The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-01-14
SEES Big ZEPPELIN
PERIL TO LONDON
Head of AcrOnautical Society
Thinks Great Raids Are
Coming.

The assertion OF DIR. W. II. Vincent
OF the British Clinical Medical Corps.
who arrived here on Wednesday, that
London has been immuniz,d from fur-
Their Zeppelin raids bv "A perfected eys-'
TEN of aerial defence was Vigorously
contradicted yesterday by Thomas IL
Macmech.n. president Of the A.runaut1-
cal Society of America. Mr.. Macmechcn
SAYS that since his return from England
ON November ~ he has received regular
and reliable information which CON
vinces him that repeated blows from a
feet OF Zeppelins may he expected AT
any time.
Il am probably in closer touch with
the true situation than DR.. Vincent
Mr.. Macmechcn said yesterday. Il am
in a post ion to say he Is mistaken in
his belief that the recent cessation OF
raids is due 10 an adequate defence ana
in his statement that three Zeppelins
were destroy ed IN December by the
British defenders. What he calls raids
was merely German reconnaissance ia
preparation for raids. The reason there
has been no big raid recently ~ that
after Sir Percy Scott took OF
London's air defences the positions OF
the anti-aircraft guns were changed
IL has been necessary for the Germans
to feel out the new positions before at
lacking in force.
"Dr. Vincent says that Zeppelins are
not now able to reach even the OUTSKIRTS
! Of London. That is absurd. II they
we're ready to raid london the Ger
man airships could easily rise beyond
the range of the guns, as has been
proved. The higher the Leppelins rise
the greater the strain on the aeropiane
trying to reach them, until eventually
the aeroplane runs out of fuel and has
to descend.
l.. .f .I,, Il. Sntt.lTnn
| Commander Billings, as reported III
THE SuN this morning, r%esigning to
be elected to the House OF on
an air raid defence ticket? ! know
from the best military authorities IN
England that the anti-aircraft gun Is
a failure. | know that the hulks of no
Ieppelins have been found in England.
despite reports that the German ships
have been shot down. And Mr., Balfour
himself has said that the aeroplans
furnishes no adequate defence,
Material damage from the Zeppelin
raids has run into millions of dollars
In about forty raids upward OF l,ooO
persons were killed. On the best author
ity | am able to say that not IA single
official statement OF casualties has been
accurate. Fol example, II was given out
that fourteen were killed and ffteci
wounded by bombs dropped on the camf
~ the Canadians at Shorncl!n. The
fact is that soldiers with that contingent
friends of mine, helped to carry away
the bodies OF lio comra'ies. Here !
another fact that has not been generally
known: When a bomb fell on the
Lyceum Theatre in London not onlS
were twelve persons killed outright, pu'
the deaths amounted to 200 because or d
crushing stampede among me auu'ente
London was darkened because OF the
Zenpeun menace. The best information
have been able to obtain from sources
of authority Is tina between l.SOO an'
1000 persons have been killed or hnr
in the London district in street accidents
due to lack OF lights, In the House o
Commons I heard an acrimonious de
bate in which certain members accused
others of M ving been stampehed ny
Zennelin scare. Accused members re
plied that they were not ~personsli.
frightened, but had departed to loot
after their families.
..Thc British are coming TO realize tina
there can he no adequate deience uhies
r,.rid dirigibles can he posted IN me al
IN lie in wait for the Ieppelins, the,
are now spending several million doiiar
in buildIng rigid airships. know o
=. two that are being built by the Arm
strong & Whit worth works and two b
the other great shipbuilding hrn
, vicLers Sons, In addition to my ow
+. email dirigIbles, one OF which Is abou
, cnmnleted under the direction Of III
; pritish authorities. France has pre-
,luced two wooden framed dirlgihles @
Z the Spiess type and Italy hVe OF
metal type" -.
: Mr., Macmechen said that at the RI
,,es, of the United states naval nj
,T.rne OF the American Embassy In Lor
+ don and other official friends he ma
/. mad two talks with Secretary OF III
q Navy Daniels and had Also confsrre
with naval engineers.