New-York tribune., 1921-11-07
Manless Carrier of Poison
Gas and Bombs, Created
by U. S., Able to Ruin
Cities and Sweep Seas
Covers Manhattan
In Secret Flight
Can Be Directed Against
Forts or Fleets From
Distance of 200 Miles
From The Trioume's Washington Burcou $

From The Tri6ane's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Nov. GA success
iul >mec@anically controlled flying tor
pedo, destined to revolutionize land and
sea warfare, has been developed for the
United States Army end Navy air serv-
ices. In secret test, made two weeks
ago, this remarkable aircraft, said t.
be the most important aerial weapon
ever con tructcd, flew ever New Yor'
City and two Eastern states. Accord
ing TO aerial experts here, the flying
torpedo, had it been loaded, could cas-
lily have wrought great destruction to
lower Manhattan.
The experiments have been carried
on for several months on Chesapeake
Bay, in New Jersey and Ohio in strict
est secrecy, not mere than 100 persons
in the entire country having any
knowledge of it. Tn machine already
has made upward of hundred fights,
approximating 5000 miles.
Its existence undoubtedly will exert
a profound influence upon the Confer
ence on the Limitation of Armament,
which opens here this week, because
development of the craft. according to
the experts, means that coastal fortifi-
cations are rendered obsolete.
Might Wipe Out Whole Cities
Att" cking in large numbers. machines
OF this type would be able to anniaila @
cities with incendiary explosives and
pclscn gases without the loss of one
ilfe to the attacking forces. the expo rt :;
declare. In actual warfare the fving
torpedoes will be guided through the
air to Their targets without a person
en- board.
During the flight over New York
City the experimental dying torped }
made an unexpected landing near a
rms incident attracted little attention
at the>time.
upon leceivlng report OF the land
ing o the mysteries aircraft how
ever, The Tribune began an invessiga-
ton. snd now is in a post on to cut
line the characteristics of this remark
able machine and its possibilities. The
details OF construction and contro. are
still shr uded in mystery.
The test flight on that occasion cum
menced from landing croynd near
New York. After the engine was
started the machine ran short dis
tance across the fie d, end taen took
The or CT c"eGrful Y md climbed to
the predetermined altitude, 1t then
SET co sc que west. straight into a
stiff head wind.
The st remarked be feature of the
new craft is the development which
,auses it to tale off from the startinr
acid. The secret apparatus controllinr
the elevators, which Govern the ascent
and descent of an airplane, is abso-
iately success rul, according to the ex-
perts who have watc ed the expert
ments. For straight flying across coun-
'sry the machine is eqvinped with ap-
paratrs which gives it inherent stabi' :
ity causjng it to right itself under all
conditions.
Intended for Offens' We Warfare
From official sources it is learned
tnat the flying torpedo is designed for
offensive action against enemy coasts
cltles CT fleets. In naval warfare it
Will be further controlled by radio,
and at no time will machines of this
type fly more than twenty feet above
the surface of the sea during naval
engagements. it can be flown at anv
alutude whi'e boing used in attack
against cities or coast de erenses. The
nylng torpedces will be Fl led with in
eenmaiary explosives and poison gases
h.tt1e the object Of flying low in naval
nattles based on two important fac
.ors. First the present indicated de-
lense against atac ing airplanes-bs
sides other aircraft--is det nation set
u, nr ~ barr re of an i-aircrast guns.
me theory CT this defense is that,
wniie 10 attempc s made TO obta n a
Mrect hit. terrific air disturbance
WI re st up by the exploding shells,
maxine it practically impossible for
,.he.r objectives. This. of course, will
De- obviated by low flying.
The ether factor is based unon the
TACT that when machine is flying very
low here is back pressure of air
~ m sthe ground--or sea-which tends
90 Keep the machine in the position in
Which It is flying. Tn s. with the
Iaaio control. will make the flying
sorpeeoes almost invincible, as only a
uirect hit will put them out of action.
Can Be Guided 200 Mics OFF
In this manner hundreds of the ma
cnlnes can he set to fly stra ght iowa I'd
neet, and then circle around until
they strike enc of the battleships. Or
ssney may be directed by an attacking
neet against enemy cities from a dis
lance OF 200 miles Or more.
The experts here assert that the t. st
lights mean that even in it's present
stage the flying tornedo could have
oeen launched nsty miles east of Mon
ssuk Point, end it would have reached
new N, York City before its flight ended
Inc cargo of explosives or gases would
nave done the rest.
IT was learned that several such
machines exist. One has been used in
.ne army tests ind others in the navy