The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1917-09-04

are charged also Win the destruction
Of the stationary balloons
On the west front, it is estimated,
there are about forty OF these squad
rillas, with about dozen machines to
each. Others in the same category have
as their duty the protection of the
large German cities that lie within
airplane flight of the French and Eng
lish, such as Strasburg. Freiburg, Null
hause, Friedrichshafen, Stuttgart. Els.
sen. Cologne and Treves. The pilots
OF these squadrillas are carefully chos-
en- from among the best of the Ger
man aviators, and their exploits are
encouraged by frequent mention in the
general staff reports.
4.-Battle squadrillas or "flotillas'
are under the direction of great head
quarters, and shift from army to army
to carry out commandments on mill
tary establishments behind the front,
as well as ever and again upon open
towns.
Three "FIotiiias" Now.
There are three of these squadrillas
the others have been dismembered and
their units attached to other arms Of
the aerial service. Squadrillas one
and two are generally transported by
train from place to place, wherever
they are most needed.
There are from forty to fifty ma
chimes in each squadrilla, which when
complete and ready for action is di-
" n
airplane is armed with two machine
guns and each carries bombs weighing
from 20 to 100 pounds apiece. Some
are said to carry bombs that weigh
more than 200 pounds.
While perfecting their service in the
air, the Germans have also rapidly bet
tered their anti-aircraft measures and
weapons. The 77-milimeter guns have
given way to rapid-firing guns of 105
milimeter calibre, and at certain
points along the front they use shrap-
mel guns of 240 milimeter size.
They possess special bullets for the
destruction of captive balloons, but in
many instances have used them with
great cruelty against opponents in air
planes. At least one squadrilla cap
tain, a Lieutenant Eilers, finally for
Dade his men to carry these bullets
with them unless they were definitely
charged with raiding balloons.
Put New Types Out.
The Germans, it is said, are con-
stantly putting new types of machines
into the field. The famous Taube went
cut OF style long ago, and it has now
been followed by the even more fam
Gus Fokker, which less than a year
ago was considered the last and final
word in attacking airplanes. It's inven-
tor, Dutchman, is now said to be de-
voting himself to the perfection Of a
machine with 260 h. p. motor which
Will break all records for speed and
efficiency.
Today the Rumpler seems to be the
favorlte machine, though those with
100 h. p. motors are not fast enough
to suit, and yet the machines will hard
ly stand up under a heavier motor.
The raids on London were accomp-
l1shed with Gotha machines but these,
though so recent that little is known
about them in France, are already Civ
ing way to faster airpIanes, especially
to powerful Rumpler biplanes which
have tremendous speed and rising
power.
These machines, of which there are
not fewer than 80 in the third battle
flotilla, can make great distances both
because of their powerful motors and
because of their huge gasoline tanks,
two of which with a capacity apiece
OF $50 liters are carried on each ma.
chine.