The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-03-08
INTRUDERS WILL Be FIRED AT
Drastic Action in Event Warnings
Are Not Needed
GERMANY SUSPECTED BY SOME

time nowadays with Continental avia-
tors would seem to be flying trips by
night over England Daring air pilots
in Germany or France leave their
moorings at dusk, speed over the
Channel, and then circle over British
cities and forts, flashing their lights
To mystify and alarm the people below
them. With the first indications Of
dawn the adventure comes to an end
The prowling birdman heads for home
houses his machine before the sun is
well up and leaves the officials of
England to report his incursion To the
War Otlice in London.
Reports of these night visits be-
came so general, and We're at the same
time so disconcerting, that the gov
ernment finally took official action
and passed bill prohibiting the
passage of aircraft over certain speci-
fled areas. Aircraft violating this
regulation will be fired on and other
wise warned away. The bill was in
tfoduced into the House or Commons
by Colonel Seeley, Secretary of War,
and it passed through all it's stages at
one sitting, without discussion. II
went TO the Lords the day before re-
cess, and passed that House just as
hurriedly. How the measure is to be
enforced has aroused considerable in
terested speculation. The bill author
ICES the proper officers, after giving a
prescribed warming To fire at any air
craft infringing this law. and To use
any and every other means 10 prevent
infractions. The government is pro-
viding SKY guns" 10 repel these aerial
trespassers. and il will also have the
services of the naval aeroplanes and
hydroplanes ana the flying fleet of the
army. which consists of about IA dozen
acroplanes and three small airships.
Aimed at Private Foreigners.
Experts have very grave doubts
whether these precautions will be suf-
| ficient to prevent the midnight visits,
Colonel Seelev. i'm introducing the bill,
said IL was not aircraft belonging 10
! foreign governments that were aimed
at. but mischievous private persons,
DOSSlD!N
, "hover over places where there are
combustible stores, TO the great incon-
venience of the people of the coun-
try"
What gave rise to the action of the
government were reliable reports, in
some cases from army officers, that
aircraft had been seen over Dover,
Sheerness Portsmouth and Liverpool,
and on at least two occasions as far
west as Cardiff, always at night The
first visits were paid in october ana
they have continued up to the present
time At first there was an inclina e
ton to make light of them, or to
ascribe the moving lights and the noise
of the propeller to some airship pri-
vately owned in England. But investi"
CATION showed that this could not he'
| and now the government places the
blame or privately owned foreign air
ships.
German Government ShipsY
Some people, however, discard TINS
| assumption. and declare that at least
one of the aerial visitors came from
! Borkum, the German fortress nearest
the English coast. From Borkum 1t
would he very simple matter for 4
modern airship to pass over the North
| Sea and even right across England, as
| I'm the case of the ship that flew over
] Cardiff, and he back at her base before
morning. Those who claim to have
evidence that this flight was made
from Borkum go further and say that
the German government has several
airships at Emden. and that when n
flight over England is projected one oil
these crafts is taken to Borkum and
| the start made from there.
According tn official returns Ger
many had IL airships of large dimen-
sions al the end of 1912, and Ii Is be-
Iieyed that she has added to this num-
| Der since. There are also 10 private
ly owned airships In Germany. Against
these England has three airships ol
very small dimensions, and one large
airship now under construction In Ger
| many England has a greater number
of aeroplanes than Germany how
ever. and when a prospective battle
I'm the air is discussed British ofhcers
argue that an aeroplane, acting as
destroyer, could very easily put q
night prowling airship out of business