OUTPOSTS OF THE AIR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 105, 11 January 1912, Page 7

OUTPOSTS OF THE AIR.

£450,000 FOR GERMAN FLYING SCOUTS. Berlin, November 17. ■Within the next year or two Germany's frontiers will be guarded by an Unbroken chain of aerial sentinels. I The German War Office, which ever since the advent of the aeroplane, has devoted careful study to the use of the new arm, had decided that, beginning with the eastern and western borders, every fortified point of *he country's frontiers shall be provided with its own ['detachment of aerial scouts, who, soaring aloft, will keep constant guard over the nation's outposts. Tn tills ind, the military aviation corps, now centred at Doberitz, is, at the.beginning of. next.year, to be decentralised and. stationed in detachments at every strategic point. Special sheds, accommodating six to twelve aeroplanes, in accordance with" the importance of • the position, will be erecjted and provided with a permanent staff of certificated military pilots arid observers. : In addition to this, every big naval and'coast town is to be provided with la,rge detachment, which, constantly hovering above the coast and flying put to seat will render invaluable aid as'aerial watchdogs. This disposition, in case of war, will have a double advantage, for while the aerial, scouts will be; able to give early warning of an enemy's approach on a ; 8 tiaJiegiP',positi.on,:.there will always be *at hand a means ;of counteracting any attempt of an enemy to destroy jfort'ifsom,, above, by means, pf, its own .flying, machines. -, The : cost, of providing the sheds and -other equipment is estimated,, for, the first year, at £450,000, and this amount :JwiUjie a&keoVfor. in the military Budget which is .to come (before the Jiew t Reichstag. The mijitary. flying schools at Dobgrite will, continue to be, the training.. gW»4' fc* J° un g o%era, detailed .for making themselves efficient as airmen, will be, ,with, their machines to, their future "posts on the frontier. At the .present momenkgGerraany has over pyenty. fully, certificated military aerial pilots. t* '■■■ ■ ■<■«. . .^g.