The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-07-26

Washington, D. c., July 25.-1f the
great powers of the world decide
finally to continue building up their
nayies and armies, development OF
weapons of war to an appalHngy
destructive point is certain IN the
next war waged between powerful
countries.
If we disregard the question OF
disarmament now agitatlng the
leading nations it may be taken as
a maxim of warfare, adequately
proyed time and time again, that
weapons of offense, in wartime as
we'll as in eras of peace, are deYel-
oped at a faster pace than the de-
II nsive weapons to combat them
can be devised. In time of war the
nation developing a new offensive
weapon will guard its secrets with
the greatest zeal so that It's use
will prove a disastrous surprise to
an enemy. Naturally it requires
time to work out proper defensive
measures.
The World war demonstrated this
axiom of warfare many times. The
first Canadian troops against whom
the Germans used gas were slain by
thousands because the means OF
combating gas had not been per-
fected. The gas mask reduced the
effectiveness of the gas weapon,
but its perfection Jagged behind the
development of the offensive gas
weapon.
The bow and arrow in ancient
times was a powerful weapon Of
war until shields and helmets Of
sort were made The sword and
lance forced the development of
metal armor and shields as protec-
tive measures. AS big guns were
developed, stouter forts and heaV-
Ter armor plating for battleships
followed.
The submarine used by the Ger
mans in the late war wreaked great
CT havoc in the beginning than aft
er defensive measures were deVel-
oped to combat it These measures
were of various sorts. Camoufiage
of merchant ships, arming them
with rifles, and the depth bomb
greatly reduced losses due to sub
marines. One of the most effective
schemes in reducing these losses
was credited to Thomas A. Edison.
II is reported that he made a map,
noting on it the exact position and
time where all ships were sunk by
submarines, and by merely chang
ing sailing times SO that ships pass
ed through the thickly infested
spots under cover of darkness, mer-
chant ship losses were still further
reduced. Another curious but pre-
sumably effective weapon was the
policy adopted by the allies of not
letting it be known whenever
German submarine was destroyed
or captured. This was done with
the intention of working on the
nerves of the officers and crews of
other submarines and DESTROYING
their confidence in their underwater
craft.
Importance of Aircraft.
Aircraft was the greatest develop
ment, or the beginning of the great
est modern offensive weapon of
warfare, according to the belief of
many army and navy experts. This
weapon has an advantage in mobil-
ity greater than any ever devised,
and defensive measures Jagged be-
hind as usual. The anti-aircraft
gun was perfected but the develop
ment of the offensive aircraft to the
point of greatest efficiency is 30
ing forward now, in times of peace,
more rapidly, perhaps, than during
the war
The main defense worked out
thus far against aircraft is other
aircraft Anti-aircraft guns, par
ticularly on shore, are looked upon
as secondary because they cannot
keep pace with the flying attack,
and must he considered as sta
tjonary. The element of surprise in
aIrplane attack renders it impos-
sible to be prepared to meet aircraft
with anti-aircraft guns at any par
ticulr point. The gun is more i'm