The Washington herald., 1915-02-21
HYDRO GUARDIAN
OF U. S. COASTS
Capt. Clark, of the Aviation
Corps, Tells What 1t
Can Do.
CAN SEE FIFTY MILES
Aviator Could Locate Approaching
Boats or Troops and Direct
E. Il n>(>,l>x.
CAN SEE FIFTY MILES

ton Corps, United States army, well
known as a strategist in the air. believes
that if the United States is ever called
upon to protect its coast line from the
attack of foreign enemy the hydro
aeroplane will play 4 most important
part. In the December issue of the CoasI
Artillery Journal published by the OFF,
Gers of the Coast Artillery Corps Capt
Clark gives in detail what can be ex-
pccted of efficiently manned and operated
hydroaeroplanes.
Capt. Clark is an Annapolis man, hav-
ing been graduated from the Naval
Academy in 1907. and after two years of
service afloat was transferred at his
own request to the coast artillery arm of
the army. Together with his statement
of the possibilities of the hydroaeroplane
in the safeguarding of the coast lines,
Capt. Clark has prepared strategic
map of the Atlantic coast line from
point below Roanoke Sound. y. c., to
another just north of Portland, Me. In
this map he divides the coast into three
hydroaeroplane zones. the center of the
northern zone being Boston, of the CEN
trail zone New York, and of the Southern
zone Fort Monroe, Va. He writes:
Can See Fifty Miles.
In discussing the adaptation of the
hydroaeroplane to coast reconnaissance,
| will assume that the machine will al
WAYS carry two men, who will divide be-
tween them the duties of pilot. observer
and signalman, and be provided with
compass other instruments. and a siEnai
transmitting equipment. For some pur-
poses the latter should be wireless out
fit, and for others a smoke-puff device.
such AS a cylinder containing SCOT with
apertures which can be opened and
closed by the signalman. Practical tests
in France have shown that a compact
wireless OUTFIT weighing only about sixty
pounds with antennae, and not interior
ing with the flight of the aeroplane car
rying it. is capable of sending messages
sixty miles under ordinary conditions.
.'On day of average atmospheric
transparency an observer in a machine
flying at a height of ,. 600 feet could make
out a fleet of vessels at distance OF at
least fifty nautical miles His report
would, at the very least give the coast
artillery personnel at New York. Fort
Monroe Boston. and Philadelphia fifteen
hours, and at the other fortified points
within the zone eight hours in which TO
prepare powder, fire trial shots, and even,
possibly, move troops from the points not
threatened to those that appear to be IN
danger. In the meantime the enemy
would be utterly unaware of the pres
ence of the air scout. 1t is Impossible 10
see or hear an aeroplane at a distance of
even ten miles.
No Danger to Plane.
I'm MANY of our harbors low fog
hanks broken by many riffs, and eX-
tending only a short distance out from
the fortified shore, are very common.
should a coast defense commander
have reason to expect an attempt TO
run by" from hostile vessels behind
such fog bank. the service OF hydro
might prove invaluable. The flagship
would be located by circling over the
harbor entrance: the observer would
make a preparatory signal and then the
nilot should describe a series of regular
circles, keeping his altitude constant
and passing during the course OF each
circle vertically over the target snip. |
The observer should cause a puff OF
smoke TO be emitted when directly over
the target !
There would he practically no danger |
10 the aeroplane from the fire OF the |
,.ncmy's ships. 1t will be found that the |
only fire effective against an aeroplane
* that Of a regiment of infantry. IN
which there is a very large percentage or
poor shots. the resultant wide disper- |
sion increasing the proba billty OF the |
aeropIanc's being hit in vital spot.
While the hydro is maneuverinE as :
described above. the observers at inc |
ends of horizontal bases on shore could
track. at least roughly. the course OF the
target as indicated by the path and sig
nails of the acrOplanc.
Could Direct Gunners' Fire.
should a coast defense commander
,Apcct a run by under cover of dark
ness he would order one of his hydros to
circle over the harbor entrance. Even
though the hostile vessels were running
with all lights doused.' the observer In
the acroplanc would be able to detect
their approach by watching for the
flames down i'm the smoke tunnels and
indicate the presence. strength. and di-
rcrtion of movement of a fleet by the use
Of Very pistol signals. Successive points
i'm the course OF a vessel might be indi-
Gated to those on shore by dropping light
bombs on the vessel when over ii.
1T has been found that unless the
water i very muddy at an altitude OF
about 100 feet submarine mines are dis
tInctly visible from the air above, and
that from an altitude OF 1000 feet the
movements of submarine torpedo boat
may he easily observed
should il be desired TO fire on a vessel
obscured from the observation of fire
control stations by a high point Of land.
a simple system OF signals might he used
to indicate to the fire commander the rel
ativc location of the center of impact
and the target at all times during the
firing"
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