Evening star., 1911-08-13

sessed OF an aerial fleet Will use IL in
war IL Ii finds II profitable. 1t Is be-
lieved that absolute interdiction would
not prove efiicacious
The chairman, NJ. Paul Franchiiie OF
the Paris University. opposed the argu-
ments OF his colleagues. He showed it
TO De utopian to think. NJ. Holland.
that airways could be reserved to pa
with NM. Westlake, Fiore Alberto Roliu
and de Bar that war would be more hu-
name because IL was pretended that tho
use OF aeroplanes was restrained to the
examination OF forces OF the enemy. This
would be well IL armies and belIigerent
fleets were interdicted from firing on
hostile aeroplanists who came 10 observe
their movements and explore the gone
OF observation But this would be abb
surd. II was necessary. I'm effect, to
authorize aeroplanes to reply to attacks
against them from the surface OF the
earth or from the sea by launching pro-
jectiles in their defense. This was
logical.
The institute of International law con-
cluded that there were two logical sys-
tens. One. that interdicted all use OF
aeroplanes In time OF war: the other that
authorized their employment I'm a gem
eral way arms OF combat and de-
struction. This last the chairman asked
should be adopted. and the proposition
was supported by NM. Roiin, Errere and
Politis.
az barbarous as claimed By its adver-
saries. Even IL II was. its authorization
would do more than it's interdiction for
pacific ideas. The opinion of the people,
with which 1t was necessary to count.
would be more hostile TO war when war
was made moro terrible. Mines and
submarines concealed beneath the sur
face blew up ironclads: were they not
more dreadful engines than acroplanes?
The fort that sweeps off the adversary is
IL not more deadly than the aeroplane that
launches projectiles2 Navigation, ts II
more menaced by the fire Of aeropianes
than by ships OF war whose guns are
far out of vision?
NJ de Lapradele of the University OF
Paris proposed that aerial war should be
authorized HORIZONTALLY. =.
Important was no more dangerous 10
Al. the non-combatant TO direct
~oS'i0A' projectile horizontally
than to let one fall from an aeropiane.
because one could not determine the point
upon which II would fall.
NJ Franchille opposed the interdiction
of horizontal war practically impos-
sible. Could any one conceive or two
to attack? The chairman suggested that
tain projectiles. also notification to bel
ligerents and also neutrals, of the zones
OF hostile action. These, however added
NJ. Franchilie, would only be slight pal
liatives OF the horrors Of war
Finally the Institute OF International
Law adopted by vote OF II to the
following resolution:
Aerial war Is permitted, but upon con-
dition that II Is not made q greater dan
ger for persons or property of neutrals
than terrestrial or maritime war"
This formula will be difficult TO apply.
Nevertheless. the progress Of aeronautics
has indisputably modified the laws OF
war and the ideas OF Jurisconsults.
Suisse an interesting study entitled:
''rhe Demonstration Of Armies by Aero
planes"
The writer is Swiss. He is not parti-
san OF war. but he accepts the situation
and believes in the principle Of defense
defense which should be made as ter
rible as possible"
Switzerland, he believes. should arm
herself not only for her own safety and
preservation. but for the safety of hu-
manity. He expresses the opinion that
Switzerland should have another motive
to maintain herself She Is q union OF
many peoples. She should therefore be
maintained as an example Of what the
world may be. confederation OF coun-
tries.
NJ Rieffel would have Switzerland adopt
the aeroplane as q means Of reconnois-
sance superior to all
Oirigibles others. In the first
Unreliable. place. the cost OF the
than the one-twentieth of the dirisibIe.
which is slow. an easy mark for the ene-
my. and in storm 1t il absolutely unman-
ageable, and even q great danger to
those who attempt to direct II. 1t is only
dirigible In q calm.
The writer expresses nothing new, for
the failure Of the dirigfble has already
been conceded by Germany since the
maneuvers Of 1910. In the army maneu-
vers to be held at AllOna August 20 aero
planes will take part In the practice for
the first time.
NJ Rieffel considers the question Of the
best kind of armament for the war aero
plane. He suggests the use Of q small
lead arrow OF twenty five grammes.
which, dropped from the aeroplane
at q height of 1,3OO meters or more
out of sight and out of range of an
enemy. acquires the penetrating force OF
q rife bullet Ten thousand OF these ar
rows would weigh only 253 kilos. Also
millions Of little incendiary cylinders
could be dropped over certain centers
designated for destruction In advance.
j
pears to be known to N. Rieffel. permits
the aeronaut to remain stationary AM
thus select the point OF attack. II would
be possible to increase the distance above
the enemy and lombard with precision
and at ease. And the author soothes his
conscience over this sort of warfare by
citing what Is attributed to Napoleon.
namely that "ail is fair in war"
An army without aeroplanes arrsyed
against an adversary armed with them
would be at q great
Indispensable mora, as well as
- m.-f.r. material dsadvan-
In warIaIe. tage. NJ Riefel dc
clares that IL an aeroplane should ny
over a line Of soldiers unprotected by air
ships the surprise would inevitably en-
gender fear, the instinct to stampede
would be irresistible. Panic is the re-
suit Of some sudden and unexpected dan
ger.
Col. Patry in his book, War as 1t Is"
recites the case OF q panic which seiz-
ed the corps to which he belonged
"Bruskly the entire corps of officers and
men gave way. and, as IL by magic, they
fed, and halted only q kilometer in the
rear, where. breathless. they regarded
one another with astonishment" The
aeroplane then. with it's perfected motor
hidden by hills, may become an agent
of panfcs. He cites an example in the
recent war in Mexico. An aeroplane ap-
peared in the sky: making it's way toward