The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-08-24
PLANS TO DEFEND
ATLANTIC COAST
How an Aerial Attack Would
Be Met by America.
GENERAL BOARDS SCHEME.

New Stations to Be Established All
Along the ceast-Equipmsnt to Be
notwithstanding AsropIanss Would
Meet and Attempt to Destroy the
Enemy Far Out at Sea.
How the experts of the United States
navy hope to set up an aerial defense
Of the Atlantic coast, particularly of
the cities Of New York and Boston, and
prevent hostile fleets from sending aer-
ial raiders over these cities. is now deH.
nitely known. A program, subject, of
course, to such limitations as the gen.
eral board Of the navy and the secre-
tary Of the navy may impose. has been
worked out. All that will be needed Is
the favorable action Of congress in or
der to furnish the funds for 1t.
The city Of New York Is today abso.
lutely at the mercy Of air raiders, who
II equipped with sufficient explosives
could probably reduce Broadway or
parts Of 1t to ruin. in the opinion of ma
val officers. OF course an air raid
would be matter of great risk to the
raiders. and 1t is a question how many
aeroplanes could be carried by an at
tacking feet. But with modern devel.
opments the danger Of an air raid Is
greatly increased.
The naval experts do not intend to
take chance and let this condition
continue. They do not intend when
they have obtained sufficient material
to permit hostile air craft to approach
New York or Boston at all.
To Meet Enemy OF the coast.
The new program provides that Unit.
ed States air craft shall operate off the
coast so far that hostile aeroplanes
will be hunted down and destroyed be-
lore they can reach the coast cities.
This means that a battle between Unit
ed States air craft and aerial raiders
seeking to reach New York city would
be fought not in the environs of New
York city. but either 100 miles out at
sea or many miles down the coast, far
from the skyscrapers and canyons of
bwer New York.
The general board of the navy is
low at work on scheme for aerial
fations for the Atlantic coast. How
many Of these will be established is a
matter the board has not yet deter
mined. The type of station, however.
has been practically decided upon.
They will be similar to the aeronauti-
cal station at Pensacola, Fla, and
they will be equipped with military
aeroplanes, dirigibles and captive bal
looms.
1t has developed that in the last few
months captive balloons. about which
little has been written lately. have
proved to be most important in mill
tary and naval operations. AS fixed
stations for observations they are ideal,
and naval officers feel that an aero
nautical station would not be complete
without them.
The aeronautical station must be for
titled in order to be defended itself
from land raiders. The business of its
aerOplanes and dirigibles will be to
scout up and down the coast If a
hostile fleet puts in toward the coast
with the intention of launching air
craft for raid on large city by night
the air craft must be prepared to frus-
trate such scheme.
Besides guarding against air raiders,
they must cooperate with the vessels
Of the navy, be OH the lookout for hos
tile submarines, keep the fleet posted
concerning the movements Of the ene-
my and assist the forts and coast de-
fenses in whatever manner may be
necessary.
While naval attaches abroad have
gathered as many data on naval opera
tiOns In the present war as they posi-.
bly, could, the navy departments pro-
gram is subject to revision In case there
is further information warranting mod
ifications. So far there has been no
naval engagement between first line
battleships, and the naval experts are
without data concerning the actual
fighting efficiency of the present Dread
nought types. If there should be such
an engagement within the next few
months, it was said by an official of
the navy department, the naval pro-
gram would be modified accordingly.