El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-10-30
aircraft And
Submarine To
Be Used More
Great Discoveries in Use of
Electricity.F or Silencing
Guns Are Likely.
by SIR }. COMPTON RICKETr. N. P.

by SIR J. COMPTON RICKETr. ". p.
London. Eng. Oct 3o.-we must not
forget that aircraft and submarines
viii change the character OF all war
in the future. Nations viii multiply
the number and improve the construc-
ton and efficiency Of both these
methods Of warfare. Neither Of them
are so costly TO build as the old
dreadnoughts and batteries OF large
guns. while both can be handled with
greater rapidity and at less cost.
For the first time in conflicts be-
tween man and man. we have perpen-
dicular. in addition to lateral move
ments at the disposal of the maneuv-
ering vessel. The fighting plane can
rise and fall with speed and precision,
as wei as navigate the surface
These are qualities which the older
forms Of land and sea warfare do not
possess
The atmosphere offers a field OF at
tack and defence which cannot be
subordinated 10 the purpose Of any
one cOmbatant. II is possible TO sink
mines at various depths below the
surface Of the sea. You cannot render
the upper air immune from an attack
Mines attached to balloons would be
more dangerous to their friends be-
meath than to enemy aircraft; they
would be simply targets for the gun
fire OF the plant No trenches can be
dug. no fortress temporized In
cloudland. 1t is Just possible that
artificial mist might be created. but
means Of dissiptaiug fog would prob
ably be found to counterfeit this
Coming DEVELOPMENTS.
The freesweep OF the skies, the sup
pie movement. the vast fleets which
would cross the heavens by day ana
by night-all these suggest surprise
by bold Initiative.
Air locomotion viii be adapted to
commerce, and submarine vessels viii
have use in time OF peace, and will
Provide an alternative mode OF ocean
transit IN the event OF future war
But has science said the last wordt
That is unlikely.
The remarkable developments OF
electricity particularly in its wireless
forms. suggests a further use OF il
which would silence the guns, abolish
distance. and strike home by day or
by night. The dynamic might be OBJ
tained either from some form OF
stored energy transposed into cleo
tricity. or form some natural move
ment or process harnessed to the pur-
pose
There are probably other vibrations
through either OF which just now we
have only suggestions These open up
far more interesting fields Of discov-
cry. i will obviously follow that
II a destructive force be found Of the
character outlined. it should be
made available for peaceful enter
prise. as well as for destruction
The distribution Of power, from
points best suited for It's creation. IS
one OF the first problems Of com
merciaI reconstruction To erect the
electric plant upon the coalfield or
an estaury and then TO transmit the
power considerable distances inland
will certainly be attempted in com
paratively short time.
Whether energy can BIT transmitted
IN a still simpler form than this re-
mains to be seen The increased pro-
ductiveness OF natural processes by
active stimulation IS another prob
lem In any case, We may assume
that there is no natural gift which
cannot be employed for the benefit OF
humanity, although we may only be-
acquainted with its disintegrating
function To the extent to which these
tremendous powers are revealed 10
mankind. through the inspired prog
ress Of intellectual research, 10 that
extent is II necessary that the peo-
be trustees for the human race
others who seek to defect them for
despotic and selfish motives must be
restrained by the common effort OF
an enlightened humanity. For the
wider the reach OF scientific discOv-
cry. the greater the danger OF misap-
plying the results.