St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1908-10-16
WAR OF THE FUTURE

lie reviews the course of arms
from the primitive days when the
sword and shield were the only weap
ons of offense and defense down to
the present when the great Dread
noughts of the navy and the siege
guns of the land forces with the al
most lmpenetrable armor of both the
vessels and the forts take the place
of the former weapons.
lie takes the position that with
the coming Of the great warships OF
the air the trade of war would wbne
That soon there would be no place
for war. That few aerial wal
ships would make It so tropical for
the leaders of tho nations who have
heretofore been able to remain In
safety while their followers went "a
the front TO do their deadly work
Tor them, that they would fear to de.
clare war. lie says the United States
mas named certain tests such as a
speed of 30 miles an hour, be able
to carry 800 pounds and two men,
or sail easily with or against the wind
TO rise from the land or water and
carry fuel enough for 12j.mllo trip.
IL Is said that the government will
soon give specifications for and nd.
Vertlse for bids for an alrship with
these qualifications.
Mr.. llaslins says further. .rbo
ships that stands thcsc tests viii
nave broken down world.old barrlers
The new warfare will De terrible and
wonderful Coast dcfonscs that have
COST billions OF dollars viii be set at
hahght; fort and castle will be- nH 40
much picturesque pastcboard scenery
on playhouse stage: the armlos of
the world will be- useless: the iron.
clads will lie powcrloss at anchor
Ia easy range OF pitIlcss aerial Dread
naughtB. ono completely oqulppcd
acrial battlcshlps could wipe out scy.
cral thousand vessels that constitute
the naylcs Of the world powers. aud
destroy thoir armies by powerful OK.
ploBI,cs dropped from above. Were
such destroyer Ia attack Great Hrlt
ain. for example, the protection OF
inaularlly which that country has go
long enjoyed would be- of no avail.
aud the annual army budget Of Si3S,.
100000 aud navy budget OF 100000.
900 would have been IN utterly
wasted as 30 many cups OF water.
"ln the now warfare acroplanoS as
swift aB swallows act aS scouts IN the
skies. sailing at from 10 To 90 miles
an hour, aud mapping the country
ut will from "a height Of 1000 or per.
haps 1000 feet. Sharpshootcrs on
lookout towow ON the land, armed
with guns especially made for sight,
Ing and firing sl,ywurd. viii have
'"iit' N''A MANNANN NNAN hAlNNk' /
birds. On sea the object 10 be- hit !
moves at about ~ milcs uu hour. ON |
land II goes slower. In the air IL |
would be- going four or five times as
fast On land or sea the object would /
be- following tho same plane The /
skipper of the rklcs my change at
viii the plane un which he moves. |
and tho sharpshootcm would find his |
range ever changing. his shots going |
Wide of their mark. \ war balloon .
lf ordinary Dimensions would present T.
10 the land batteries about tho same I
surface 40 that offered by platoon .
'f cavalry, while AN airshlp would be-
.'ry difficult 10 hit because the plane
'sald be tangcnlial To tho curve of
Ia" flisht OF the proIoctilc.
When actual military operations
'a'o been begun. with tho maps as
.uidcs. armed cruisers will invade ;ho
kics Of thch cUomy's country. New
Instruments. which must be- a comb.
lation OF plumb line, range finder,
'nd telescope. viii be used TO get
he range OF city or fortress, ard
hen ON these defenscless places the
hip will drop hish explosives With
errific effect. Tho explosives would
'ossibly bo towed behind the airship
N inexpensive, hargolike floats, and |
hese be cut loose and sunk one by ,
ne ON the bosicged country below. /
D as not 20 endangor the aerial {
aiuoship itself, lligh explosives of I
mall bulk might be dropper through
Illed barrels OF new type guns" d
We believe that Mr.. Hasklns has !
'erlooked few things. Ills carry !
is capacity ana length of trip Is not J
10 be available for eNton. =
Fe warfare, but this will in time
overcome, The airship will within
few years be SO improved that they !,
Ill be able TO carry dozen or more !,
en- with the necessary equipment !,
nd supplies to make a speed far \
)ove 40 miles an hour and be able a
remain In the air for days at
me. but the question OF "What
i'll the other fellow be doing con
onts MS just the same in aerial war
re as in any other kind of con,
ct.
Our forts will be changed TO meet b
g new point of attack, New guns