Weekly journal-miner., 1915-01-13

l Inc battery Of war LcppCllll comprise one or two machine guns with one or two light rapid fire guns and the machinery for dropping the bombs. The guns are only intended for use against other air craft. The light basket or car of the dirigiblc makes a very unstable base for a gun even of small calibre. To over come this a special aero gun has been designed consisting of two guns or barrels firing in directly opposite di- rections. When a shot is fired a quantity of water or dirt Is thrown from the opposite end in the other direction. The recoil of both bar rcls being the same they neutralizc each other and after the double dis charge the gun remains stationary. The man behind the gun in firing such a weapon, of course must look out for himself These guns are so mounted that they may be quickly swung through a large radius and may be pointed directly upward or downward as well as to the side to rcpel the attacks of aeroplanes which may circle about them.
 Each Zeppelin carries about one and a half tons of ammunition and explosives. The war fleet now being mobilized for the oversea raid upon England may carry upwards of one hundred tons of high explosives. The simplest way to discharge such bombs would be to heave them over the side of the car, but the aim would not be accurate. The bomb does not fall in a perpendicular line as might be imagined but describes para bola which varies according to the speed of the airship. The, gunner who aims and releases the bomb must be something of a mathema tician. After sighting the mark be, meath him he must allow for the speed of the ship. When a Zeppelin IS moving rapidly at an altitude of perhaps two miles it Is difficult to strike even the largest buildings.
 The bombs are released by an cleo tric attachment worked by foot ped al A metal plate is set in the bot tom of the car perforated with three holes of the diameter of the bombs. The bombs are cylindrical in shape not unlike a section or stove pipe, and arc lifted by handles curved ov- CT the top like the lid of a kettle. When the war craft goes into action these bombs are carried by hand from the arsenal and thrust through the holes in the plate. The bomb dropping mechanism may be said to be triple barreled since it discharg- es or releases three bombs without rc-loading
 The lookout or gunner Who aims and releases the bombs sits just be- hind this contrivance. Since the bombs are released by a movement of the foot he has both hands free to adjust the instrument by which he sights or aims his bombs. This machine makes it possible to release the bombs without an instant's delay once the range has been found. It is also possible to drop two at the same instant while the third may | follow in d fraction of a second, or in the time it takes the operator to move his foot from one pedal to an other.
 The lookout Is also equipped with powerful glasses for noting the ef- feet of the bombs. Against these bombs dropped from considerable al titudcs there is no effective protcc- ton. An attempt is being made in London 10 cover many buildings with heavy wire netting to catch them before they strike the roofs and cause d premature explosion. The velocity of heavy bomb falling from all altitude ol mile or more would probably, however, penetrate any such defense, and even if it cXplod- cd before reaching building the
 force of the impact would work !, great havoc. Many interesting prob
 lens new to warfare will be solved
 if such d raid occurs.
 The newest feature of the Zcppe- lin's war equipment is the armored car which is suspended 20O0 feet or . more below the ship itself. The , bombs are carried in this car and arc | thus removed 50 far from the ga: bag itself that, should they be hiI . and exploded the ship and its ma , chinery would not be affected. By ; lowering the bomb car this distancC , it is brought of course much nearer . the city which is 10 be attacked, SC . that its aim will be much more ao. , curate. The bottom and sides of the