Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-28
Grafton to evolve. The latter plan
impracticable at present"
Germans Have Aircraft Gun.

Mr.. BUST states that Zeppelin air
ships have been developed proportion
ately to a greater extent than anti-air-
craft gunnery, as we have been en-
ploying it in these Islands" He takes
hope, however, from the fact that the
latest German anti-aircraft gun is re-
ported to have a range of $4,000 feet,
or half as high again as the maximum
elevation at which it is at present
found practical to navigate Zeppe-
Inns sent out over long distances to
Zeppe1ins which assailed London are
believed to have flown between 10000
and 1900 feet high.
A super-Zeppelin will be required for
defense, is the equally frank admission
of c. c. Grey, editor of the Aeroplane,
although he says that given suf-
f1ciency of anti-aircraft guns and
searchlights in a particular place on
the ground it can be made impregnable
to aircraft attack" Under certain con-
ditions. however. the defense must be
from the air. "An airship can fly and
drop bombs promiscuously. over fog or
heavy Clouds" he writes, lin which
case the only reply to Zeppelins is by
Super-ZeppelinS, which must be faster,
climb higher and carry heavier guns.
An even more important admission
that the Zeppelin has made good is
contained iii the sentence which fol-
Mr.. Grey, ARE the only possible means
of retaliating by counter raids into the
enemy's country"
1nasmuch as no aeronautical experts of
anything like equal standing have ven
tured to dispute the conclusions reached
by these gentlemen it may be accepted
that the military usefulness OF the Yep
pelin will be conceded for the future.
Both BUST and Grey declare that the
anti-aircraft gun of today is not efficient
lin1, F,,i0 Iyytov 10 oil OIL
they are equally confident that one will
be developed. The old struggle OF armor
plate against gun will be repeated. Mr..
Buist puts it in this way:
mo one nation can enjoy any ad-
vantage for an indefinite period from pos
sessing itself of a special weapon, each
development being countered in turn by
the production of machinery to dominate
that which has hitherto been dominant.
Immune From Attack.
Meanwhile Paris is practically immune
from attack by enemy aircraft. The last
partially successful attack was in June,
when no damage of consequence was in
fiicted. The latest attack was in August,
when the attacking aviatiks were either
shot down or driven away. Paris free
dom is not due to any sentimental con-
sideration on the part of the Germans, as
numerous futile efforts have proven. This
city is much nearer the fighting lines
than is London, and-to quote again
from Mr.. Buist-''is within more con-
venient range of Zeppelins operated from
Belgium than is London, but the Yep
pelins do not get to Paris
They do not get to Paris, because
this city's defense against enemy air.
craft is conducted in the air, rather
than on the ground. The very first
visit of the Zeppelins was sufficient to
convince the French military authori-
ties that defense from the ground
would be of slight value. Not only are
there no efficient anti-aircraft guns,
but that first raid limited at the harm
which would be done the civilian pop
ulation If an attempt were made to
lombard the skies. More persons were
injured by bullets fired at the aerial
raiders than by the bombs they
dropped. Therefore a ring of aero
planes was drawn about the city.
1t is probably safe to guess--in the
absence of precise information-that
hundreds of aeroplanes would rise to
the defense of Paris if this city were
ever seriously threatened. Rumor has
it that 200 machines are attached to
the permanent guard In addition
there are several large training parks
in or near Paris. Scores of planes
would rise in charge of instructors or
pupils If the need came. The city is
belted by searchlights and anti-air-