Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-02-22
CURB A|RPLANES.
SAYS ENGL|SHMAN
Unless This Is Done Next
War Will Crush Civiliza-
ton.
FRENcHMEh VOICE FEARS
British Author Discusses Pro-
gress Made in Air
Navigation.
DY II. PROVOST DATTEnsuY.

BY II. PROVOST DATTERsuY.
LONDON. FEB. 2l.-"Wha. would
imagination. Discoveries made almost
at tho end OF the war. IL they had been
| used. would have produced horrors in
cipal belligerents
that. civilization might we'll be
wrecked and this world be driven. not
! TO the condition of the Middle or Dark
Ages, but to something which the world
has never conceived OF in it's most
imaginative momcnts."-David Lloyd
George.
The next war. IL it took place,
this war as this war has been more
horrible than any preceding war. II
would mean the Wholesale destruction
Cecil
These two statements were made re-
mons by the Primo Minister and Lord
Robert Cecil No more fatctul fore
G msn, have awe e syre, been made IN Parlia
told more fully what ;hey indicate.
Outlook Is Bnrhnrism.
Neither speaker can cherish the IL
fusion that wars shall be no more, and
their prophecy, therefore. means that in
Will be destroyed and humanity, If it
survives, rcduccA to barbarism
Why and how; may we not inquire,
america. France. German and Great
Britain. Before deciding that the peril
cannot be avcrted let US, at least, have
look al II.
Now. after the armisticc. certain ara-
matte paragraphs in the press describe
the possible demolition by new i'm
PIGMENT Of death manufactured with
| unparalleled precautions in America.
OF such incredible potency that it's use
by eight airmen would suffice for tho
destruction of every living creature in
Berlin.
Reveals Enemy Invention.
We have. likewise details OF a
scheme, which the enemy lacked suf-
ncient material TO accomplish. by
loaded with explosives, could be driven
electrically from a single machine and
drG Gnnedo on any any destined target.
ism Under Secretary for Air. writes:
Any power which gains initial com
mand OF the air Will be able. within
enemy's merchant ships. all his main
railway stations. and, by a combina-
siGn b 9f explosive and incendary fires
We. may from these infer that what
the Premier and Lord CetIl had in mind
which aircraft have but into the hands
| of man: since by no other engine of
| war can. civilization and the civil
| population be said 10 be threatened
Must Face Alternative.
VIC have thus to face the fact that,
in the opinion OF the men who know.
the destruction Of civilization is GER
aalntE unless either wars or aircraft
Three years ago had the temerity
| 10 make the same assertion and to
suggest that, as permanent peace was
some way Off, il would be wise for any
future council OF nations TO curta!l
mankind's capacity for mischief by
forbidding, under the extremist penal
ties, the construction OF every sort OF
aircraft.
The proposal was. of course. ridi-
erlea even deno our s. as a. timorous
progress being the accepted dcscrip-
ton OF any r,. new ingenuity OF man nan no
Here is a description by well known
atrman, Captain Paul Bewsher, of where
it has led:
AT dusk the enemy's secretly pre-
pared and forwarded fleets of aircraft
would collect at various rendezvous.
and flying through the darkness,
declaration o. war. above the princi-
pal muniticn factories. power stations,
oil tanks. railway functions, admits
trative Offices. arsenals, barracks. dock
yards and other centers of import
ance.
hail of poison gas cylinders would be
come to a nation headicss and power
less, it's cities hecatonb of dead and
dying, its railway functions and strong
holds in ruins, unable to offer any con-
siderable resistance 10 further attacks
Save in its expectation OF decla-
ration of war from an unscruPuiouS
cnemy,' that account of what VIII nap
pen is doubtless accurate.
French Airme:. Voice Fears.
French airmen have already voiced
their fears by drawing attention TO
the projected network OF c9mmerclai
over the frontier. and linking up nil
the chief ports and commercial con-
tiers for the use of the 10000 airplanes
the instigation of the 'Airmen's Union,
which has been formed in Germany to
keep German flying men combined in
for their ready. mobilization for the
purpose of war"
We'll, there. a tritle sooner PERHAPS
where the wheels OF progress" are
driving us-to an existence tempered
by eeaseless apprehension OF violent
death and national destruction. AGAINST
which the only safeguards recommend,
ed are large and costly air force and
"sleepless vigilance"
force could be relied on as prevent
tive, just consider what such proven,
tion would cost. for the outlay would
be entailed on every nation. and what
pleasant brotherly relations would be
furthered by that "slccpless vigilance"
and expectancy icy Of net .r,S, which
Air Conquest for Wealthy:
Against those hundreds of millions
spent and the never-ending apprehenx
sion. what has the conquest of the ais
wealthy people and their belongings
and now sensation OF which one soon
tires. All the other advertised effects.
outside OF war. are scarcely worth con-
siderinG; set against even mere world
wide uneasiness thoy are as dust in
Let us face the fact that man has
at last evolved means for wipinG out
all that has been won from sixty CEN
turtles of civilization. that lie will most
certainly use it: when next he goes to
war. and that infatuated humanity is
The question p is Isl We're Gso,, the British d
eral seely talking in. Ignorance, or is
the picture which they. drew GER
tainty of desolation IL war comes
again?
and, If not, can 1t be robbed, of it's
,owcr to decivilizc the human race?
If II cannot. let US drink. dance and
be merry. for tomorrow we die; but
II II can. lct not tho slamor OF new.
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