The Washington herald., 1914-08-07
PREDICTS FRENCH
VICTORS In AIR
Hudson Maxim Says Zeppelin
Has Doomed Germany to
Certain Defeat.
PRAISES KAISER'S ARMY
Fatal Error Committed in Equipping
Aerial Corps with Dinsibles
Instead of Aeroplanes.
PRAISES KAISER'S ARMY

| Hudson Maxim, inventor and author.
expressed the opinion says the Boston
Post that Germany occupies the strong
est position Of all the nations who are
now, or promise soon to be at war In
| Europe.
Germany will suffer greatly" 10 said.
| through her failure to follow the ad-
| vance of nations in the use Of heavier
than air machines. Through the strong
pull which Count Zeppelin. the dirigible
balloon man, had with the government.
Germany has committed the fatal error
| of adhering. to dirigibles instead of using
aeroplanes. There is no doubt that she
will be cleaned out Of the air in a very
short time, as France. her nearest oppo-
nent, is probably the best equipped ma
ton in the world in its air fleet.
Is Best Equipped.
That fact is unfortunate for Germany.
but I look for her to give an excel
lent account of herself in the present
conflict In the first place, while all
the other nations Of the world have
been talking peace, Germany has kept
quiet She has not talked but she has
acted. She has done everything in her
power to bring her navy and armament
up to the last word OF excellence. Not
only that, but she has maintained
standing army which is drilled to per-
lection.
In the light of this circumstance
just why she should have allowed
Count Zeppelin to keep her tied to the
bulky. unwieldy and dangerous dirigibles
cannot understand.
I'm the present conflict Germany also
occupies the strongest stra7egic posi-
ton. Her armies vii fight from CEN
ter while those OF the opponents VIII
fight from tho 6iIcunfer. Fer in
stance, Germany's armies may fight
Frances armies one day and Russla's
a week later.
1T is my impression that England
plans to do about as she did n the
time OF the Napoleonic wars She will
aid her allies with her money and prob
ably will take care of the situation so
far as the sea fighting is concerned. 1
doubt II she will send any OF her armies
upon the Continent. In fact, England
has a small army and needs II at home.
Her financial and sea fighting encourage
ment, is a strong asset for those who
oppose Germany. however.
IF the navies Of England and Ger
many FLASHED on the sea the outcome
would depend largely upon the ability
OF their officers and men. England has
the better navy by q considerable mar
gin, but Germany can bring hers within
a smaller fighting radius. 1t would leave
It therefore, to a question OF men, That
would decide the battle.
Were. England to remain out Of the
fighting Germany would be well able to
cope with the situation with credit to
herself With England a factor, Ger
many's difficulties would be greatly in
creased. OF course. even with England
in the fight. Germany would not be put
to II any harder so far as her armies
are concerned. for the reason have eX-
planned that England would not, in all
probability, land forces on the Continent
anyway.
France Best in Air.
ITO compare the several nations |
might say that France is the best
equipped nation In the world as to aero !
planes. Her light artillery Is of the |
latest and the best. Her Maxim ma |
chine guns are Of the most modern |
two men. They fire, discharge the empty |
shell, and reload automatically. SO that !
there is practically no limit to the speed !
at which they may be operated. Aside |
from this the French automatic pistol |
is a wonderful weapon which should give
an excellent account of itself in time |
of battle. Together with this. France has |
a large and excellently drilled standing |
army. She will be heard from in the |
air and on land throughout the conflict. |
Germany has one OF the best drilled, |
largest and best equipped standing !
armies in the world. Her heavy arma-
ment is in fair condition. but not up to
the most modern standard. Her machine
guns are heavy and unwieldy. They re-