New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-05

eo7lpIish even year from now. Tn
the beginning, the principal use OF
The air0lare was Tor reconnaissance.
moth tactically and strategicaiiy, and
the sirp'ane was little used as an IN
.trument Of offence. II was, however
The service par excellence for observing
and obtaining information and has
taken a commanding position, az the
sxpense of cavalry. As the air forces
have developed, the aero battle has
come as O matter Of course.
"The question OF armament for air
planes is comparatively new problem
IN gunnery. What Is required. ap-
oarentlv. Is a super-machine gun or
a mult-barrel gun which viii tre
automat.ca Iy, or there could be two
or three machine guns so operated as
10 produce shots more or less con-
.inuous.y ,naceo.
"Whs. IS desired is a very high speed
machine gun iu delivering a large num-
ber OF small projectlies. This con-
sideratiou. or course, is especially re-
stricted % one airplane fighting an
other air0.ane IN the air. The problem
Is different i1 the case Of demolition
or incendinry action where gravity
can be used and 10 Is possible to drop
piosiyes bv the force Of gravity.
Raids by Special Flotillas
There is much lighting Of these
machines In groups for individual eX
PLOTS. and DO is common 70 organize
special fotillas or airplanes to pre-
cede and perform certain definite raids
and demolitions, and the practice has
been for many months 10 follow up
such exploits.
Under this head. Of course, would
come the special raids made upon GER
tain points behind an enemy's lines.
In such raids several types OF air
-la~es can be used, including the large
4urder- carrying machine that carries
lho explosives.
Perhaps the most dramatic raids Of
the air are made BY the giant Yep
pelns across the North Sea. The only
defence against such attacks IS that
Of the fighting alrplanes and antl-air-
craft guns. and these have been de-
vsloDed abroad % an enormous extent.
the large cities being now protected
By very large numbers Of anti-alrcraft
guns as well a. special lighting air
planes, which patrol the air.
Dispute About Zeppelins
The question of the giant Zeppelin
type Is a moot one. and has been FOR
many years. This country now has
funds which could be utilized for the
development of the Zeppelin type with
our further authority from Congress,
and the aviation section has asked for
A specific policy % be announced as Ca
whether 10 IS desirable 20 proceed
along these lines Of development. This
has resulted in the appointment OF .
Joint board OF the army and navy, Of
which Chief Constructor D. ". Tay-
lor s the head. 20 determine that
policy
"It should be recognized that the de-
veloDuent Of the Zeppelin means the
creation Of certain more or less new
industries, such as that OF aluminium
alloys Of various types, and the crea-
ton Of a new class Of shIooui ding IN
this country. and money alone - not
sufficient 10 is believed that Il detailed
scale drawings Of the latest Zeppelin
we're completed and the money were
row available. % would be impossible
70 construct. train the crew and other
wise develop q modern fighting Zep-
psln comparable with those now m
use in Europe within two or three
year.. with every facility az our dis.
WA HN.aA W va I'..-s|HfNf we
Filters Fighting submarines
A. % tre employment OF the airplane
against the submarine. Colonel Squler
says:
II CO not see any reason why an arr
plane could not destroy submarine.
Il has been impossible 20 get any in
formation on the submarine question,
a. 10 s the fixed policy abroad % keep
al matters u this kind secret. They
rink tnzt the psychological effect Of
ms policy rs 20 be preferred % the
eject o. announcing a victory.
FOR example. submarines have been
sent out and are not heard from again.
hey disappear and never come oacA
al 81 which Is very annoying and the
effect Of silence is better than that Of
telling o. success or results. The sub
marines disappear and 70 Is never
Known VGat has happened 20 them.
Department Il Organized
A. % what IS contemplated By the
War Department in view Of the pres
elt situation and the demands u VIII
make upon the military resources
Coiorel Squlc- says there has been put
effect 3 thorough and competent
Inspection department., the members Of
ttNN VIII Dt tLdlioftd az inc var tNN
nanufsctor.cs and. while inspecting
ne work on the government machines
I'll gather much valuable information.
aano has been acquired az Hampton
Eoscs Tor an experimental station. A
balloon school has been established az
ymaaa and SIX balloons have been pur-
chased, the school personnel now being
@ndef confederation.
a regards the establishment Of
'qnadrcna Tor me regular army and
ne reserve corps. orders have been
plArs1 FOR airplznes for about FIVE
'asaorons IN the regular service and
~ IN iae reaerye. while others are now
psinH pi2ced Tor such additional equip
Ae't a. vii be- necessary 20 organize
lhstf g9uadTOns.
~ means of Increasing the facili-
t'ss for aer0rautical training arrange
Asnte nave been made with certain
civilian schools throughout the country
W bt instruction Of men Designated
-ske the course Tor reserve corps
trmmlssiorE.
ne seleci on ~ these "a governed b.
tspfoggh inspection Of The equipment
1ha topfts - Instruction r. this man
~. u hoped - soon have substsn-
ngn15er o. competent and we'll
Fsnsd sy.ators IN the oncers reserve.