Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-10-29
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DlRiGIBLES or DEATH.
New Devices introduced Into Euro
pean Armies.

New devices have been introduced into
European armies which will make aerial
warfare more terrible and complicated
than any form of military science.
Airships are now painted like clouds
To escape detection by the enemy. They
seek cover behind clouds. They attack
by night and use parachutes to light UP
the enemy's position, drop bombs and
give false information concerning their
own position.
The English army authorities have
manned n wonderful dirigible balloon
CARRYING a number of smaller craft very
much as a steamship carries its lifeboats.
The small craft are fitted with search
lights and bomb chambers and swing on
davits on each side of the great vessel
The parent ship will be Unanswered
by her crew to great height above the
enemy's position, where she will be be-
You'd effective observation and the reach
of shells.
Preferably the attack will be made by
night The parent ship will release one
of the small craft and steer it by Wire
less in the direction of the enemy's po-
sition. Then a change in the rapidity
of the wireless waves viii start a little
electric spark on ~ae small craft that
will ignite a great aeetyene searehlight
This will light UP the enemys position
for a mile around and MAKE il as clear
as daylight to the watchers in the air.
ship
Then another change in the vibration
of the wireless current and bomb will
be released by the opening OF trap
door 1t will fall down with devastating
effect on the soldiers and Notifications
below
The men below will have a poor oppor-
tunity to aim at the attacking ship The
small craft will not indicate exactly
the position OF the parent ship. The
searchlight spreading out over a great
area will not reveal accurately the spot
from which it comes.
1t will be possible to steer A small
craft back to the parent ship. but even
should one be destroyed its loss would
be Insignificant. The effective range of
one of these bomb-dropping craft would
be about three miles. They would weigh
so to 100 pounds each and carry two
bombs apiece The system of steering
them would be operated by means of a
swivel beam attached to the front of the
airship with two motors attached to it.
Another arrangement has also been
perfected by which a parachute is used
by the parent ship in place of a smaller
craft. This has the advantage of econo-
my, as the parachute c2sts much less
than the small craft. The parachute is
used both to carry bombs and search
lights.
This system was actually tested by
the army at Marlborough. England, the
other day. Twice in the darkness of the
night a balloon assembled to height of
about 1850 feet and each time II dropped
a tin box some two feet long. Imme-
diately little parachute attached to the
device opened and at the same moment
there burst forth a strong and steady
light which revealed the army encamped
beneath it.
The parachute, like the small air boat.
can be guided by wireless till it lights
up actually the area which it is designed
to see. Bombs may be attached to the
parachute carrying the searchlight and
released by wireless. Whep the attack
ers desire TO effect tremendous destruc-
ton they can steer other parachutes
loaded with bombs only to the lighted
area.
Air navigation has now been devel-
oped into recognized branch of military
science. 1t is certainly the most peril
Gus and difficult of all. but the appall-
ing destruction and decentralization
which it may infict upon the terrestrial
enemy seem to make it worth all the loss
of life it must entail.
In aerial warfare there will be as
many different types OF vessels as in a
naval fleet. A most important part OF
the new science is a knowledge of the
clouds and how to use them as cover
Some clouds offer a practically perma-
nent protection. while others are only
temporary
Up to height of 1000 feet above ground
gunners trained to the work can hit ar
air craft. This was the experience OF
the Bulgarian war. AT 700 feet, how
ever, ii is impossible to recognize the
color of an airship and to distinguish be
tween friend and foe.
Within this range there are plenty OF
shifting clouds in cloudy weather which
may be used as cover. but they are more
or less transient and airmen using then
must run the risk of being discovered
and exposed TO artillery fire.
At $500 feet an airship moving SLOWLY
can observe the enemy on the grount
accurately, and yet be beyond the rang,
of ground fire.
Above $500 feet begin the layers Of
clouds which can be counted on as re
aohIo oo,,,r LASTING until +t,ar. :. 40
cided change of weather. At 5000 fee
occur the cumulous clouds. producing
rain hail and snow. At 5000 feet are the
strato- cumulus, or fair weather clouds
From 10, 900 to 50, 900 feet range the cumu