The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-11-23
LATEST AIR
DEVICES
DEADLY
Continued from First Page.D


IKE New York, against an air at
"The defense against aircraft I'm
any locality lies only in co-ordinar-
ing ali the air defense agencies,
said Mitchell.
"You must have listening posts.
They must be far enough away
from 100 to 200 miles from the city
they are guarding, so as to permit
defending planes to get to proper
height to defend the city when
enemy craft are discovered. AS
airplanes will be silent in the next
war, each listening post must have
surveillance aircraft in the air day
and night.
Gliding Bombs Menace
I'm attacking big city or other
great objective the enemy fleet
would feint time and again before
making the actual attack, solely to
confuse the defending forces. The
actual attack might be made by a
direct flight over the objective.
Again 1t might be made by releas-
Ing gliding bombs or aerial torpe7
does from out Of sight Of the
objective
Tell us about aerial torpedoeS."
Every country is working upon
aerial torpedoes," said Mitchell. 1T
f. q reality today. They are con-
trolled by radio and can be released
from an airplane or airship and
directed against, any objective.
How near would you have to be
to hit q city like. New York with
an aerial torpedo?"
ut certainly would be hit at 100
miles"
''You mean an enemy plane
would molly need to come within 100
miles Of New York to hit the city
with aerial torpedoes?"
Yes, sir" Mitchell replied. "If
would only need to come within 100
miles of New York there is no
question but that every. shot would
hit an area like New York. The
torpedoes could easily be controlled
as the airship could easily get its
bearings from the Atlantic coast
line
Under Reds questioning. Mitch.
ell told OF making hundreds Of
recommendation for the develop
ment of aviation.
His Protests Barred
The recommendation were filed
through official channels, some Of
them going Directly to the s6ecre-
tary of War. They covered every
phase OF aviation and included sew
eral protests against use Of the old
fashioned De Haviland airplanes
a. Obsolete and dangerous"
Another protest. the flying COL
oneI declared, was against the
treatment accorded commercial
aviation by the Government. The
present attitude, he warned, would
''put us in the hands of foreigners
IN event of war"
1--WE will have to go abroad I'M
less the American private aircraft
industry is fostered by the Gov.
eminent, to get suitable types OF
planes quickly in time Of war"
said Mitchell. This would put US
completely in the hands Of foreign
ers."
as that the condition now?"
Absolutely"
In a recommendation for i'm
proved weather reports for the air
service Mitchell said 1.-The poor
weather data furnished in the past
has cost the lives Of many brave
pilots and the destruction OF valu-
able property"
41ItlS d1AU dSd4Its d4ICE IcAlIIS VI
his recommendations, Mitchell was
asked:
"Has that been done?"
mo, SIR" he would reply.
Ibid you recommend establish.
ment Of air posts in Alaskan"
Eyes, SIR"
''Has that been done?"
''No. SIR
ibid you recommend use of
Alaska in the national defense plans
Of the Pacific?"
eyes. SIR"
HAS that been done?"
"No, sir"
Mitchell declared experiments had
been made in this country. showing
airplanes can be carried and re-
leased by an airship.
There have been landings made
on airships. too, by planes" Mitch
ell added.
Proposal Practical.
1T Is entirely practical. We
only need to work on the problem
20 make airships into airplane car
riers.'
Mitchell also declared airplanes
can, be flown through the air with
out humans aboard, through radio
control.
Flying airplanes without hu.
mans aboard is practical" said