AIRSHIPS AS SCOUTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 295, 7 September 1908, Page 10

AIRSHIPS AS SCOUTS.

Major Gross, the director. ( pf the German military Airship Department, lias supplied the following particulars' to the correspondent of a London journal regarding the practical uses of airships,' with a statement regarding, their adaptability 'for purposes of observation during a military campaign on land:—"Hitherto," said Major Gross, " genorals have primarily used cavalry to ascertain the position of the enemy and the movements of hostile troops. It is also, well known that at tho beginning of each' campaign each general sends swarms of spies to report to him what form the enemy's plans are assuming. When airships can sail safely for long distances they will render invaluable service ' in this respect. Experience, of course, can alone teach' us the exact functions of an airship in watching hostile forces,' but we can safely predict to-day that officers aboard an aerial vessel will be ablo to observe tho movements of- large bodies of troops as they march through the country, while it will further be possible to estimato the number of troops conveyed by any given railway. By watching the' number of trains dispatched to a strategic destination, officers will be able to' seo which stretches of country are free from the enemy's troops, thereby facilitating in a remarkable degree tho movements of then own side. We may, by airships, not merely improve, but bring to the point of perfection the observation and movements of a hostile. force." ■ ■ - 1 Major Gross emphasises the fact that we are now witnessing the earliest beginning of aerial navigation, so that great developments will follow.