The Detroit times., 1912-08-02
WORLDS NEXT GREAT WAR
TO Be WON BY AERIAL SHIPS,
SAY EXPERTS OF EUROPE
Rival Powers Work Feverishly
in Secret To Perfect Their
Black Battle Birds
LIQUID DEATH is DROPPED
Steel-Clad Squadrons Let Bombs
Fall in Camps of Enemy
Far Below
LIQUID DEATH IS DROPPED

LONDON, Aug. l.-Vague, gnost'
like forms, darting across the SKY al
40 miles an hour; bombs and liquid
fire scattering death and destrue-
ZION. cities RACED, nations terrorlzed'
Immense armies helples5--such Is the
picture of the next war painted oy
the air man militant,
The hghting fourth arm" has ar
rivAd European countries predict
that the balance OF power will lie
In the squadrons OF the sky In tu-
ture wars.
The improvements in aeroplanes
I'm IL months has been wonderful.
Europe, choosing the monoplane for
Its speed and flexibility, Is far ahead
OF this country.
France and Germany, In their Sc
cret experimental stations. have
wrought wonder machines with an
offensive strength only guessed at
| by the world.
Since the discovery OF the stream
T. lines" possibilities, the aviator has
gone far ahead Speed, ease OF
handling and stability have all i'm
proved with this discovery, which Is
! the adoption Of a model Offering the
least resistance TO forward motion
and minimizing the vacuum pockets.
Il was worked out by experiments in
water. hence its name.
Simpliflcation OF detnil, perfec-
ton OF engines, stability and in
creased carrying power mark pro-
gress. Trim, racy-looking flyers sug-
gestive of strength have replaced
cumbersome, flimsy craft.
Today 125 miles an hour is the
proper speed. Only monoplane can
do this, so the biplane is discarded,
practically, by the war departments
OF Europe. although still favored
here.
One French monoplane has been
taken I othe field In a motor van,
unpacked, assembled and taken TO
the air In IA minutes. Another
folds its wings like beetle, which 1t
resembles.
Bcmb-dropping has reached the
point whore passenger, sitting be-
hind the air pilot, his head protected
by a metal shield, drops bombs from
trap between his feet, carrying a
supply of explosives IN racks on
either side OF his seat.
The armored plane is here. II
consists of a metal body. protected
beneath by strips OF light. tough
metal, capable OF DETECTING a rife
bullet But the best protection lies
In the terrific speed. At 125 10 $50
miles an hour a monoplane up / 900
or 5000 feet is an elusive target.
Tho italians haUa uIyan NJ >
plane its only real test, against the
Turks, and the ease with which they
drop bombs into camps and troops
proved the air fighter's efffcIancy.,
But bombs, even the most power
full, are not effective against modern
forts. Their destructive radius Is
too limited.
The most effective weapon Is
liquid fire. A gasoline bomb which
bursts into flame upon impact ia the
terrible weapon proposed for the
aerial navy. A rain OF. these would
quickly destroy a city.
Equipped with a noiseless engine.
which is the next forward step, with
search-light flashing for a second
and then disappearing, an aeroplane
at night, travelling 1875 miles an
hour, offers a poor target, while bat
tleship, cruiser or unprotected city
lies at its mercy.
The great vafue--uf the Sky
squadron lies in Its mobility. IL
may be 300 miles away tomorrow
scattering death and destruction
from the heights OF their invisible
air lanes, darting away with the
speed OF the wind when their work
Ia completed.
The recent fight OF Hirth. In a
humpler monoplane, $50 miles from
Berlin to Vienna with a passenger
IN seven hours, was a striking dem
onstration.
The American defender Of the
Goroon Bennett cup--a composite
product OF the brains of Wright
Curtiss and Burgess-is guaranteed
70 ny 126 miles an hour. The en-
CINE Is French rotary 1eO-borsa
power and cost ss.257.