Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-07
HOLE RIPPED in RIA
WHEN GIRDER BREAKS:
300 MEN SAVE CRAFT
MAKES OCEAN LESS
PROTECTION TO j. S.
Secretary Daniels Regards
Transatlantic Aircraft FIiqhts
as Significant.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Arrival of dirigible from Europe
without mishap has had the same eff
feet on military and naval strategists
is the coming of the U-53. Both the
airship and the merchant submarine
set out on peaceful errands. But the
possible misuse of both weapons by
an INSCRIPTIONS foe was suggested
today by officials of our government.
The truth is that an airship like the
R-34 could make the journey from
Germany and drop dynamite on the
cities of the United States without
being affected by anti-aircraft guns.
For the range of the latter is insig-
nificant compared to the high alti-
tudes at which dirigibles can travel.
View of Secretary Daniels.
Now that a heavier-than-air ma
chine has crossed the Atlantic with
out stopping and a lighter-than-air
machine has done the same" said
Secretary Daniels today, I'VE can
protection to US. If there ever was
an argument for league of nations
to maintain peace the coming of the
RIA would seem to be one. 1t so
happens that the airship came from
friendly power. but what is to pre-
vent other nations from building yes
sells Of similar power and lombard
distant countries?
Indeed, if there is another war, it
will be more terrible than the one
through which we have just passed.
We will not have plenty OF time
to stop invasions as heretofore. Air
ships will suddenly descend on cities
will
suddenly some day and hit the first
blow. Damage that can be inflicted
from the air is incalculable. Army
officers in France told me that moth
ing had affected the morale of our
troops until aerial bombardment be-
gan. You feel defenseless under an
attack that you cannot answer"
Secuted U-Boat Menace.
When the U-53 came to the shores Of
the United States, some people said 1t
was ridiculous to suppose that the
Germans would ever send submarines
And the breaking down of the Ger
man campaign on the American coast
was not due SO much to defensive
adopted on this side OF the
Atlantic as by our Navy in co-opera-
ton with other navies on the Europ-
can coast. The general public has
very little conception today. Secretary
Daniels said, of the tremendous size
of the barrage of mines which were
placed in the English channel and in
the straits between Scotland and Nor
way. The northern and southern ex-
it's of the North sea we're effectively
blocked by impediments in which at
least ten submarines were caught
This is believed to have done as much
ho
man navy as anything in the whole war.
Defense Measures Now Problem.
A defense against attack by airship
is now the problem.
cut down the appropriations for aerial
experimentation and development, but
England and France are spending hun
dreds of millions of dollars. 1t is the
great weapon of offense for the fu-
ture. Experts point out that naVies
on the sea will require aerial defense
to protect them against bombs dropped
from the sky. Boats will need anti
aircraft guns, not only, but Zeppelins
and R-34s and other big dingibles
to fight hostile balloons. Dirigibles
can soar to such attitudes however,
that defense by airship is not going
to be as simple as it might seem.
Airplanes undoubtedly will be used,
however as scouts, but flying men here
said transatlantic invasion by feet
of airships protected by big airplanes
was not at all uncomfortable or inn
probable the next time hostilities &C.
cur in the world.
prevention" remarked the Secre-
tary of the Navy today as he was dis
GUESSING the problem of aerial defense.
lis just as important as means of pro-
tecfjop The nafionS who got to-
gether in a league for war must make
a league to keep the peace. Oceans
do not separate nations, but draw
them closer together"
Starts the Discussion.
So the arrival of the big airship
from England while exciting no fears
because of it's British origin did set
the discussion going with respect to
Germany Under the terms of the
a rmistice for instance, Germany will
be forbidden to manufacture aircraft
for six months. but eventually she
will develop her Zeppelins for trans
commercial travel
The manufacture of -combust-
ible gas will assist materially in MAX
ing the dirigibles practical for ocean
travel and experts say experiments
thus far made warrant the predic-
ton that such fuel will be provided
in a reasonable time.
Just as the gas engine and auto
mobile developed more utilities each
year. SO may the dirtgible and air
plane be perfected by the incessant
study OF scientists. Administration
officials. however. did not fail to point
out that they believed the coming of
the R-34 was another milestone in
American foreign policy-a necessary
ending of QUIZ ureYinus nolicx af isola~