New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-13
Greatest Air Raid Of History,
Saws British Naval Expert


London. Feb. l3.-The naval cor,
resnondent Of THE Daily Chronleie
points out that the exploit OF BRUSH
airmen in Belgium, announced to-nlght,
constitutes the greatest aeropisne anu
@fhe German threats Of a so-called
h,octade 70 be begun next Thursday
taye been anticipated by the bold and
sl;IfpI act of our gallant airmen against
.hstr bases. The object was to break up
and destroy preparations for this block
sde which the Germans were making on
Ne coast, chiefly at Zeebrugge, and
syerv.hing that could assist them IN
their preparation.
"Tbe anti-aircraft guns were ut work
and machine gun and rife was direeted
on the airmen, but not lie mas oeeh
lost and only two machines nave osen
damaged. The Germans may boast out
thew are not 70 have their own way IN
tbe onerations intended for next week.
The Admiralty Press Bureau does not
saw how the present operation was con-
duc.ed hut a Berlin wireless repor,
states that a hostile warship appeared
OF the coast. This German ofhclsi &c
connt adds that enemy airmen dropped
bonbs on Ostend, the only reference
cur foes have made 70 this eNp1oil'
Not a German submarine was seen VI
the omen. nor is there mention OF any
airship or enemy aeroplane.
Moral Effect Great.
"Tbe effect Of this great achievement
will be twofold. II will be materls,i,
and moral. We do not know the Iu.l l
extent Of the damage done. frooaoay
we know its minimum. Inc essen'.a'
point is that the Germans are now n
formed that they cannot nope 10 MAJ.
Zeebrugge or any other place III p
neighborhood a secure base lot SUI
marines or a safe JumpIheo" p>
for their aircraft.
ploit The moral effect will be very
ereat The war has been carried INTO
Tho very camp of the adversary. zee
hru0oe was attacked by two or three
pr;tisb airmen at the end OF November
.rd the Mace has continually been uh-
dsT direct attack. Now this great
achievement of the vast squadron OF
naval airmen will carry dismay INTO
the hearts Of those who have Dul!t SO
much upon their possession OF halioW
strip of Belgian coast. Inc watelwayS
which lead out TO the coast are Value-
less to the enemy If their mouths ere
continually under the menace VI Wv
vAstating attack. -, ,,.;,c
POST" discussing the raid on the pei
cian coast. saws: at has been ire
ouentlv argued against the aeroplane
and the seaplane that they are more
or less ineffective weapons OF offence py
reason of the comparatively small
amount of ammunition they are cap,
able Of carrying and by reason, too, OF
their short range of action compared
With the largest airships. But the feat
announced by the Admiralty represents
the carving of a total amount OF am
nunition equal to the maximum capAc-
itv Of several Zeppelins, and with these
natalie advantages each aeroplane pre-
sents a vastly smaller and more elusive
tsroet that the bulky and comparative
10 Glow moving airship. and can there
fore undertake its mission in daylight
and approach much closer TO us oo-
Narrower. the immensely superior
accuracy of craftsmanship from BRUSH
aeroplanes and seaplanes over ina;
from German aircraft OF any sort ano
espeeially over that from her alrships
has once more been abundantly Demon
strated. The object was 10 90 .ns
enpmN Oen0lIe mlllNdly
achieved on very appreciate scaIe' ~
striking contrast with the random aho
useless bomb dropping from Zeppellns
"The weather appears to have peer
on the whole quite favorable as far as
wind was concerned, but it is triumph
of no mean order to have negotiated
the aircraft through heavy banks OF
. snow and consequently through great
. cold which with many types Of ma
: chine would have involved great danger
Of freezing and consequent failure 10
. keep flying. u;s,
"Doubtless it will come as surprise
. 10 many that with so much aerial worS
10 do at the front with the allied army
as well as at home we should nave
such a considerable force available 1oi
concerted action of the sort announced
by the Admiralty. Happily for this ma
ton. we are now able to count our ex'
pert naval and military pilots by the
hundred in spite of the ever increasing
standard Of proficiency necessary.
Lieutenant Porte, who is mentlonec
in the Admiralty statement as having
nartjcipated in the raid, is the aviator
who contemplated flying across the Az
lantic last year.