Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-10-09

ARMORED CRUISERS
Awe-Inspirins Demonstration Given
-Battleplane is First Practical
Aerial Dreadnaught.

Paris. Oct. 9-An aerial army is no
longer dream of romance. Such all
army. formed in divisions and squad
rons, with battle aeroplanes, cruiser
aeroplanes, scouts and torpedo planes
all armored heavily and carrying
three-inch cannon and rapid-fre guns,
is reality. 1t has been made pos
s;hle through the remarkable deve-
lopments of military aviation IN
France.
The French government has per-
mitted the first inspection of its new
fleet of aeroplanes. Opportunity was
given to inspect the large and smal!
types of the new battle planes, ana
watch them as they were maneuVer-
ing high in the air. firing round al
ter round from their three-inch rii1es
while they scared, and dartedabout.
The aviation field is a vast in
closure. Entering the field, a mon
sier battle loomed up 80 plane
kigh, with number of planes
stretching 130 feet across. Furthe!
Lack was ranged the fleet OF oattle
cruisers and scout planes. They were
formed like Il battalion, 20 plane:
in q row across the front and IL
deep. Their huge wings made from
half mile wide.
The battle plane and all the crWs-
crs were armed heavily Each carried
both the three-inch cannon and tht
rapid-fire gun.
The huge battle plane was the chief
center of attention. The engineer who
constructed it explained the details.
The officers said this was the first
actual realization of the battle plane
other aerial dreadnaughts having
proved to be impractical. This mons
ter actually flies, carrying crew OF
~ men, with two cannon on the wings
throwing three-inch steel projectileS.
Three trial fights have been made,
demonstrating that it has the stead
mess Of an ordinary biplane. The
battle line. The regular crew for
fighting will consist: Of four men anc:
an officer.
The armored cruiser aeroplanes
were then brought out and put
through tests high in the air. They
are. small biplanes of high power.
Each is armed with cannon anc
is capable of rising almost vertically
from the ground alta speed of sc
miles an houh. Captain Frantz anc
Operators Mondelli and Mallard made
successive flights in cruisers, rising
from the ground at an angle of 60 de.
grees.
The steady roar of the three-incf
rifles continued as the. cruisers cir
cled far above. Mallard was the most
daring operator. He fired the big
gun while plunging from side to side
and dropping rapidly, immitating the
maneuvers carried out while engag
ing an enemy.
A large number Of these battle
cruisers is now ready. Several Of
them recently carried out night
Commandment far back of the Ger
man line. During the Champagne en-
gagement these cruisers hit Ger
man balloon, which exploded in q
mass of flames.
This, however, was only the in!tia
trial. The battle planes and cruis
ers are soon to begin movements IL
large squadron both defensive ano
offensive. They are to attack the
German lines of communication, par
tlcularly the railway functions, witt
the object of cutting off supplies ant
spreading decentralization in the rea
of the Germans.
Each squadron will consist of nin'
aeroplanes of all types. including on
battle plane, two battle cruisers AM
six scout planes. The complement
for a squadron will be upward of 81
officers and men for the operation O
the aeroplanes and their transporta
ton on lorries drawn by automobiles
with which each squadron will b.
equipped.