The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-02-08


fended towns and cities. ships. ARISEN
ais and dockA The crews OF the
Zeppelins are exposed TO greater dan
gers but they are Just ~ humane ~
the other branches OF the service
They have no intention to kill women
and children any more than the ON
GERS and gunnerp OF the artillery. %
faf az lies In their power TO avoid.
"There II proof OF this. the best
proof possible. II r.. to be found In
the unexploded bombs found In the
English towns. When the Zeppelinz
are discovered and come under the
heavy fre Of the enemy II may be
vital to ascend quickly. SO II may be
necessary 70 throw on bombs thai
are used as ballast. Then. whenever
Il Is possible SO to DO the explosive
contracts IRE disconnected 50 that the
bombs falling where II n feared
there are non-combatants. wiz not OK
plode.
That IA probably what occurred In
three English towns where they say
upexploded bombs were discovered
From the standpoint Of this --latest
factor In modern warfare" I asked
what I'm your opinion should define q
city. town. or position that would
make II subject TO an attack from the
arr"
The count stroked his chin and sal
for moment seemingly lost IN
thought. Then he began:
"The rule Is similar 10 land warfare
II n based on two fundamental un
written laws--the law OF humanity
that forbids the killing OF non-combat
ants whenever avoidable, and the law
OF necessity or military exigency. A
city or town occupied by military
forces or defended only by trenches
IL subject to attack unless surrender
ed or evacuated. That such places
often are attacked and badly shot to
pieces. you've probably had occasion
TO see for yourself at both fronts In
this war.
Therefore. It seems to be rational
that q city or town having military
forces that fire upon aircraft OIL
mounts guns for that purpose is sub
Jet TO aerial attack the same as II
attacking a force Of infantry or artil
llery."
rs It planned to attack London,'
I asked.
THAT is question for the admir-
atty and the general star to decide
The count declined to discuss how
large the Zeppelin fleet now Is or how
fast he is building these aircraft. He
would not intimate whether any new
improvements have been made. When
asked whether the latest type Of dirig
ibles have come up TO his expectations
the count replied:
1T is absurd to talk of perfection OF
Zeppelins. They are only on the
Threshold of their ultimate possibil.
tiles"
Then you are not quite satisfied
with what has been achieved" | per.
sisted.
II didn't say So" came the quick
rebuke. II simply said they had not
reached perfection yet. Comparative.
ly speaking, We are only In the begin.
ming OF aerial navigation"
What, in your opinion, will be the
limit OF service that the Zeppellns
will be able to give In this war;" l
asked.
That Is another question that
only the general stan and the admir-
atty can answer"
Have there been any actual fights
between Zeppelins and aeroplanes
during the war to date?'
$50 far as I know there has been
only one. In 1t the Zeppelins drove
of the aeroplanes. 1t must be re-
membered that the Zeppelins sail
smoothly and that the aim and fife
of their machine guns and quick-fir-
ers. mounted on top. are much stead
Ter and more effective than Is pos
sible from the aeroplane." Z
Have you been. in personal COM
mand Of any of the Zeppelins IN any
of the war operations
mo, l strongly desire service and
am ready when ordered to take Smy
place on the line, but so far I have
had to be satisfied with personal
craving. have decided that It Is
merely pride and egotism and that I
am OF greater use. elsewhere until my
actual presence with my war, craft
Is necessary"
Then with a smile he added jocu-
larry:
Besides the Zeppelin war craft
should not have anything on board
which can't be thrown overheard as
ballast"