of the new airi torpedo invented by the Swedish Colonel Unge, subject to the one reservation that the Swedish Government shall have the right to make full use of this latest weapon in every form. Colonel Unge, while satisfying his patriotic scruples, has done an excellent stroke of business. Messrs Krupp ha\e paid a large sum for the patents of Ibis air torpedo, which is the most terrible instrument of destruction yet invented. It will be shortly introduced into the Certnau army and navy, which will thereby possess a more effective equipment than any other army or navy in ■rue world with the single exception of '/Sweden. Colonel I'nge's torpedo can be fired without producing any recoil, hence 1 *he torpedo tube is light and easy to move quickly from place to place. The air torpedo tube is conveyed on a motor-car. which can be speedily unmounted anil fired without any elaborate preparations. and much move rapidly than iielil artillery can be brought into positions for liriug. 'file weapon can be used in every kind of warfare. I.i bombarding for treses it will cNcrci-e a destructive cll'ect oil the ino-t formidable defence works. In liehl operations the torpedo can be hurled against, bodies of troops as well as again-t troops in cover.';! positions. The fact that the torpedo can be fired "■without the lea-t uoise will make it difficult for the enemy to local,' the position of a torpedo battery by wliieh it is lrciug attached. 1,1 coast defence an air torped.ii could In' tired in such a way as to drop ■on the decks of hostile battleships. Colonel Unge has invented an air I torpedo of greater calibre for use i„ naval warfare, so that henceforth warships will be liable to tie torpedoed from above as well as beneath the water line. A smaller type of torpedo lis constructed for use in mountain warfare, vliei- it can I"' employed m terrains ipiite. inaccessible to mountain' artillery of the .present type. Military experts declare that thai,- li.rpeib. is a truly epoch making invention which adds oie I horror | to modern warfare. i