New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-02
AER0PLANE'S WAR WORK
English Authority Discusses Its
Probable Use in Future.
F0RESEES BATTLES IN AIR
Army Expert Looks for Duels
Between Machines Rather
than Between Battalions.

London. Jan. 25.-An interesting treatise
on the future OF the aeroplane az an in
strument OF war is contributed to the cur
rent issue of The Army Review" by
Major n. r. NJ. Brooke Popham OF the
Royal Flying Corps and one OF the lead
ing authorities on military aviation.
1t is doubtful, the officer says, II aero
plants have much to fear from rife fire
if at height Of $500 feet, and II chance
bullet does hit a machine II will not nee
essarily disable II. An Italian officer In
Tripoli had his machine hit seven differ
ent times while at a height OF 200 to
let's, curiously enough, seem to have lit
tie effect on a propeller.
Several types OF anti-aircraft guns have
been made. Germany has some mounted
on motor cars, which can be elevated
to u degrees, and have a range OF 100
yards horizontally and $500 yards vert,-
cally. The shell leaves smoke trail.
Whether fire from the ground In effective
or not, 1t is inconceivable that the army
which has the better pilots and more
numerous machines will rest content with
mere exchange OF information and
not make serious attempts to destroy tho
hostile air craft with their own. Fight
ing I'm the air will undoubtedly take place,
in all probabilities with firearms.
Ramming seems almost too drastic a
method OF procedure, and although ono
ar eoplane may upset another by the back
wash from its propeller, II will probably
not get to sufficiently close quarters II
J the other machine carries q man with
gun. There are several types OF aero
plane already In which the observer could
use rife or automatic pistol.
1t does not seem probable that at the
commencement OF war seroplanes will
be seen going forth in columns OF squad
ron TO meet the enemy in pitched bat
tie. II is extremely improbable that tho
two sides would ever meet before they
were obliged to descend for want or
gasolene. Dirigibles may possibly do this.
! but aeroplanes cannot keep the air. like
ships can the sea, for long periods. Five
to six hours is about the limit for a
.. heavy machine at present
After dealing with the improbsbility ~
the air craft OF opposing armies at war
going out in battallons to fight for the
supremacy OF the air before the rival ar
mics actually come TO grips. Major
Brooke Popham says:
Things will be somewhat different a.
the two armies approach each other.
Collisions between hostile air craft will
become more frequent. and the type of
machine required will not be the same
II need not have such large radius oi
action-two hundred miles, say: 1t can
be content with a slower speed. say sew
enty miles an hour. but it must be armed
and able TO use its weapons efficiently.
This will mean the propeller behind ana
a man in front with a hrearm. perhaps
a rife. perhaps machine gun, possibly
some special weapon.
1T seems probable that there will be
succession OF duels between machines, or
perhaps pairs OF machines, when the OPP
posina armies are within two or three
days' march of each other. and that COM
mand OF the air will result as the cumu-
la tive effect Of the series Of victories in
such combats. Once gained. command
Of the air will he complete. not so much
from the destruction OF hostile machines
az by the effect on the nerves OF the sur
yiving pilots.
I'VE thus arrive at two main types or
military aeropanes, the scout and tho
hghting machine. and this seems moro
logical grouping than bypanes and mono
Flames. or single seaters and passenger
carriers. What the future may have In
store II is impossible 20 say, but one
type cannot do both duties as yet. We
cannot combine speed. endurance and
hghting qualities. chiefly owing 20 the
want OF good high powered engine.
POSSIBLY third type may be required for
intercommunication-a light. quick ris-
ing machine, capable OF landing on bad
and restricted ground"