The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-09-20
BY HOBART {. MONTEE
United Press stan Correspondent
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United Press stan Correspondent
fCopyr.zat. 1898. by United Press
WASHINGTON. Sep. 2O.-War
between two great European powers
in the Mediterranean. among other
things, civilization, definitely would
settle long-standing controversy
over superiority Of the airplane or
battleship.
This IS one Of the purely mate
realistic views taken by military
and naval experts here in their sur
vey Of the critical situation in Medi-
teTranean waters where Great Bri-
tain has concentrated the ma jority
Of her sea forces. and where Italy is
conceded 70 hold the air mastery.
No one in authority here wants
to eyentUate between Italy and
Ethiopia. and they are even more
graVely concerned over the possible
consequences Of conflict between
Italy and Great Britain. with a train
of tragic and Catastrophe conse-
quences which might be expected to
follow in the wake of such a strug-
gle.
Controversy Long, Bitter.
Most authorities here hope. and
some believe, that war Will be avert
ed. But, If war does come. the mil
itary and naval leaders here pre-
dict the struggle viii be the proving
ground of all the technical equip
ment Of warfare which has been de-
VelOped since the World War.
The proves of the airplane. par
ticularly the new. swift bombing
plane, against the battleship and
other surface craft of the British
navy VIII be the test on which
greatest attention Will be concen-
trated.
Ground forces of the armies and
old line navy officers have Waged
a bitter controversy for Is years
with the officers of the fast develop
ing air forces over effectiveness Of
the airplane against the great. gray
WarShlps which have been called the
back bone of naval fighting forces.
Ships, Planes Improved
No test under conditions approx
imating those of wartime has ever
been possible since the creation of
modern bombing planes. With the
development of these swift engines
Of destruction, the arts of aerial
gunnery and aerial bombing, and
the destructive capacity of aerial
bombs have advanced by rapid
strides. They have kept pace fully
with the speed cruising range,
bomb-carrying capacity and the
safety Of the planes themselves.
Balanced against these advances
in the air are the heavier arma-
ment coverings for naval surface
ships, great improvements in anti
aircraft guns and gunnery. devel-
Cpment of sound and range finding
devices for anti-aircraft fire control.
various detecting rays" and other
equipment for warding off air at
tacks and destroying the air raiders.
Old line naval men profess little
fear of bombing planes if the sur
face ships are attacked on the open
sea where they have an opportunity
to maneuver and to fight back. They
show lar more uneaSineSS over the
Improvements made on submarines.
both ships and tOrpedoes, since the
close of the World War.
Air Experts Confident
Air force officers. however. ere
fully confident that their new bomb
ing planes will be able to give sur
face ships of any size or character
plenty of trouble" They say the
alrplane Will prove the nemesis of
the submarine
Naval and military experts here
point out that the threatened con-
tiirt IN the Mediterranean should
settle this controversy for all time,
inasmuCh as the Mediterranean
comprises one of the worlds most
favorable theaterS of operation for
both airplaEes and submarines.
l. The Mediterranean is narrow
and dotted with islands. compelling
both naval and commercial ships to
keep to fairly we'll defined lanes.
. Weather conditions there are
almost perfect for air activities
throughout most OF the year.
g. The location of Italy, jutting
out into the Mediterranean, and