The Daily News THURSDAY, AUGUST 26. AIRSHIPS IN WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 174, 26 August 1909, Page 2

The Daily News THURSDAY, AUGUST 26. AIRSHIPS IN WAR.

The energetic manner in which the subject of aviation is being taken up by the great Towers indicates tlu- growth of tlie theory that the mastery of tlie air may prove of more importance in the event of war than command of the *ea. There is far more eagerness in Franco and (Jerinany to develop an airship for war purposes than as aa aid to peaceful intercommunication, in Ureal Britain, aviation has so far been looked upon as a somewhat exciting pastime, of little or no value, either in assisting war or promoting peace. 3<n actual practice there is prolmhly more navigation of the air regularly indulged in in Britain than in any other part of the world. There have been aerial associations in existence for many years, and for several seasons regular balloon derbys have been features of fashionable I London society. Even England, however, I if»* beginning to think that the pretty , aerial pleasure ships may be developed into something of a more .serious naI lure, and military airships are receiving

almost as much consideration by the London War Office now us they arc in Herlin. An interesting article oil aerial warfare appeared recently in a London journal, dealing with this subject. The writer remarks that alarming predictions are current of an impending revolution in warfare. The nation which attains the empire of the air will conquer the rest of the world. It will destroy armies, annihilate forts, arsenals, docks, fleets, and cities by dropping high explosives. Hut are not the destructive. potentialities ot aeroplanes somc--1 "what exaggerated? The, Austrians used | free but unmanned balloons to drop explosives over an enemy's position, while besieging Venice in 1845). On .'July 12. twenty small bomb balloon*' suddenly appeared rising above the Austrian squadron oil' the Lido. Kach biil.no i carried a bomb to be libe-rated bv a time fuse. Not one nt them fell upon the city. The wind suddenly shifted, and drove the gasbags over the heads of the besiegers, upon whom they rained their projectiles. The Austrians stampeded, but owing to the weak explosive packed in the bombs, nobody was killed or injured by the explosions. The success achieved with the system of aerial communication organised by the people of Paris during the siege of 1870 led to a proposal to fill an immense ballooi with explosive material and discharge its contents over the German camp, but it was rejected by the Government as likely to recoil upon the beleaguered city. Two could play at that game, and as Paris formed a huge chicle, in whicli every projectile from a balloon car was sure to fhd a billet, the (!or- ' man*' had the city at their mercy. The derm a n.s used every effort by artillery—which included a special balloon gun constructed by Krupp—and musketry lire, and sharp patrol service to destroy these Paris balloons or capture those that fell. Out of 7'5 balloons only one was shot down. Hroadlv shaking, musketry lire is ineffective against the "lighter than air'' engine of war. Owing to the difficulty oi measuring height and distance the target is hard to hit. Moreover, a good many bullet holes are required to indict much damage. Even after being struck repeatedly by shrapnel or rille bullets, a balloon will not fall rapidity as to endanger the lives" of the aeronauts. The American captive balloon outside Santiago in 18!)K, which was riddled by the Spaniards, and had all its staff wounded, came to earth safely, taking twelve minutes to drop 1500 fe:»t. There is good reason to believe, however, that the destruction of dirigibles could be effected by powerful rockets in the hands of detachments manoeuvring in light motor cars. 'lf a rocket penetrated the gas bag, spontaneous combustion would ensue. Vlying machines, though much harder to hit, are more vulnerable to shrapnel or musketry lire. It is conceivable that few bullets won!:! suffice to put these out of action. k may be taken for granted that dirigible airships and living machines will be employed in the next war; but it is doubtful if thev will prove of utility as wrial batteries, or for purposes of invasion. Pathcr their scope lies in penetrating far into the enemy's country, and returning promptly with intelligence. The 1 commander-in-chief could, from a position on an airship, make better disposition of his forces, and during the battle, having better knowledge of how tin* tide of combat rolled, meet emergencies more promptly. "But both sides having exactly the same advantage, it is difficult to see how the condiitoas would be actually any better than at present.