New-York tribune., 1917-07-23
A5pZanes to Decide the War
By Edward Herbert

killed and wounded, what Will be the plopo.
ton of casualties caused by such lormi-
dable attack of $4,000 machines, dropping
@ SOC. 900 bombs in four hours? IL staggerS
the MAD when We only think OF H. Consiu-
ering also that the work OF one pomD !,
equivalent to twenty soldiers (plus one Heiu
piece), we have an army of $4,000 airplahes
EQUIVALENT 70 the inconceyable figure OF an
army Of 1872, 900 900 men attacking the herman
trenches. Let the pro- Germans, also the paci-
fsts. get busy now. An attack by such
force would dislocate the enemy, no matter
how intrenched he might be; II would de-
moralize his army, II there be any army IeI''
and it could destroy an entire region. lhis
wonderful machine in the hands OF our Amer
lean boys, under the command OF one Oh ouF
brave generals, would bring unealculaole
results.
lie. US imagine that the American com
mandcr would select 70 attack Essen, Her-
many, and would lombard it for three days,
four hours daily. Assuming that he wou!d
attack it with small groups Of twenty aviators'
having each group in turn come at Intervals
Of, say, one-half hour, each throwing forty
bombs os twenty-fvs pounds OF explosives
In three days $50 airplanes driven by twenty
aviators would throw 45,e0O bombs, or l,44o'-
coo pounds Of explosives. Whatever might
American Junior Scouts could safely take
care OF.
Besides b,ing q necessity tho operation is
justified. Germany has established the prec-
edent. This was her manner OF conducting
her warfare in Rumenia, and in this manner
she proceeds in England.
Our aviation corps could even attack ber-
lin or Vienna. To protect either capital the
enemy would concentrate all his aviation
forces at one Of these places. Our eviators
would then be in a position to give one Ell
fectiye blow on the whole front of cities along
the Rhine.
Tho most vulnerable German points are
to-day productive centres Of guns and am
muniton While II Is true that all Germany
has been turned into an ammunition factory,
the French know, nevertheless, where well
directed blow would bring the best results.
But these blows must be rendered right from
the beginning, before Germany will have pro-
v.ded herself with an equal force In the air.
As soon as the number Of our airplanes will
have passed the 10000 mark the most for
midable blow could be given the enemy.
What a Great Formation Of Airplanes Can Do
As soon as 10000 airplanes will be put in
service they will be able to transport 10000
soldiers, also their necessary ammunition
and provision for two days Three such
! transports would deposit an army OF $4,000
men in the rear of the German lines, and at
such points which are known to be least
| fortified This army would intrench itself,
and If the necessary artillery, which must
follow 1t, will not have reached in time, then
/, the same machine birds could supply the
army with ammunition and provision. Such
an advance could be made on front Of sew
cral kilometres. And while one aerial de-
| tachment could lombard the nearest posi-
t,ons, another detachment could be engaged in
the carrying of Allied troops to or from such
points, as the exigency might demand. The
operations could be conducted, of course, in
manner calculated with more detail than
/ could be given in a magazine or newspaper
article. Ny intention is not to instruct, but
merely TO show the vast possibilities which
the airplane has. and its Importance TO the
outcome of the war.
The principal thing, aside from the number
of airplanes required is the initiative and
decision of the commander of the aviation
corps. If we should proceed as We have in
! the past, without giving aviation the neces-
sary attention which il deserves in the pres
ent war, we will derive the same result that
Rumania did.
Decision initiative and airplanes will win.
In conclusion, wish to add that if an extra
effort must be made, it Is absolutely neces
sary 20 do so in order to accomplish results
in the aviation field. Five thousand monthly
at least must be the number raised in order
TO get the result We wish to achieve.
II must be borne in mind that the Germans
also produce airplanes; one thousand monthly
is not too much for them 70 create. Their
submarine production has demonstrated to
what extent they can go. Hence, we must
not build on illusion. If they produce
1000 machines monthly, it is no more ques
tion of our equal strength, but Of our su-
periority.
A large number Of airplanes could annihi
late the German forces. As soon as Germany
begins 70 see that she cannot face the new
force of the air she will sue for peace. 1t
is therefore. necessary not only to create
an aviation corps in the shortest time pos
sibe, but it must be large one at that.
Five thousand airplanes monthly is the
lowest figure we can think Of, and these will
decide to whom victory belongs. American
arplanes will decide the war