The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-07-29
BIG AERIAL RAID ON
BERLIN IS PLANNED
Bombs Dropped BY Allied Flyers IN
German Are Serious Dcfrtment
to Enemy Morale.

London. July 2s.--The weather
admittedly plays an important part
in the defense of England against
German air raids. The time viii short
ly arrive when more or less settiea
conditions can be expected to prevail,
and with the approach OF that GATE
speculation grows keen as TO what
the long-range bombing season Is
likely to bring forth.
British confidence in retaining as
tendency in the air runs high. ana
experts like Lord Montague. of Beau
lieu, have, in published speeches, MADE
statements which have created puphc
belief that Berlin and other big cities
In the interior of Germany will before
long receive the same treatment az
the naunition- making centers OF the
Rhineland have been enduring lately,
much, according to authoritative re-
ports, to the serious detriment OF
German morale and production OF war
matedial.
It Is nevertheless recognized here
that conditions which viii make tina
bombing OF Berlin and other long
range objects possible, will similarly
make German operations against Lon
don and other British places feasible.
The defensive in the matter or air
raids Is automatically inferior to the
offensive, and though General ASH
more, who is in special charge OF the
metropolitan air defenses, may have
some surprises in store, the advent OF
German air raiders is not dismissed
from calculations.
Incidentally it may be mentioned
that the board of works for some time
past has been taking extensive mea-
sures to safeguard historic and artistic
landmarks in the capital. though 1t Is
recognized that a direct hit by the
new large bombs such as both sides
now presumably have at their SERVICES
would play havoc with ordinary
methods OF protection.
Bombing More Accurate.
Aerial bombing has BECOME an exact
science. In the early days Of the war.
the dropping of bombs was largely a
matter of luck. and the straight eye OF
the aviator was the only factor relied
upon for success. Today. however.
matters are entirely different Ac.
curate bomb sights have been pro-
duced, which. carefully used, are
guarantee of a bomb falling on the
object aimed at within a very small
margin Of error.
or course, as in the case of all such
instruments. the human element 10
sometimes responsible Tor errors Oh
calculation. and a small error on .
bomb sight at 5000 feet viii send .
bomb far out of its course. In the
words of an airnaan. who has done
some splendid raiding work in France.
1T Is wonderful what you. can miss
with bomb"
Aerial photogra phs taken by avis
tors after raids have shown that the
majority of British bombs do reach
their billets in Germany or. in the
German lines. In the excitement Of
work of this kind, often In the midst
OF heavy shellfire. a very cool head 10
required TO manipulate an instrument
as delicate as a bombsight. British
airnen receive very thorough train
ing In bombing before they, are al
lowed to proceed overseas, and must
obtain a certain number of hits be-
fore they can graduate.
II is thought that quite = lot at
wanton and useless destruction of tri-
waite property in England by German
raiders is due to sheer had Bombing.
for even IL the motive Of a certain
proportion of the raids fe merely
'frightfulness." 1t must be nssumed
that in other cases where workmen's.
cottages a few miles away from munt-
ton works have been blown up, that
! II was the factory which was aimed
at and missed