Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-02-10
Zeppelin Defends Use of
Aerial Bombs in War

largely will tend to change the face
and aspect of war; perhaps, therefore,
in the future making war less likely.
do not benievc the nations ever will
ratifv cuvention eliminating air
craft. Whether there will ever be great
battles in the air, like those that have
tukea place on the sea, can only be
answered by the distant future
Personally, am not inclined to
think so. But VINO lnows' This is
an age Of progress. -
The veteran inventor seemed lost in
thought for minute. 1t was plain
that the problem presented had weigh
ed heavily on his mind At last he
SPOKE, and this time it was to give an
explanation Of the greatest difficulty
OF o navigator Of airships.
You see, he said, "you cannot al,
ways see an object from great height.
Is that not also true of artillery espe-
cially mortars? DO not shells often
dro1 in undefendcd or on non-combat'
ant parts of towns and citics9 How
many nOn.combatants have been killed
in tnis war by Zeppelins as compared
with other engines Of warfare How
can you tell, for instance, exactly
where shells from mOrtars and other
artillery will striker For instance,
shells from the new Krupp gun are
reported-to have n range W AZ kilo-
meters
"The purpose of Heppelns is not
against non.combatants but against
military forces, defended cities and
towns, arsenals, ships and docks. The
crews Of Zeppelns are exposed to great
er dangers, but they are as humane ai
other branches of the service They
have not intention to kill women and
children, any more than tnc Officers
and gunners of artillery, as far as lies
in their power to avoid
"rhere is proof of this--the best
proof possible. 1t is in unexploded
bombs found in English towns. When
Zeppelins are discovered and come un-
der heavy fire from an enemy, it may
be vital to ascend quickly, So it may
be necessary to throw off bombs that
are used as ballast. Then, whenever it
is possible so to do, the explosive con
tacts are disconnected So that the
bombs falling whore it is feared there
may be noncombatants, will not ex'
Iplode.
''That is probably what occurred in
the English towns where they say I'M
exploded bombs were discovered.
From the standpoint Of this --latest
factor in modern warfare, ~ | asked
"what, in your opinion, should define
city or town or position that it would
make it subject to the airl'
The count stroked his chin and SAT
moment seemingly lost in thought
Then he began;
"The rule is similar to that in land
warfare. 1t is based ON two fundamen
tall unwrittcn laws-the law OF human
| ity that forbids killing nM'combatants
whenever ayolable, and the law of ne
cessity or military eXigeney,
"a city or town occupied by the
military or defended only by trenches
is subject to attack unless it is surren
dered or evacuated. That such places
are often attacked and badly shot tt
pieces you have probably had occasion
tie see for yourself ON both fronts OF
the war,
"rhcrefore, it seems to be rationa
that a city or town having military
forces that fire on aircraft and tina
mounts guns for that purpose, is subjec
TO aerial attack the same as if tn,
attacking force were infantry or ar
.