New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-14
Explosive Bullet Chief Factor
In Stopping Zeppelin Raids
mnrovement in British AnAircraft Guns and Perfectins
of Fast Climbing Machines Have Caused Germans
to Resort to Aerop lane Attacks

rlving OF their number the danger 10
raiding Zeppelins became greater, put
IL was az vet no easy thing 70 hit
target 10000 feet in the air md bring
a Zeppelin down. especially on foggy
night or when the clouds hung low
Consequently the hope Of stopping Yep
uelins in this way was small, though
these weapons did succeed III adding
20 the dangers OF hostile dIrigibles and
on one raid two Zeppelins were brought
down by anti-aircraft guns OIL the
coast Of Scotland.
The keeping of better watch on the
North Sea and the use of these longer
ranged anti-aircraft guns on naval yes
sells also tended 10 increase the haz-
ards, but not TO stop the raids OF Yep
pellns.
Aviators from England. however,
testify that the incendiary bullet, shot
from the rapid-lire guns mounted on
aeroplanes capable of climbing 10000
feet in ten minutes. were among the
most effective means of stopping the
Zeppelin raids on England.
5000 Feet for Operations
At the beginning Of the war British
aeroplanes seldom operated at more
than 5000 feet, and most of their
observation work for directing artillery
and taking photographs was done at
5000 feet.
To attain these heights with the poor
motors then used required anywhere
from a half hour to an hour. For these
reasons the Zeppelins at 10000 feet
we're comparatively safe. but with the
construction of fast climbing machines.
equipped with better motors. which
ka
Zeppelns and far enough out Of the
range of their own anti-aircraft guns,
the danger 20 the Yep" became much
greater. Since the hydrogen tanks Of
the Zeppelins were all separate COM
partments, it required more than
puncturing one section with a small
bore machine gun. Hence, incendiary
bullets, which would ignite the hydro
gen. were invented.
The success OF the new weapon was
first demonstrated by Sub-Flight Lieu
tenant William Keefe Robinson, who de-
stroyed a Zeppelin over Cufiey, near
London. in September, 1915. lie was
awarded n Victoria Cross. and it was
reported that the force of the explosion
OF the 100000 cubic feet Of hydrogen
gas beneath him blew his machine over
on its back. He says himself that he
then looped the loop with JOY. At any
rate, this method OF attack has brought
many "Zeps" down since that date.
Night Flights Hazardous
ID must not be forgotten, though. that
this flying by night to attack Zeppe-
lin is most hazardous. Ayiators say
that they lost an average OF one pilot
night in scouting for Zeppelns. The
difficulties of landing at night caused
many Of these deaths, because when
a motor stops the aviator must volplane
to the earth and land where best he
can.
But Englsnd's improvements in tho
anti-aircraft gun and searchight range
finder, plus the invention of the eXplo-
sive bullet. the perfecting Of fast
climbing seroplanes and the daring of
her aviators. have stopped Zeppelin
raids over England and Scotland. Ger
many knows II, and is now resortinS
10 raids by heavicr-than-a machines.
IL will be interesting TO see If Eng
land can stop these.