WAR IN THE AIR.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume LXXI, Issue 4360, 30 December 1913, Page 4

WAR IN THE AIR.

A USEFUL WEAPCN

A projectile designed to lenr ihe en velope and explode llie gns of an aerial foe's dirigibles, and then to descend to earth with a minimum of danger, ha. been made by a Dritifh inventor. It is exciting interest in official and military quarters. The inventor 13 Lieutenant Clifton Wost, of the Legion of Frontiennen, who was bom at Rochester in 1879. Although naturally reticent as to the ctetaila of his aerial missile, the Lieu tenant talked interestingly to a "Daily News" representative who interviewed him, He pointed out that the damage Created by an ordinary projectile, •when striking tbe envelope of a dirigible, wag not sufficient to take any immediate effect, whilst explosive shells and bullets had been found ineffective because the inflated envelope of a dirigible did not offer sufficient reaiatence to cause them to explode. The Lieutenant's projectiles are fitted internally with radiating steel blade**, which are released automatic ally as the missiles leave the gun. Tbe flight is no way impeded or de fleeted, as the blades only offer a knife edge resistance to tbe air. Upon coming into contact with the inflated sides :of a dirigiblo or balloon the rapidly spinning blades would cut * large openings through which there would be an immediate eecape of the hydrogen, Each projfotile, it is Claimed, will pass through the air with • tail ot fire like a comet. The simplicity of the arrangement for firing tbe gas was demonstrated by the lieutenant in tbo lighting of on ordinary gas burner, ••Nothing explosive or inflammable is utilised,"be declared, "but from the instant the projectile leaves the mouth of the gun it is in action ready to ig nite any hydrogen gas through which it may pass. The projectiles could also be used as 'tracers' in land war fare, as in the dark the passage of shot could be easily followed owing 10 the kail of fire continuously emitted while ihe projectile is revolving." "Although used with anoh deadly ©fleet against warships," said Mr Wflßt, "tbe projectiles, being in them selves Jnon explosive, offer the minimam amount of damage with their return to earth, and are quite harmless '• . before being fired." ''* The use of ordinary explosive shells for firing at aircraft, of course, may involve far greater deal ruction on land than in tbe air. lieutenant's West's miasilep, it i*,