New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-12
Aircraft Worth $4,000
Match for $2O,O00,OOO
Dreadnought
REAR ADMIRAL FlSKE
DISCOVERED DEVICE
Aviator Could Swoop on
Fleet, Fire Explosive
and Escape

Plans for a weapon that will chai-
lenre the present dominance OF the
submarine in sea warfare have been lot
five years-unused-in the possession
Of the United States navy.
It is a weapon which the inventor
Rear Admiral Bradley A. Fiske, be-
lieyes would have decided the greatest
naval engagement of the present war'
the Jutland fight. And, it was further
revealed yesterday, private citizens
instead Of the United States navy-are
planning to put into operation this de-
vice as an essential preparation against
possible war.
This new weapon, patented In lslZ'
is the torpedoplane, a device for the
aerial launching Of Whitehead tor
pedoes.
Ericsson invented the Monitor, that
cheesebox on raft, and it dominated
the naval battles Of the Civil War. The
jronclad Merrimac sunk the Cumber-
more men and guns than she. The
Monitor saved the United States. The
Zeppelin dominated until the perfec-
ton Of anti-aircraft guns brought a
stalemate. The submarine is the DOM
mating weapon to-day. Undersea boats
spell a nameless, hysterical terror be
cause no effective counter-arm has been
perfected.
Simply expressed, the idea is this:
An aeroplane or hydro -aeroplane car
ries beneath it a Whitehead torpedo.
The aviator. when six or seven miles
away from the battleship he wishes to
destroy, volplanes in the direction he
wishes the torpedo to be fired. When
comparatively a few feet above the
water he pulls lever. The torpedo is
released and the starting lever stimuli
taneously thrown back. The torpedo
falls into the water, just as il it had
been dropped from a destroyer, and
having also the initial velocity Of the
plane. The aviator rises again. The
torpedo speeds on to its marx.
Match for a Warship
The apparatus makes a trained army
pilot with a $4,000 aeroplane worthy
foe for a S20,000,000 dreadnought.
Admiral Fiske has talked with naval
officers and aviators alike. The navy
men have declared that guns fred from
rolling warship could never hit a
torpedoplane, especially if the plane
be moving rapidly, neither overhead
nor on the surface Of the water, And
aviators have said that they would
find no difficulty in doing the work. To
be put out of commission the torpedo
plane would have TO be struck in a
vital place. Aerial battles abroad have
proved that the wings of tractor may
be riddled with bullets without I'M
pairing the effectiveness of the craft.
SO far this invention has shared the
fate Of many another example or
American ingenuity. 1t has received
praise without adoption. Many have
declared that, especially in the light OF
the present situation, it should I'M
mediately be adopted by the navy. For
it could be brought to a high state OF
efficiency within shirt period of time.
Whether or rot the navy ultimately
tries the invention. it will be tested.
The 1st Aerial Patrol--a group OF
young Yale men headed by +. Trubee
Dawson, a son Of Henry p. Dawson, OF
the firm Of J. P. Morgan & Co.-yester-
day made known their determination to
have constructed at once torpedo
plane. Tests will be made at Palm
Beach. the headquarters Of the unit.
Glenn l.. Curtis was told yesterday
Of the latest Of Admiral kiske's inyen-
tions.