The Washington herald., 1909-07-27
A Real Aerial War Ship

The invasion Of England by a single
passenger in half-wrecked aeroplane is
novelty bound 20 be made the most OF
by those exploiting the heavIer-than-air
flying machines as the highes; product
OF modern aviation.
/ But It may be we'll TO remember that
while aer9plane operators have been try
Ing TO cross the English Channel-one at
last succeeding Germany has had in op-
Grafton two airships Of an entirely differ
ent type. capable not only OF crossing the
channel, but also OF returning, with at
least dozen passengers and a small
cargo of food and ammunition. One OF
these ships has been equipped with a
rapid fire rifle, able TO throw sixty 1.s-inch
shells a minute a distance Of several
miles. and has gained the distinction OF
being the first real aerial war ship.
The extraordinary progress made by
Germany In military aeronautics, IN
which she has far outdistanced oil other
nations. forms the topic Of the leading
article in McClure's for August. In the
Zeppelin type OF airship the German in
veutor has a true type OF aerial vessel.
self-sustaining. by reason Of displacing
more than its own weight Of atmosphere.
perfectly dirigible. and capable OF attain
ing a speed OF thirty-fve miles an hour
when driven by two engines of 900 com
bined horsepower.
Five OF these ships have been built, and
there las been established at Friedrichs-
hafen a plant costing Si,5O0.OOO. where
airshlps can be turned out at the rate OF
eight to ten a year. It is asserted that by
year from now there will be from ten
10 twenty OF these aerial monsters IN
commercial operation. However, It Is OBJ
vious that. commercially. airships will
have but a limited sphere Of usefulness.
An aerial vessel the size Of the Maure-
tania would have lifting power Of only
l25 tons. which marks the limit OF It's
cargo.
Such a ship could carry ten machine
guns, with a two hours supply OF am
muniton for each. together with crew
and supplies for a week. BY remaining
at an elevation Of about a mile. the air
ship could keep out OF range Of field ar
tillery. yet would be able to direct de-
structive fire upon buildings, or bodies
Of men IN close formation.
1t IS apparent. therefore. whatever may
be the commercial possibilities OF the
airship. that the Zeppelin machines have
added new and destructive power 10
modern warfare TIE authors OF the Nc
Clure article predict that the development
OF aerial war ships means the end OF
armies within the next ten years. They
believe that military supremacy VIII rest
with the nation which has the widest
and surest command OF tho air, as It has
heretofore with the nation which has
| controlled tho sea. Yet they DO not un-
dertake 70 show how any erectual con
quest can be made OF an enemy's country
by airships without the aid Of a support
ing army
An invading feet OF fifty aerial battle
ships might create CONSERVATION in Eng
land or the United States. and do a great
deal OF actual damage. but their crews
could not actually subjugates the country.
and their meager supplies or ammunition
would so soon be exhausted that they
,ro,,I1 - oor,,,,otI.a - -o.---- - .-
The military problems OF offense and
defense, In word, are complicated by
the introduction OF aerial warfare, but
they are in no fundamental sense altered