Evening journal., 1915-02-08
Won ZEPPELIN DEFENDS
warfare IN THE AIR
Continued From First Page.

inclined to think So But who knows
This is an age of progress
THE reports received here tell of
the killing Of the non-combatants. Is
there any way that this can be pre-
vcnted?" | asked
The veteran seemed lost in thought
for a minute. Il was plain that the
problem presented had weighed
rcaviiy on his mind. AT last he spoke
end this time it was to give an eN-
PLANTATION Of tho greatest difficulty the
navigator Of the air encounters.
you soc VIC cannot always see an
object from a great height Is that
not also true Of artillery. especially
mortars? Don't shells often drop in
undefondcd or non-combatant parts
OF towns and cities? How many non
comba.ants have been killed in this
war by zeppclins as compared with
other engines OF warfare?
"How can you tell, for instance, ex-
actly where the shells from mortars
or other artillery will strike? For
instance the shells from the new
Krupp guns have a reported range of
forty-two kilometres.
"Thc reported range OF the Yep
pclin as war craft is not against non
combatants. but against military
forces. defended towns and cities,
ships. arscnals and docks. The
crews arc exposed 10 greater dangers,
but they are just as humane as the
other branches of the service. They
have no intention TO kill women and
children any more than the officers
and gunnors Of the artillery so far as
lies in their power 10 avoid.
There is a proof OF this, the best
proof possible. II is to be found in
the unexploded bombs found in the
English towns When the Zeppelins
arc discovered and come under the
heavy FIRE of the enemy II may be
vital 10 ascend quickly So ID may be
necessary to throw off bombs that are
carried as ballast Then, whenever
n is possible so 10 do. the explosive
contacts are disconnected SO that the
bombs. falling where It is feared
there are non-combatants, will not
explode.
"That is probably what occurred in
these English towns where they say
unexploded bombs were discovered"
From the standpoint of this latest
factor in modern warfare" 7 asked,
"what in your opinion should define a
city. town or position that would
make il subject TO an attack from the
air?'
The Count stfokod his chin and sat
for moment seemingly lost in
thought. Then he began:
"The rule is similar TO land war
fare II is based on two fundamental
unwritien laws--the law OF humanity
that forbids the killing of non-com-
hatants whenever avoidable and the
law of necessity or military exigency.
A city or town occupied by military
forces. or defended only by trenches,
Is subject to attack unless surrender
ed OF 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 n seems TO be rationa
that city or town having militar,
forces that dfo upon air craft oi
mounts guns for that purpose Is sub
ject TO aerial attack the same as IN a.
tacking a force Of infantry or artil
lery.'
'ls 1t planned TO attack London? p
I asked
"Thai is a question for the Admir-.
atty and the general staff to decide.
The Count declined to discuss how
large the Zeppelin fleet now is ol
how fast he Is building these air craft
Ia tts,,,fJ fuIft,,t. .sshofh,r np,
now improvements have been made
When asked whether tho latest type
of dirigihles have come up 10 his CN
pectations the Count replied.
1T Is absurd to talk Of perfection
OF leppolins. They arc only on TIN
threshold of their ultimate possibill
ties. ..........
"Then you arc not quite satisfo
with what has been achieved?'
persisted ...
81 didn't say So" came the duic
rehuke. u simply said they had no
reached perfection yet, Compare
lively speaking. We are only in th
beginning of aerial navigation"
"What in your opinion will be Tn
limit of service that the Zeppelin
viii be able TO give in this war?"
asked
"That is another question that onl
the general staff and the Admiralt
can answer
"Haye there been any actual fight
between leppolins and acroplanC
during tho war 10 dato?'
$50 far as ] know there has bee
only one In il, the Ieppolins dro'
of the aoroplanes. II must be II
mombcred that tho Zcppelins sa
smoothly and that the aim and III
, of their machine guns and quicl
y frcrs. mounted on top. are muS
steadior and more effective than
possible from the aeroplane"
"Haye you been in personal cor
mand of any OF the Zeppelins in an
Of the war operations
mo. ! strongly desire service al
I'm ready when ordered TO take n
place on the line but so far I ha
lad to be satisfied with person
craving. J have decided that it
merely pride and egotism and that
am of greater use elsewhere until 7
actual presence With my war craft
necessary"
Then with a smile he added Joe
larly:
Besides the Zeppelin war cr
should not have anything on bo;
which can't be thrown overheard
ballast"
ORDERED tn C0NTRIBIITE