The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-07-26
EAGLES TO ATTACK AERopLANE,


From the New York American.
A new and more terrifying phase of
aerial warfare is promised. French Of
ficers are training eagles to attack aero
planes in the air and bring them crashing
to the ground.
Experts have concluded that 1t will be
extremely difficult to hit flying aero
plane, although several special weapons
have been devised for this purpose. In
der present conditions apparently an
army must either fight aeroplanes with
aeroplanes or permit them to fly away
untouched after doing all the harm they
can and after spying out the army's dis
positions. Even with pursuing aero
planes disaster Is more probable than
success to the pursuer.
But 1t has been found that a very
slight injury to the driver of an aero
plane will destroy his control and send
him topping to his death. The late Call
braith Rogers, very brilliant aviator,
is said to have met his death because
seagull accidentally flew against him and
disturbed his control of his machine.
If such modest sized bird as a seagull
tOdlu WitCh hi dNidtOIB WHdl COuiu GIL
eagle do? We all know something of the
power of these tremendous birds. In the
Alps they frequently carry off young
sheep and beat off men who attempt to
interfere with them. A few days ago an
eagle near Washington, Conn.,. attempted
to carry off a baby, the child of a far
mer named Matthew J. Crowley. 1t re-
quired the combined efforts of Mr.. and
Mrs Crowley and several other persons
to save the baby.
The Swiss eagle Is more powerful than
any American bird. The French aviation
officers stationed at Nice, which is within
a few miles Of the Alpine home of eagles.
have trained six great eagles. The Of
ficers have constructed machines resemb-
ling aeroplanes In shape, but supported
by balloons. To these they attach chick
ems, mice and all sorts of live prey that
the eagles love.
The aeroplane balloons are then sent
up and the eagles are let loose. With
fierce cries and Tapping of their wings
they attack an aeroplane and tear the
living prey from It, In their eagerness
they fight one another, and the aeroplane
is sometimes turned upside down in their
struggles. II is inconceivable that any
men In an aeroplane, even If there were
three or four of them, could retain con-
troll of their machine In the face of such
an attack.
One after another the eagles attack all
the aeroplane balloons until they are
wrecked. Their trainers feel certain that
they will now attack real aeroplanes with
men in them with the same ferocity
No one who has watched an eagle only
on the ground can have any conception of
It's power. The bird is at a disadvantage
on the ground, because 1t was made to
fly and not to walk, and because 1t does
not develop the full power of its tremen-
dous wings until 1T has had space In
which to work them. 1t has great diff
Guilty in rising from the ground. Like a
great ship, 1t needs room in which to
maneuver.
But In its natural realm, the upper air,
the eagle will be capable of upsetting any
flying machine. 1t can fight with its
beak, claws and wings at once. 1t can
swoop down on the aviator from above
or attack him from any direction.
The eagles are capable of pursuing an
aeroplane to any height and following 1t
to any distance. Any gun Is practically
useless against an aeroplane which has
risen above 500 yards, and, of course, the
bullet cannot pursue an object after 1t
has once missed its mark.
If war broke out tomorrow between
France and Germany the first German
aeroplane that sighted the French army
would undoubtedly be attacked by the
trained war eagles.