THE POWER OF THE AIR SHIP.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9387, 10 April 1896, Page 6

THE POWER OF THE AIR SHIP.

Liect. John K. Cree, U.S.A.

North American Review

Eminent engineers and scientists have for some time conceded that many of the I important obstacles in the way of artificial flight have been removed, and it now seems probable that within a few years all problems connected with it will be solved, and a machine capable of sustained flight and entirely under control will be an actual fact. To secure a satisfactory motor has long been regarded as the most difficult problem to be sofved in obtaining flight, and until within a few years no motor had been constructed capable of sustaining, in addition to its own weight, that of the aeroplane, or other means of support, the supply of fuel and the engineer, &c, but within that time, improvements in the quality of metals, and especially the advances made in steam engineenne. have made such an achievement possible. The power necessary to sustain a man in the air has been variously estimated by several experimenters. Mr S. P. Langfey, in his experiments with planes on a whirling table, found that onehorse power, rightly applied, would support over 200 pounds in the air tit velocities over forty-five miles per hour. Mr Mosher, who built the steam v«cht Norwood, has stated that he can supply engines for experimental flying machines of less than ten pounds per horsepower. The question of a suitable motor being disposed of, the most import- | ant difficulties remaining are successful ■ alighting after flight and a satisfactory method "of retaining equilibrium during flight. It is not probable that these will long remain obstacles in the path of the many investigators now interested in the work. Duri'nc the last twenty-five years the French have been interested in the dirigible balloon, and have had partial success with it. The La France, which attained the greatest success, was cigar-shaped, 165 feet long, and, with a nine horsepower electric motor, attained a speed of fourteen miles an hour. A larger one is now projected that will make twenty-five miles per hour. While the dirigible balloon would be very useful, in the absence of anything better, the most experienced investigators claim that the aeroplane presents greater prospects of complete success. Many inventors are now experimenting with different forms of supporting and propelling machines. Oue of the most interesting is that of Mr Otto Lilienthal, of Berlin, who, with a pair of bat-like wings twenty-six feet j from tip to tip, has succeeded in Hying 400 j yards down the slope of a hill. In a recent j model he uses a small motor, driven by compressed carbonic acid gas, to assist him in moving his wings. Since the perfecting air-ship in the near future seems so probable, it is certainly not out of place to speculate as to what woul-1 be itseiTcct on warfare, since it would probably rirat be used for that purpose. The advantages to be gained by their use in war are so evident and so important that when once perfected they will form _ust as necessary a part of the defences of a nation as is now furnished by a navy. Air-ships may be used in war for observation of the enemy, for recounoisance, for carrying dispatches, and for offensive attack. Balloons, usually captive, have often been used for observation of the enemy, aud they now form part of the equipment of almost all nations. An air ship, completely under control, would be an ideal means of observation and reconnoissance. It could penetrate far into the enemy's country, and return promptly with intelligence. The most minute information of an enemy's numbers, disposition and movements could be obtained, which from its accuracy would be of incalculable importance to the commander of an army. The general in command of an army could from a position on an air ship, make better disposition of his forces and, having better knowledge of how a battle was going, could meet emergencies more promptly. For topographical work an air-ship would be a valuable auxiliary. By instantaneous photography of the underlying country, accurate maps could be made and multiplied for circulation. For carrying messages the air-ship might be useful in the absence of interruption of electrical communication. The most important field, however, for the operation of the air-ship would be its use in offensive operations. For this purpose it is eminently adapted, and will far surpass any weapon or means of offence that man has heretofore invented. An air-ship could, by : rising beyond the range oi the enemy's guns, or by moving rapidly in irregular or zigzag directions, prevent guns being trained and fired upon it, while its own guns would still ;be effective. The high angle of elevation required to fire at an air-ship would make the artillery of the present day useless, with i the exception of mortars. The concentration of mortar fire might be attempted, but only a chance shot, while the air-ship was at a low altitude, could have any effect.

Air-ships will probably be armed with light rapid-fire guns for attack upon other air-ships, and with guns of low power, possibly pneumatic, for firing at objects beneath. In many cases guns could be dispensed with anil projectiles of all kinds could simply be dropped. By coming up against the wind and making certain adjustments of the rudders and aeroplanes, the velocity could be diminished, possibly almost to a full stop, without the air-ship falling, and thus give the gunners an opportunity to do more accurate firing. A handful of bullets thrown from the height of a half-mile or so would be very destructive upon reaching the earth. Shell or shrapnel could be used with good effect. The greatest use of the air ship, however, would be to drbp torpedoes containing a high explosive. One torpedo exploded in the vicinity of a man-of-war would annihilate it. The ship will be entirely powerless to protect herself. No matter what her speed, she could not run away or conceal herself in any >vay, so that tlie destruction of an entire fleet would be a compai*atively shortmatter. The bombardment of a city or a fort would be much more easily accomplished since the target would be larger and stationary. An air-ship, hovering over the capital of a country would, unless a more powerful similar antagonist were brought

against it, soon bring the government to favourable terms. Land fortifications would be tenable only if provided with proper overhead protection for guns and men, and would be powerless against an air-ship. An

army, when a hostile air-ship appeared, would be forced to adopt the most open kind of extended formation, since a closed mass would offer a good target for the aerial gunners. We may say, then, that the invention of a successful air-ship will cause an entire revolution in the art of war more stupendous than that caused by any invention since that of gunpowder, and even surpassing that, since it only increased the distance between the lines of the combatants, while the principles of attack and defence, strategy and supply, remained unchanged, or were only slowly modified. A frying machine, however, will nullify strategy, make vital changes in the principles of attack and defence, diminish the importance of navies

and sea-coast fortifications, and by bringing

the theatre of operations to tbe doors of palaces and legislatures, render speedy settlement of national grievances imperative.