South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-10-03

N duced into European armies
which will make aerial war
fare 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
planned wonderful dirigible balloon
carrying a number of smaller craft,
very much as a steamship carries it's
lifeboats. The small craft are fitted
with searchlights and bomb cham
bers and swing on davits on each
side of the great vessel.
The parent ship will be manoeu-
vred by her crew to a great height
above the enemy's position, where
she will De beyond effective observa-
ton and the reach of shells.
Preferably the attack will be made
by night. The parent ship will re-
lease one OF the small craft and
steer it by wireless in the direction
OF the enemy's position. Then a
change in the rapidity of the wire
less waves will start little electric
spark on the small craft that will
ignite a great acetylene searchlight.
This viii light up the enemys posi-
ton for a mile around and make it
rs clear as daylight to the watchers
in the airship.
Then another change in the vibra-
tion of the wireless current and a
bomb will be released by the open
Ing of trap door. 1t will fall down
with devastating effect on the sol
diers and Notifications below.
The mel below will have a poor
opportunity to aim at the attacking
ship. The small craft will not indi-
cate exactly the position of the
parent ship. The searchlight spread
ing out over a great area will not
reveal accurately the spot from which
st comes.
1t viii be possible to steer a small
craft back to the parent ship, but
even should one be destroyed it's loss
would be Insignificant. The effective
range of one of these bomb-dropping
craft would be about three miles.
They would weigh ninety to one hun
dred 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
q smaller craft. This has the ad-
vantage Of economy, as the para
chute costs much less than the small
craft. The parachute is used both to
carry bombs and searchlights.
This system was actually tested by
the army at Marlborough, England.
the other day. Twice in the dark
ness OF the night balloon assembled
to a height OF about 1900 feet and
each time it dropped tin box some
two feet long. Immediately a little
parachute attached TO the device
opened and at the same moment
there burst forth a strong and steady
light which revealed the army en-
camped beneath il.
Tie parachute, like the small air
boat. can be guided by wireless till
II lights up actually the area which
II is designed to see. Bombs may
Re attached 10 the parachute carry
Ing the searchlight and released by
wireless. When the attackers desiVe
ID effect tremendous destruction they
en- steer other parachutes loaded
with bombs only TO the lighted area.
Air navigation has now been de-
veloped into a recognized branch OF
military science. II is certainly the
most perilous and difficult OF all, but
the appalling destruction and de-
mOralization which it may inflict
upon the terrestrial enemy seem TO
make il worth all the loss of life il
must entail.
In aerial warfare there will be as
many different types Of vessels as in
a naval feet. 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 practi-
cally permanent protection, While
others are only temporary.
Up 10 a height OF 1000 feet above
ground gunners trained TO the work
can hit an air craft. This was the
experience of the Bulgarian war. At
1000 feet. however, it is impossible
TO recognize the color OF an airship
and 20 distinguish between 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
Rirmen using them must run the risk
Of being discovered and exposed 10
artillery fire.