TaÌˆgliche Omaha tribuÌˆne. [volume] (Omaha, Nebr.) 1912-1926, 1917-07-18
WHY Ths Allies Do Not lombard The German "HIntsdadF

The difficulty which English and French aeroplanes experience in eros
sing the battle lines far into Germany is due chiefly to the following causes;
The Allied motor of the best type weighs approximately a. pounds per
horsepower; many weigh as much as eight pounds per horsepower, while
tie best American motors have not been brought below S5 pounds per
horsepower What does this mean? 1t means that a machine of $50
horsepower requires a motor of 725 pounds weight, in the very best Allied
tvpe, and about 1900 pounds in other machines on the Allies side. The
Mercedes motor Of $50 horsepower weighs only 2o pounds-Ieavng about
460 pounds for extra fuel and bomb supply. i will take it for granted that
the machines are about the same type, and carry the same number Of men
for attacking purposes.
A dispatch of the raid on England, from French headquarters, showed
that sea-panes went forth to attack the returning German raiders, but that
they hat to return from the scouting flight after an hour "o repenish their
petrol. This bears out what l said before-namey that an Allied aHpane
if it desires to carry armament or bombs can only carry a very small
amount Of fuel A modern aeropane of 1870 horsepower requires a gallon
gasoline for every five minutes Of flight, under the best condition. An
hours reconnoitering, with the time required for rising and descending
eats up obout % gallons Of gasoline, Very few Of the aeros used for
tombng and fighting carry more than 30 gallons of gas'-on the Allies
side. The German machines, raiding London, travelled at least 900 miles,
and probably as much as 400 miles. They were in the air between four
ind five hours, in continuous flight, eating up at least so to 80 gallons Of
gasoline each. 30 gallons Of gasoline weigh about 600 pounds-and this
500 pounds Of extra weight is just what prevents the Allied planes from
n idng towns and cities far in the interior OF Germany as the London
public demands.
An aeroplme motor which weigh 600 pounds more than another motor
If the same horsepower, proves a handicap, not only in direct proportion TO
the extra weight carried, but also in the amount Of real propeIing force
delivered to the propeller. That its to say, the 500 pounds dead weight are
not the only drag on the machine, for each reciprocatng part Of the motor,
motor, consumes from three to nine times as much power for its own
motion, thereby permitting only a fraction Of the theoretical $50 horse
power to be delivered at the propeller shaft
Tia an incontroverHble fact that, all other things being equal a Ger
man machine with a $50 HIP Mercedes motor can take along 800 pounds
in large bombs( 800 pounds in small bombs, $50 pounds Of gasoline, and
two aviaors, in addition to carrying its own weight, while the best French
plane Of $50 HIP. can only carry 600 pounds in large bombs, 300 in small
bombs and 200 pounds in gasoline. II the gasoline amount is increased,
the number of the size Of the bombs is decreasedi the French machine will
reach a top spead Of 10 miles an hour under these crcumstances-the
German machine $3.50 miles an hour That's Why the Allies have not
raided the German "Hnterland" to any extent 50 far! And for no other
reasonable it from one who nowsl