New-York tribune., 1916-02-26
MidIands Raid COnvinceS
People No Part of Eng
land Is Immune.
SPEEDY AEROPLANE
SCOUTS ADVOCATED
Airmen Believe Best Means OF
Combating German Craft Is
with Airships of Like Design.
By GORDON BRUCE.

London, Feb. 24.-Probably never be-
fore in the history of the world were
the people the common people-oi
England 20 vitally interested in any
particular subject as they are to-day
in the defence Of the country agains,
German air invasions.
On every side you hear the discus
sions-in the streets. in the hotels, IN
the business Offices. The people feel as
if the government must "do something
about it," but nobody seems 10 kho"
what he wants the government to do.
II made a vastly different impression
this raid over the Mdlands s-than the
previous attacks on the East Coast ana
the London district. II brought nome
the fact that no part OF England or
ireland, for that matter-ls immune
from bombardment by the Zeppellns,
Tie papers devote columns to the
subject every day. and various are the
suggestions offered. There - a prec-
tical element in about one out OF hity
OF the ideas advanced.
"Why don't they get them win tne
aeroplanes ?" is the query most ire
ouently heard. And 1t sounds like
reasonable question. But il takes many
trims aloft TO drive home the truth tnat
70 discover Zeppelin or anything else
in the air on a dark night ls matter
of sheer luck. Even in the light OF day
an airman may pass within ie" yatus
Of another machine and not notice IL.
There is a lot Of space up there 70
look after. At night. flying at the
rate OF seventy-five or eighty miles an
hour. he would have 70 be almost on
Zeppelin before he was aware OF us
presence.
No Aeroplane Scouts.
There is much talk of "small, high
spesd aeroplane scouts" which can
climb rapidiy. and the authorities are
freouontlv criticised by the 'man IN the
street" for not sending flock OF such
craft aloft every night to patrol the
aerial approaches to London.
As matter Of fact, they do have
inst such machines and the men to ny
them. daring. neryy chaps, VINO would
take anv chance. and TO whom. the
onnortunity TO bring down one OF the
German ships would be the realization
of their fondest hopes.
Rrt il must be considered that the
lighter and faster an aeroplane is tne
greater are the perils attending lts
oneration. especially at night. Take
tho case of the Fokker machine used
nv the Germans, which has attracted
so much attention. II flies at slightly
more than one hundred miles an hour.
Therefore. owing to its construction,
il is necessary to land at speed esti-
mated by authorities at eighty-hve
miles an hour.
1t is practically impossible to touch
the earth at such speed and bring tho
machine to a stop in safety unless con-
ditions arc perfect. And perfect con-
ditions include a large. smooth field
with plentv of light. Thus such craft
il hardly adapted for chasing Zeppe-
Inns over a strange country in the dark
ness.
Want Airships Like Zeppelins.
The opinion is growing among the
British airmen that the best means OF
combating Zeppelins is with airships
Of similar design. 1t is believed tha'
if Britain were known to possess even
two or three such ships the Germans
would abandon their raids. Their Wis
its would mean battles in the air, with
the same conditions under which naval
engagements are fought, and over a
hostile land.
Doubtless other schemes are under
way and il is probable that a Zeppelin
or two will come to grief on British
soil. But the suspense OF the business
is not relished by people who. although
non-combatants, are in danger OF being
killed any time the Germans see mt 70
visit these shores.