Omaha daily bee., 1914-09-07
Dirigibles in Warfare

Jerome G. Hunsaksr In Of Franklin Institute
France developed the first practical drgibes. hut
has until recently concentrated its energy chiefly
upon aeroplanes, with the result that the present
time the French army is estimated to have between
700 and loo aeropanes In service These aeroplanes
moreover. OF types that represent the highest
development in aeroplano design on the other hand
Germany realizing the menace Of this aerial forco
and the impossbillty Of duplicating Il has recognized
the possibilities Of the dirigbe and given liberal
port to tho development OF the shrs Of zeppelin
and Major Parsevai Great sums have been spent
and many lives have been lost. but the reward has
already come. The German army possesses
splendid fleet Of twenty-five alrships, representing
the highest development in sirship design. At the
same time France has brought It's fleet Of airships
up 70 eighteen, and Germany has some 200 military
aeropanes with a large civilian reserve II has be
come race for the supremacy OF the air between
two whose capitals lie within the radius
OF action OF aircraft from each other.
England has recently Joined the for supremacy,
and. apparently realizing that late to over
take its continental rivals by the multiplying
Of units has directed every effort toward the de-
velopment OF air craft superior in design the exist
ing types. Foreign machines have been purchased
literally, and sero-dynamic laboratory and an eX-
perimental aircraft factory have been built
The dirigble operating in clear weather at alti-
tude Of 5000 feet is fairly safe from gun fire
and yet not too high for trained observer 70 detect
the movements OF large the ground. general
features of Notifications, number and type OF ships
in harbor presence absence Of bridges and rail-
road tracks The drigible can stop its and
float slowly above ground Il Is desired observe
The aeroplane cannot perform such service except
by crciing above given area. thus reducing its fuel
supply and future usefulness A dirigble. unlike
aeroplane II fitted with wireless telegraph for both
sending and receiving messages. and may keep in
constant communication with its base. The radius
Of action in calm OF large, rigid arshps may be 1900
miles and medIum-sized non-rigd ships 1000 miles.
An aeroplane cannot be depended on for more than
400 miles when observer must be carried in addition
TO the passenger. dinsibls save fuel BY drift
ing with the wind. and Il Is well known that by Sc
lecting suitable elevation favorable wind can very
often DO found when the wind the ground Is con-
trary The greatest usefulness Of the diriGible will
be at night At the present time aeropaues cannot
be flown at night. The dirgible night travel
close to the ground without danger from fire
and observe the extent and disposition Of camps
For pure reconnaissance work an army could use
large rigid dlrgibes for distant scouting TO develop
enemy's principal movement preceding the actual
meeting. Due TO their portability, any expeditions
into the interior OF enemys country in the col
ones would be best served by nonrigid dirigibles.
Aeropanes would be used for transportation OF staff
officers dispatch duty and scouting within the limits
Of the battlefield. The functions at night would
be performed by the nonrigd dirigible.
In of siege where the enemy has possession
n
cation with the besieged forces could be had by
means of a drgible OF sufficient radius OF action.
Its going and coming would be masked by darkness.
The use Of dirigbles in modern will be
greatly restricted by the enemys aeroplanes, which
must supposed superior both In speed and climbing
power. On the other hand. drgible will mount
several machine guns and. having q steady plat
| FORM deliver a much better directed fire than
| the aeropiane. In the of modern armies where
| rnay " stp pilots
ready take risks the operations Of dirigbles will be
no doubt chiefly conducted under OF darkness
or strategic reconnaissance far removed from the
field OF battle A large drigibie carry hall
| a ton OF bombs torpedoes. The effect OF bombl
dropped. aAoft in way compares with that Of
shells from great account OF lack OF penetra
ton before explosion The best that can he expected
is surface explosion and incendiary effect. Tho
moral effect OF dropping bombs into enemys camp
| at night must not be ignored.
The large rigid type dirigible may be OF service ~
| a navy whose probable adversaries have dockyards
and bases within the radius OF action OF such
airshlps In general II may be considered that the
offensive power OF airshps would have little effect
| upon arnnored decked batteships. Bombs and tor
pedoes viii the surface OF such decks. turret
| roofs etc. and do local damage, but probably will
not injure any vital parts ship is small target
10 hit from the altitude of 5000 feet which Is required
by day TO be safe from gun fire. At night arshlr
| may pass low ship, but in war time no man
| of-war will show lights and unless the moon b
bright the dirigble has small chance of finding the
! ship II seems that the principal function OF the
drisble in naval warfare is 10 supplement the work
Of scout cruisers and that it's offensive would
raroly be called upon In attempting to through
| waters In which mines have been laid dirigble
could possibly conduct counter mining operations
dirfgble can also give warning Of the presence OF
submarines and II required could rid a passage Of
| these dangerous craft by launching bombs upon oil
near them For this duty the dirigible may pass al
a very low altitude, as 1t has little to fear from
ssss.- -. - A..
surface Dirgibes will not revolutioniEe naval war
fare. but may play important ~ auxiliary. part
| in Il.