Evening star., 1938-10-16

Gen Gardner characterized the success
Of the North Carolina net as "a high tribute
to the volunteer citizens" who manned the
observation posts. He said he had not heard
of single case in which citizen who had
been approached with view to service in
the net had refused to cooperate.
The response of these people and the
success of their efforts far exceeded our
expecta tions," the general said.
Wide Range of Courses.
On the first exercise involving the net,
Gen. Gardner admitted the bombardment
commanders generally flew at low attitudes
and over wide range of courses, so that
the volunteers might have something to see
or hear. One flight, however, came in at
extremely high altitude, and it was this one
which constituted the first real test of the
net
1T made not the slightest difference
in the operation Of the net" Gen. Gardner
said. These unframed observers picked
up the airplanes at their highest altitude
just as unfailingly as at lower levels So
far as We can determine, every formation
was detected. thought it is possible some
single airplanes may have gotten through
all or part of the net undetected With
SO many involved, this is a point difficult
to determine, and really of little conse-
quence."
Gen. Gardner said that even though the
Army is considering plans for setting up
warning nets along the Atlantic and Pacific
coasts, he did not think the United States
need ever anticipate a serious attack from
carrier-borne airplanes.
Il think that carrier borne bombers
would be successful in their first attack"
he said. Il don't see how We could stop
all Of them. But we are certain that if
they did attack from carriers at sea our
General Headquarters Air Force would be
given sufficient warning to follow them
back and destroy airplanes and perhaps
carriers. The risk would be so certain and
so great that I think we need MT fear
such an attack from ships"
Increases Difficulties.
Gen. Gardner admitted however, that
the possibility of enemy aircraft operations
from nearby islands must be considered as
part of any sound defense plans.
The "black-out," consisting of the ex-
tinguishing or muff1ing of all artificial
lights does not afford immunity to city
from aerial bombardment, Gen. Gardner
pointed out 1t does, however, materially
increase the difficulties of the enemy
bombers in locating their targets and les
sens the precision of their bombing.
One of the greatest problems in connec-
tion with defense against aerial lombard
ment, Gen. Gardner said, is the co-ordina-
ton of friendly pursuit and anti aircraft
defense operations. Pursuit cannot be used
at night to intercept enemy bombers unless
the bombers can be Illuminated by search
lights. The only anti-aircraft searchlights
now possessed by the Army are those of
the Coast Artillery anti-aircraft regiments
and they are an integral part of the gun
batteries needed to illuminate hostile air.
craft for gunnery purposes and normally
are posted so as best to serve only the
gun batteries. Obviously. friendly pursuit
and anti-aircraft gunners cannot use the
lights at the same time. In fact, as has
been demonstrated again quite clearly dur
ing these exercises, it is virtually impossible
to operate pursuit defensively in the i'm
mediate area of heavy anti-aircraft ground
defenses without mutual interference which
in case of actual warfare would be deadly.
The use of pursuit airplanes against
enemy aircraft will continue to be manda-
tory, regardless of the size or completeness
of ground anti-aircraft installations, in
the opinion of Army leaders. To make
pursuit operations effective at night, there
FORE it is possible this country also may
have to resort to the use of portable search
lights outside the areas defended by anti
aircraft guns.
As efficiency of anti-aircraft equipment
increases, the operating attitudes of bonn
bardment aviation also must increase If
they are to be used with any hope OF
success against closely defended areas
Today bombardment airplanes are operat-
ing regularly and successfully at attitudes
of 10000 to $4,000 feet, with greater ac-
curacy than was obtained at 1000 feet
during the World War. In the course Of
one attack at Bragg, nine Bit flying
fortresses came over the target at an alti-
tude of $4,000 feet and were intercepted
at this great altitude by defensive pursuit
aircraft. It was believed to be the highest
(See EDGERTON, Page C-3.)