The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1914-08-11
new WEAPONS In war
NOW PLANE VS.. DIRIGIBLE AND
SUBMARINE VS.. BATTLESHIP.
Developments in War
fare May Be Expected in Present
European Disturbance.

European disturbance.
When King Philips massivegal-
leoned, slow going Armada sailed
up the English Channel, to be wor-
ried and baited, Out-maneuvered and
riddled with shot, and its fugitive
remnants finally driven among the
rocks and gales of the Irish sea. the
world could not have been more as
tonished than it may be at certain
developments to be expected in the
present war. Here again history
may repeat itself; for who can pre-
dict the outcome of the first duels be-
tween the dreadnought and her I'M
protected enemies, the torpedo boats
and the submarines; or again the
chances of the dirigible war balloons
when matched with the gun-carry-
ing aeroplane?
damn the TOrpedOes!"
The British admiral, Sir Percy
Scott, believes that the submarine
and the aeroplane have rendered the
battleship useless. In an elaborate
analysis of the question, summarized
in a recent number of the Literary
Digest, he argues, in substance, that
no battleship will dare approach a |
coast guarded by submarines, and |
that the safety of feet on the high |
seas, when the enemy has fleet OF
submarines within striking distance, !
is at any moment problematical. This |
is, of course, a highly radical argu- !
ment. The matter must wait for an
actual test before the obsolence of |
the battleship can be affirmed. One |
can even fancy an admiral looking at
the whole affair from the point of
view of our own Farragut, on an his
toric occasion: Damn the torpe- |
does; go ahead"
DirigibIeS' Handicap.
Of the aeroplane, however, we can !
speak more surely. 1t was used by |
the constitutionalists to drop bombs |
on Mazatlan during the recent fight
ing in Mexico-a mode of warfare |
ruled against by a Hague conference |
to which most European powers have
subscribed. It's use for the bonn |
bardment of a fleet does not appear |
to be forbidden, however, and under |
certain conditions it may take part |
in clash between hostile armies |
All this is likewise possible with a |
dirigible.
Aeroplane's Speed Counts.
One really significant event is re-
ported to have already occurred. A
French aeroplane is said to have
rammed and brought to earth Ger
man armored dirigible. Reports Of
the encounter are inadequate, yet |
the fact seems clear that the import |
ant factor was speed. The dirigible !
was rammed before it recognized the |
enemy, not to speak of turning and |
escaping from it. France may be
badly prepared for war, but she is |
by no means at anybody's mercy with |
her fine fleet of airships piloted by |
men who can be counted on for deeds |
of skill. endurance and unique per |
sonal daring. 1t is hard to see how
a Zeppelin, or other aircraft of its !
type, may hope to do battle with the |
bird-like plane. The one is slow and |
awkward to manage, in spite Of its |
advantages in carrying capacity and |
its bullet-proof cover. The other car
RES a small machine gun that will |
pierce any gas bag, and has its pilot |
and machinery protected by light |
armor plate.
In this particular field the ro-
nance of war may not be altogether |
thing of the past. In the battle OF |
the air the individual will still count, |
and count heavily AS much, per- |
haps more, may be said for the bat
ties under the sea.
CHARGED WITH SELLING BOOZE