The farmer and mechanic., 1915-09-21
GO 100 MILES AN HOUR
Each, Though Only Thirty Feet
Across Wings, Carries Two
Men; l8 Zeppelins Said To
Have Already Been De-
stroy; Protecting London
From Aerial Invaders

In it's efforts to protect London
from Zeppelin attacks the British
government has given practically un-
limited orders for aeroplanes in this
country which have resulted in the
development of a number of new ma
chimes of great speed and power. the
latest of which. "A tiny scout, had it's
first unofficial test yesterday morning
at the flying field in Buffalo, an ar
ticlc in the New York Times says.
This scout is only thirty feet across
the wings. and is driven by a Curtiss
100 horse power motor of the latest
type. 1t carries two men, and will be
used for Zeppelin chasing as we'll as
scouting. Practically the only fixed
requirement demanded by the British
government is that these scouts make
at least 100 miles an hour. The one
tested yesterday did little better than
$50 miles.
They are planned to carry enough
fuel for at least a siX-hOur flight. and
this will give them u radius of more
than 800 miles. That is, they will be
able To raid many German ports and
towns from base in England and
return with ease. Their small size
and great speed will make them praC-
tically impossible to hit and it is eX-
pected that the antiaircraft will be
useless against them.
An officer of the British aviation
corps explained in detail the uses Of
these small scouts yesterday to re-
porter of The New York Times, and
also made the statement that eighteen
Zeppelns had been destroyed since
the first of the year.
I'VE know that not fewer than
eighteen Ieppelins have been account
ed for by our flying squadrons and
anti-airship guns" he said, but this
information has never been given out
owing to the rigid censorship, and will
never be given out officially until after
the war.
1.-TWO OF the Zeppelins that raided
London last Wednesday night, we
have heard. never got back to theil
base. but were brought down before
they reached the channel AS we es
timate it the Germans have lost ar
aviator for every person they have
killed in their raids. With eighteer
Zeppeiins destroyed that means the!
have lost not fewer than 500 men
Further. the men the Germans los
are trained operators and constitute
loss as the Zeppelins themselves.
People in the United States do no
fully under stand the Zeppelin raj,
problem. The Zeppelins never com
out unless it is very dark night. am
then they pass over England at
height of 10000 feet or more unit
they intend to drop bombs The
they descend unit. their officers ca
get view of their target and tn
bombs begin to drop. This is usuall
the first information that London ha
that the Zeppelins are raiding.
Don't Dare Attack Over London.
"Immediately the British aero
planes go after them, and just a
soon as the searchlights spot ther
the guns begin to boom. The aero
planes do not dare make serious a,
tacks until the Zeppelins are drive
off and no longer hang over Londo,
The reason for that is that if one {
the monsters was to be DESTROYED il
debris would drop into the city. an
would kill more people and do NOR
damage than all their bombs Wit
length Of more than 500 feet an
weighing more than $4,000 pound
you can imagine what destructiC
would result. Further, they are us,
ally on fire when they drop and tn
fire alone would be a serious menac
Thus the aviators have to wa
until the Zeppelns are clear of IL
city. and then they make their a
tacks. That, also Is one of the re;
sons that over here we have n
heard that so many Of them ha1
been destroyed.
The problem that faces the Rri
ish governm ent is stopping the &c
mans before they reach London. r
this purpose. they have ordered
the aeroplanes that can be built. al
are taking them as fast as they C:
be shipped. 1t is planned to ha
Z,0OO planes in the vicinity OF Lond
before the winter. when. on accou
of the long nights, tho Zeppelin raj
will perhaps, become matter
nightly occurrence.
with their great speed. the ii
scout machines. like the one test
today will do constant patrol du