The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-07-08
ARRIVAL
SHOWS DANGER IN
FUTURE WARFARE
Peaceful Trip Over Atlantic
Might Be FOrerunner Of
Hostile Attack Upon U. S.
Cities From Skies.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
The News Sclmitar's Special Cora.
Gpondent.

epondent.
WASHINGTON, July s.-Arrival OF a
dirigible from Europe without mishap
has had the same effect on military
and naval strategists as the coming of
the U-53. Both the airship II the
merchant submarine set u on peaceful
errands. But the possible misuse OF
both weapons by an INSCRIPTIONS foe
was suggested today by officials of u
government.
The truth is that an airship like the
R-34 could make the journey from Ger
many and drop dynamite on the cities
of the United States without being az
fected by antiaircraft guns. For the
range of the latter is insignificant COM
pared to the high attitudes at which
dirigibles can travel.
Now that a heavier-than-air ma
chine has crossed the Atlantic without
stopping and a lighter-than-air ma
chine has done the same said Secre-
tary Daniels today, I'VE a hardly say
that the ocean Is so much protection
to US. II there ever was an argument
for q league of nations to maintain
peace. the coming of the R-34 would
seem to be one. 1t so happens that the
airship came from a friendly power,
but what Is to prevent other nations
from building vessels of similar power
and ~bombarding distant countries?
Indeed. II there is another war, 1t
will be more terrible than the one
through which we have. Just passed.
We viii not have plenty OF time to stop
invasions as heretofore. Airships will
suddenly descend on cities and towns,
airplanes will set out suddenly some
day and hit the first blow. Damage
that can be inflicted from the air Is in
calculable. Army officers in France
told me that nothing had affected the
| F,ora1n nf pIr irpnnQ until aerial nom
bardment began. You feel ~defenseless
| under an attack that you cannot an
swer."
When the U-53 came to the shores OF
the United States some people said II
was ridiculous to suppose that the GER
| mans would eVer send submarines TO
attack our coast. But they did. And
the breaking down of the German cam
paign on the American coast was not
due so much to defensive measures
| adopted on this side OF the Atlantic as
by our navy in cooperation with other
navies on the European coast.
The general public has very little con-
| ception today, Secretary Daniels said,
| Of the tremendous size of the barrage
| Of mines which was placed In the Eng
fish channel and In the straits between
| Scotland and Norway. The northern
| and southern exits of the North sea
were effectively blocked by impedi-
| menus HI WHICH at itdSN Y - $500
were caught. This Is believed to have
| done as much to undermine the morale
| Of the German navy as anything in the
whole war, -
A defense against attack by airship
Ia now the problem. Congress, In its
desire for economy, cut down the up
/ preparations for aerial experimentation
and development, but England and
France are spending hundreds of mil.
lions Of dollars, 1t Is the great weapon
Of offense for the future, Experts
point out that navies on the sea VIII
require aerial defense to protect them
against bombs dropped from the sky
Coasts will need antiaircraft guns not
only, but Heppelins and Rats and other
big d~irigibles to fight hostile balloons
| pirigihles can soar to such attitudes,
however, that defense by airship is not
going to be as simple as 1t might seem
| Airplanes undoubtedly will be used
however, as scouts, but flying men here
said a transatlantic invasion by a
fleet of airshIps protected by big air
planes was not at all uncomfortable OF
improbable the e time hostilitie:
occur in the world.
prevention" remarked the secretary
of the navy, as he was discussing tn,
problem of aerial defense, lis just a:
important as means Of protection. The
nations who get together in a league fol
| WAT iluNN IAN " l'hthN W WY ~
peace. Oceans do not separate nations
but draw them closer together
so the arrival OF the big atrship from
England, while exciting no fears be
cause OF its British origin, did set thu
discussion going with respect to Ger
many. Under the terms of the armi
stice, for instance, Germany will be for
hidden to manufacture aircraft for 81!
months. but eventually she will develol
her Xeppelins for trans Atlantic com
merCial travel, The manufacture of
noncomhustlble gas win assist material
~ in making the dirigibles practical 70
ocean travel and experts say expert
ments thus far made warrant the pre-
diction that such a fuel VIII be provide,
in a reasonable time,
Just as the gas engine and automo
bile developed more utilities each yea
SO may the dirigihle and airp%e b
perfected by incessant study G
/, scientists, Administration official,
however. did not fail to point out tina
they believed the coming OF the R-3
was another milestone In American for
eigu poliCy-a necessary ending OF GU
previous policy of isolation.
Copyright, 1919, by the New York
Evening Post.)