The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-09-23
BY HOBART c. MONTEE
United Press Staf Correspondent
Copyright. 1885. BY United Press

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23.-War
between two major powers Of Eu-
-ope, especially between a dominant
naval power and one having a huge
air force. would soon demonstrate
whether a number OF recently de-
veloped weapons are real weapons or
just gadgets.
Testing of these weapons under
actual wartime conditions would be
of utmost importance to the Ameri-
can Army, now beginning 10 hit its
stride as a modernized and me-
chanized fighting force, and the
American Navy, just beginning to
emerge from the disarmament
eclipse.
For this reason military and ma
val leaders here are taking ire
mendous professional interest in de-
velopments in the Mediterranean
area. Conversing on purely techni-
cal aspects Of the subject, they
agree that:
l. If the airplane is not an ef-
fective, destructive weapon against
heavily armored surface ships, it is
high time that fact should be dis
covered. They predict that conflict
IN the Mediterranean, If it. should
develop, would give a definite an
Swer
Defense Devices Untried
>. If present anti-aircraft defenses
% n
aerial bombing planes, it is time that
the non ombattant populations OF
the world know that fact, and re-
double their inventive energies to-
ward developing an adequate anti
aircraft defense.
3. From an offensive point OF view,
if the airplane is not able to subdue
modern feet in Mediterranean
waters. it can not be counted upon
to do so in other sections OF the
world, and less emphasis should be
given hereafter to airplane con-
struction.
The American Army and Navy,
along with the military and naval
forces of the world, have developed
a number of as yet untried devices
for detecting and repelling air raids,
submarine raids, surprise landings
Of hostile forces, and other types OF
invasion. Until they are given
baptcm of fire. their effectiveness
can not be gaugde beyond gueSswork
and mathematical calculation.
Today they range from machine
guns to five-inch artillery with
high rate of fire and capable OF
throwing high explosives up to the
borders of the StratOSphere.
Sound Detectors Perfected
Experts assert that five-inch
anti-aircraft shell exploding with
IN 200 yards OF a plane produces
a conclusion sufficient to throw
the controls out of the hands OF
the pilot. A shell bursting within
100 yards of a plane is considered
virtually as damaging as a direct
hit.
Attached to these guns are the
most intricate sound detectors,
range and direction finders, and
other electric apparatus which de-
tects the approach of aircraft,
charts its course and speed, alti-
tude an. range, and points" the
guns on the targets.
Army anti-aircraft service officers
are confident that they can either
ward off an air raid or bring the
raiders to earth in a hurry.
The Navy has similar equipment,
bat there is some doubt whether
the accuracy and effectiveness of
the equipment would be affected
o. the tons of steel of the ship on
which it is located. and by the mo-
ton of the ships.
DetectOr Ray Tested
other naval equipment which
has not been tested in wartime
conditions includes submarine de-
tectOr apparatus. 1t works, under
water. much the same manner as
the aircraft detector.
Then there are various harbor
defense 'detector" rays which have
been developed secretly and have
shown almost uncanny results in
peace time tryoutS. One such ray.
tested recently on the upper New
Jersey coast. was coupled to
pow erful searchlight. A coaStguard
vessel. with all lights out,
Unanswered off the coast. The ray
spotted" the vessel, trained the
Searchlight upon it.
Other equipment which Army ana
Navy officials believe may be tried
out if war comes to the Medi-
terranean includes radio control of
airplaneS and some inventions"
: which are still considered here as
fantastic, such a he mystery ray"
which it is claimed Will halt an
arplane in flight by polarizng the
ir-,,at,,, .r.ct.,,,,. The 900 led ..daa- n