The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-02-03

/ new possibility. Though aluminium IS
not the wonderful metal which people
commonly think it, IN the building Of
airships IL is sure to play am important
part. Weight for weight the new metal
has the same strength as steel. But
where q thin but at the same time stiff
section is wanted with Eghtness it is
+ much superior to steel This is why 1T is
So useful In the building Of boats.
"An aluminium yacht has just been
built in France and In this country
hfeboat, for private parties. is now be-
ing constructed il Baltimore-an expert
msnt which the life saving authorities
as well as naval people are watching
with interest. I hear this Baltimore boat
is to be used in the arctic regions. With
aluminium the De Bausset airship can
bs built probably no more than 200 feet
LONE and proportional diameter. and get
have displacement enough to carry it
self its engines, screws and enough high
explosive to destroy fleet Of warshIps
or III make big hole even ia a city like
London.
Its Terrible Possibuities-
ssThata vessel like this can be navi-
gated through the air-that is. be guided
at The VIII of the eaptain-I have not the
slightest doubt. The experiments which
the French military engineers have made
at MeudOn and near Paris the trials
which Professor Langley of the Smith
sonian institution has had down the Po-
tomac Of his new flying machine, and.
above all. the results reached by Maxim
ia England. show that with a light and
powerful steam engine an airship cam be
propelled and steered ia the desired dl-
rection. For naval purposes we do not
need perfect naviga bilty. Nor should
we require that it be capable Of naviga-
tion against q strong wind. do not be-
heve we shall ever get an airship, whether
made with buoyant vessel or on the
aerOplane or pushing principle, that viii
be able to make headway In a severe +
storm. When the storm comes. the air /
ship viii have to seek shelter. 1T viii be T
a fair weather craft, pure and simple. f
But for offensive purposes In naval war +
fare we c01lld choose our time.
Suppose 1Lello had 3 ship on the De +
Bausset principle for use at Rio Janeiro. f
The mere fact that it was within his
power TO utilize fair day and a favor +
able wind FOR floating above the capital (
city a ship loaded with dynamite would +
lead to immediate and unconditional Z
surrender On the part Of the government. +
So it would be with rs If we were to en-
ploy an aerial ship for defense of the city +
of New York Our craft might not be
perfectly navigable. particularly against
favorable moment for our attack by air
upon the feet Of the enemy lying in the
bay Of outside OF Long Island. Tia maxi
ing an attack upon London Of course
the difficulties would be enormously IN
creased. But without any stretch of the
Imagination j can see the possibility Of
sending such an air craft up from the
deck of one of our cruisers which had
stolen under cover of night as near to
~ Ts.-7l E. -.e
reaching the mark with q few terrible
shots Of dynamite.
a Hazardous Enterprise.
fsWhen weremember that very small
aerial vessel even q common balloon
made of silk and inflated with ilumi-
mating or hydrogen gas, can carry sur
ncient quantity of explosive to destroy n
feet Of cruisers. the wonder is that
greater progress has not been made in
the direction Of aerial warfare. la the
operation Of these war engines Of the fu-
ture there IS sure to be much risk to life.
The men who sail these craft viii be the
daring of the daring. They VIII take
their lives ia their hands. and often there
viii be disasters. But. no matter how
dangerous the work. men w1u be found
10 engage in it. There never yet was
an enterprise so hazardous, If prosecuted
10 behalf of country, that men could not
be found to take the chance
knowing ~ I do what has already
been accom- lished ia the direction Of
perfecting aerial explosive throwers."
concluded the naval officer, ssand bear
ing in mind that perhaps One-half Of thar
which has been accomplished we know
nothing Of, repeat my prediction that in
10 years the great powers Of the world
VIII be QUILTED with machines of this
description. each capable Of soaring over
q city and pouring torrents of hell upon
II. When that time comes, war will be
at an end, save among guerrilla nations,
savages and individuals War as We
knew it viii exist only ia history. IN
the world there viii be universal peace.
An End to war
Another naval officer, quite as well in
formed as this speaker. echoed the same
sentiment tsIn fact" said he, ssthis
thing is coming as u sort of wave. When
ever the world is on the eve Of some great
ina provement or invention. We hear of It
from many quarters. 1T announces its
coming with q sort Of rumbling-
SIGNS that a thought wave IS going
through the world So it is with this
aerial cruiser. Men ia America. In
France, in Germany, ia Russia, are at
work upon it, While it is building the
su bmarine torpedo boat VIII be per-
fected With both of them, and with
the guns which we already have in use
for throwing dynamite. war VIII become
mere butchery and vanton destruction
OF property and that means an end tG
war" WALTER " EI4I-1EAN.
Tried 1t on the Dogs.