Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-02

TIME astounding development Of the aero
i plane, both for scouting purposes ana as
an offensive weapon, is one OF the nnoSe
striking features Of the first year Oh '"e
great war.
Military men, as a result of the years les
sons consider an army not equipped with
aeroplanes as absolutely at the mercy OF
similar force using air scouts 1t is oiinu
man hghting man who can see
AT the beginning OF the war all the prin-
cipal combatants had big air fleets, those In
France and Germany having been paid Tor
largely by popular subscription because
sufficient funds were not available in the
usual way for this untried weapon. the
British air fleet flew in a body to France TO
Join the expeditionary army.
But the air forces Of a year ago were IN
Significant compared with those of today
No figures are, of course, given out. But
It was officially stated several months ago
that Great Britain had incReased her aero
planes tenfold, and there is talk in London
of raiding Germany with a division of 10000
flying machines
Larger aeroplanes are coming into use.
Great Britain is following the Russian Sikor-
sky idea In constructing giant machines
capable OF carrying 20 men, while Germany
is said to be about to bring forth a triple
decked machine armed with four machine
guns and revolving cannon
Superiority of the Biplane
The great, costly Zeppelin dirgibles, while
proving of some utility, have been thrown
into the shade by the cheap, quickly built
biplane. The latter has proved superior to
the monoplane, because steadler and the
military air pilot cannot choose his breeze.
According to the German account, the war
opened with a flight of French aeroplanes
over certain German towns, on which bombs
were dropped prior to declaration of war.
This is denied by the. French. However it
may be, the new military arm was not long
in demonstrating its worth.
The Germans began to correct the Are of
their batteries with aeroplanes flying over
the enemys positions, and dropping smoke
balls or streamers Of tlnsel as signals. While
the Germans had prepared for this first, the
Allies were not long in initiating their ex-
ample.
Aeroplanes raided railway functions, forti-
fled towns and encampments, dropping ex-
ploslve bombs which often did great damage.
on these raids many civilians suffered Spe-
cial aeroplane squadrons were organized to
protect Paris from visiting airmen, and these
were HnHlly SUCCESSFUL IN CneCklnB German
activity along this line.
The French brought out new weapon in
sheaves of short steel arrows. which, dropped
from the height Of half mile, would easily
pierce a man from head to foot The Ger
mans initiated these arrows in a few weeks.
marking them Invented in France, but
made in Germany"
Every German column on the great march
into France accompanied by its aero
plane flying overhead like guardian angel
The Germans undoubtedly had superiority
over the Allies in the air at the beginning
of the war. Especially was this true in the
Eastern theatre of war, where many Rus
sian reverses were attributed by the Ger
mans to their enemy's lack of aeroplanes or
to ineptitude in their use.
Airships Like Flocks of Birds
the early months of the war, the British
and French are now sending out squadrons
to accomplish important work Such air
fleets attacked the Zeppelin works at Fried
richshaven, on Lake Constance and the
chemical works at Ludwigshaven. Accounts
Of damage done on these raids are conflict
ing. The French asserted that large fires
had been caused.
On June 10 23 Allied aeroplanes dropped
1870 bombs Karlsruhe. capital of Baden,
killing II persons and woundng many
others. The French stated ohlgially that
this raid was made "in retaliation for the
bombardment by the Germans of French and
English open towns" That this reprisal was