Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-11-14

and siege artillery have been greatly
Increased by this agency, and st may
almost be said that guns arc fought
by means OF tho eyes OF tho aviator II
should be self evident that the same is
true OF guns OF the scacoast and land
fortifcations. go clearly has this been
shown that there NOW appears notice
able change In artillery tactics. In
stead OF the old fashioned system OF
ranBe-nndlns By experiment, tho exact
range In now found with the help OF
aeroplnnes. No doubt artillery fire
direction has been enormously In
creased in accuracy By tho aeroplane.
and infantry largely improved in ef-
ficiancy by tho Same means.
But besides influence OF this charac-
ter, the aeropiane has undoubted use
in tho Hnding of copcealed positions,
in tho location OF Ships at sca or al
anchor within defenses. possibly in the
detection OF submarine mines. ana Ger
tainly in the enormous incrcase OF eff
ficiency given to nrc ana In many de-
tails OF observation.
Blu. the useful. approved and most
Important work OF aircraft is probabiy
to be found chiefly In reconnaissance
and the collection and transmission OF
Information In tho theatre OF military
operations: for this reason aviation
must he reckoned ms vastly import
ant branch OF the Signal Corps OF the
army. The use OF aircraft for these
purposes cannot be open to the charge
Of inhumaEity and cruelty. Dut AZ 10
tho service ana value OF aircraft in
oHcnSe, much doubt remains nXccpt
where an overhead attack upon troops
can be made eGectire---a condition TINT
probably does not often arise, al
though many isolated Instances OF It's
value In attach are cited When used
In general destructive work against
ncncombatants. dislike To this method
OF attack must always exist 4 fire
sown broadchnt upon tho earth, or
employed under conditions which make
specific ain useless. Is at least distastc-
full But beside this feeling II now ap-
pears that as weapon capable OF In
1urins an enemy by the dropping Of
bombs and other misslcs. little of I'm
portancc has been proved. In reality
littlc is Known Of this power OF air.
craft, though mitch Ii guessed and more
feared. 1t scoms probnble. however, tu
Judge from existing conditions, that the
effect 10 largely moral, and that phys!-
cal results heretofore obtained from
this method OF nttack havo been far
too meagro to Warrant the cost, cf-
fort and risk called upon to produce
them.
The proved efficiency of fire OF small
arms and guns from the ground at air
craft operating at elevations below
5000 feet under usual weather cond!-
lions compels flying at such great al
t,tudes, especially by the dirigiblc, TINT
the reaching OF the selected object nv
falling projectilcs becomes improbable.
Fog and darkness, IL Is true, hide the
aircraft and make approach easier.
but, generally, they also hide tho OBJ
1ective. and tho attacks heretofore made
have been ifnpotcnt, or so wildly IT.
regular as to harm anything rather
than tho object sought. This fact, 1t
may BIO supposed, will discrcdit gene
raj attack by aircraft. and limit Of
fenso to such infrcqucnt and cxccp-
tionnl conditions as will make prcpnra-
ton for 1t by the greater aircraft
the dirigiblc, the Drcadnought OF the
air--undesrablc and too costly To lie
worth while. at least for the present.
OF tho attack by acroplane however.
although l believe it's Importance Is
exaggerated. ut Is Admitted that it may
prov" usefuf>at times. and may be re-
sorted TO against proper obinctives
when needed. il tho aeroplancs arc
available. On tho other hand, 1t may
later be shown that aerial offensive
flights. especially In conjunction With
sea operations. may prove important;
but IT is useless to prophesy. and be-
ltcre the only safe conclusion at this
time regarding the value OF aerial Of
fcnsivc Is the verdict mot proven"
But IL should he noted and recalled
later. when economic conditions are
more favorable, that both tho acroDlane
full In coast patrol, and Will 10 equality
so for frontier guard purposes In this
service the dirigiblc. especially Of tile
smaller type. will be tho more valuable
machine, as from It's lcisurely flight, lis
power to keep the air ut night and to
trse the search1ight. ana especially OH
account OF it's ability to hover and 10
examine CAREFUL! the world beneath il
may become useful as border patrol
when freed from the danger of gun
fire and from hostile acroplanc attack.
But for the present 1t IL believed that
the army should rely upon the aero
plano and the hydroplanc Tor tho patrol
Of seacoast and frontier, and for iise in
its island possessions and exposed posi-
lions. Ono or two dirig,bles. if OF
American manufactures md design.
might we'll be purchased whom Ino,oy
is. available FOR experimental pur-
poses and to- encourage our mliuu-
facturers IN endeavor along this limo OF
work; but / am not yet prepared 10
recommend that tho army take up the
dirigible seriously, as Its value lie stiil
believed to be indetcrminate; It re-
quises the coordination OF too many
favorable conditions to Insure success.
and Its cost is comparatively great,