The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-08-13
By w. F. FULLAM.
Rear Admiral. U. s. Navy (RetiredO
(Copyright, 1923. by Cosmopolitan
News Service.)


Copyright. 1923. by Cosmopolitan
| News Service.)
SAN FRANCISCO, Cal. Aug. 10.
British statesmen are thoroughly
aroused tt the need of air power
for national defense. They realize
that the flying endurance and range
of airplanes have so increased that
the English homeland and it's hith-
erto inVincible grand fleet are within
reach of an enemy on the continent.
It is absolutely necessary, therefore,
that their airplane fleet shall be
tremendously increased. It is their
first line of defense. It has dis
placed their surface navy as the
main hope Of protection against
Europe as well as against attack
from overseas.
The same argument applies to the
defense of British provinces and
bases. The must have more planes
than any enemy on land or sea can
bring against them.
French 4 to British 1.
Although the British air force is
only one-fourth as big as that of
France, it has scored many triumphs
in the past five years. It has been
the main dependence of the British
forces in Mesopotamia. For the
first time in history an "air gen
eraP has been in supreme command
of an expeditionary army! Sir Sam
uel Hoare, British air minister,
states: 1T has been possible to sup.
ply an armored-car department with
stoves, spare parts, petrol and ra-
tions for several days entirely from
the air. Two companies Of an In
~
Lewis guns and 800 rounds. of am
munition, were transported by i:-
planes to a disturbed district fifty
four miles distant in twenty-four
hours at a time when the roads were
impossible and when it would have
been impossible otherwise to move
troops at ALL" This statement de-
mands the attention # all military
men who wish to keep up with the
times in preparation for the next
war.
But It is not in airplanes alone
heavier-than craft-that the Brit
ish empire is vitality interested. The
House Of Commons. spurred to ac-
ton by Sir Samuel Hoare, has de-
cided to resume the development
and employment of big airships-
-lightcr-than-air craft-as a means
of communication with India and
other distant possessions. To this
end a scheme has been outlined for
using six big airships in a BIZ
weekly air line from London to
India. The whole subject has been
thoroughly studied. Every difficult
ty has been anticipated. The max
imum Of expense and the minimum
Of revenue have been considered.
Despite this 1t Is believed that this
line can be made commercial Sic
cess. small government subsidy
will surely maintain it, and such
an appropriation is more than JUS
tiled by the return such a line
would yield in time Of war.
Can Jump Continents.
It must be noted that airships
can jump continents, mountains and
oceans. For this reason they are
of vital Importance in linking the
different parts of the British en-
pire. Armies and navies are re-
strlcted today more than ever In
world history by air forces and
submarines.
The British line to India by sea
can he easily smashed in the Med
iterranean and the Suoz Canal by
a nation that has plenty Of subma-
rlnes and atrplanes. But the air
snip can jump all obstacles. It
might be the one and only means
or communication under certain
conditions.
The weaknesses of the airship
nave been greatly exaggerated, and
us trlumphs are unknown to most
people. The Germans made a COM
mercfal success Of the %eppalins
01f0rP
And they did this despite the dan
gers from the use of inflanmable
hydrogen. A German airship flew
from Bulgaria to Kartoum and
back in l917--a distance of 400
.tllles IN four days. carrying thirty
1lVe tons Of freight, and returned
with three days fuel.
Lost One Airship in War.
And the British also bave done
wonders with airships. Dnrinp the
world war their airshins f,aw &c 0nO
hours, covered a distance of 2.245.-
600 miles with the loss of hut one
ship: This distance would make
ninety complete circuits Of the
earth! In 1918 there were onIv nine
days during which airships did not
fly in Great Britain. It will he re.
membered that a British airship
crossed the Atlantic and returned
III II, l9l9. And they have proved
mat these ships need not be housed
except for extensive repairs. A
brltlsh airship-R24-was moored
TO mast continuously for four
wee weeks during the worst weather in
ne Elltlsh Isles. There were gusts
OF wind fifty miles an hour. heavy
raaintalls., thunderstorms and snow
storms 1nterspersed with periods Of
~ IS unnecessary to give further
evidence as to the reliability of the
alrshlps. 1t Is true that the British
CUT down their fleet Of these craft
AFTER the war for reasons of econ
otny, but the Increased Importance
or AIR power now forces them to
resume building. The airship has
one great advantage over the air
plane FOR certain work 1t can re-
NAM IN the air for days, it can
carry more freight and passengers
and cover greater distances without