New Britain herald., 1918-01-05
AIRMEN TO ATTACK
 RHINE BRIDGES
Reliance Placed on Them to End
 the War

lJOnQDIl, Jan. 5.~-A. snort LlIn6 ago a New York dispatch to a London pa per stated that Am erican opinion was that Britain ranked last among the leading mem bers of the grand alliance in air power. This statement was not cOntroverted, because discussions af- fecting national susceptibilites at a time like the present arc inoppor- tune. Among air experts here there exists confident belief that British efforts in the provision of aerial fight ing craft and the training of men will prove equal to the necessities of the great aerial campaign expected in the spring, and that the balance in favor of the Entente will be tipped de- cisively by America's contribution.
 In statement R. R. Hearne, au- thor of Aerial Warfare" and a well- known authority on the subject, says:
 'The Germans are now working with all their energy to carry the air war this year to every part of Brit ain within range. It will be a ruthless and terrible war unless we are well prepared. Big bombing machines with their 900-mile range of action can menace Glasgow and Belfast as we'll as London and the Midlands.
 'Air operations will be on an inn mensely enlarged scale. Hence, when the Allies carry out their air war on Germany, the Huns in their very first experience of such raids will be treat ed to something far more terrible than the worst assault on London. Bearing in mind the underlying hy- steria which exists in Germany, it will be understood that there is excellent opportunity for breaking the nerve of tho war makers.
 With thousands of air planes cir cling in and out of Germany night after night and day after day. with re- mote German towns made the centers of aerial battles, with the main rail- way lines battered at many places, troop trains wrecked and vital bridges like those of the Rhine de- molished, we shall assuredly shatter the two nerve systems which have en- abled Germany to defy the world so long
 These two nerve systems are first, the nerve or will of the governing classes, who carry on the war, and second, the gigantic bundle of nerves known as the German railway sys- tenn. ParaIyze either of these nerve systems, and the way to victo rious peace Is easy.
 So far in this war the governing classes of Germany have suffered very little and have profited very much. The war to them has been an excit- ing game. We have not been able to strike directly, at these people, be- cause they are we'll intrenched behind their armies. Losses have befallen them, but we have not been able to break their nerve nor have we been able to break the magnificent railway system of Germany, which I may call her national iron nerve
 There is a very strong case, there fore, for a powerful attack on the two nerve systems by which Germany holds out so determinedly, and when we come to analyze methods by which VIC can make direct attacks on Ger many's nerves we find only one instru- ment available, the airplane. With our air fleets we can jump over the battle lines which form Germany's hulwarks. The air way is the only way to the heart of Germany. When we begin in earnest to carry the war into the interior of Germany. when we endanger German officialdom and German property, and when we break the inner wheels of the German traf- fic machine, then we shall see great changes.
 Some one may ask, but what if Germany tries the same method against the AUies?' Well, she has tried her hardest since the early days of the war. Count up the raids on London and Paris and sec how they compare with the Allies, feeble at tempts against important cities.
 Tt is in this matter of smashing Germany's nerves that America will bring invaluable aid to the Entente Powers by her thousands of airplanes this year. American experts showed great intelligence when they pro- nounced in favor of a gigantic air program, and if the United States de- Iivers the goods, as I feel sure will be done, we shall have the most import ant instrument of victory against Germany.
 "I know the brilliant record of the American engineers in high speed production and now that the French and British air experts have been giving their war experience to their transatlantic allies we may have every confidence in the realization of the overwhelmingly large air fleet which will beat Germany from the sky, in wade her territory, and break her will to war"