WAR IN THE AIR.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 939, 5 October 1910, Page 7

WAR IN THE AIR.

AEROPLANES FOR RECONNOITRING. . By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright. London, October 3. The military correspondent of "The. Times", quotes from the reports 'of French military aviators to show that their machines were absolutely exact in their nights, and unveiled the disposition of the, enemy in an incredibly short time. . y ;.-.■ M. BLERIOT'S TESTS.: ":• During the period, quite recently, when M. .Bleriot, the celebrated . French airman, underwent a period of military service, the opportunity was taken. by French officers to carry out a number of highly interesting tests with high-speed monoplanes. Although these tests were secret, 1 it is stated that the machines demonstrated, beyond doubt, their dispatchcarrying utility, and were also used, with conspicuous success, to take up a number of officers in order that, prearranged; observations could be made. So convinced are the French authorities of the-efficacy of aeroplanes] in these two directions that a number of machines have been ordered. In,addition, a corps of-officers is being trained to iiy the machines. Wisely, the French experts are' not pinning:- their faith'to any one type, but are ordering biplanes and monoplanes of a variety of designs. But.it is becoming evident that: the portability and . transport facilities; of the monoplane giye it a great, advan-. tage from the military point.of view.. r: . In discussing 'the aeroplane from the war■' standpont, the'question is invariably asked: '"How will it withstand gun-fire' from below?" Both in Franca and Germany significant .tests have lately been made. "Their.precise result, naturally, is not forthcoming. But it may 'be statea that large kites were employed to represent'aeroplanes in the French tests. In. one specino case, in which twelve shots were hred at a moving kite at about the height a reconnoitring aeroplane.would be expected to attain, only one of the uuajii shots found.its mark. ''..-,'. In this connection, a striking Indication is possible of the potentialities of the monoplane. At present a maximumspeed of about fifty or fifty-five miles an hour ,is possible with a Bleriot monoplane fitted with; a, 59-horse-power Gnome motor. With the same type of monoplane; specially "strengthened and equipped with a new 100-horse-power motor, a- speed ;of 'more.. than seventy .-miles an ■ hour :, has just ■ been attained, with a likelihood of increasing -this.to eighty miles an hour when the big engines are-more "tuned up." Itis easy ; to imagine the* difficulty.of a gunner, however experty in timing accurately ai'-.such' a:small object-as! a' monoplane' travelling 3000, feet above his' head and at a- pace of'.. eighty miles an hour.' 1 '■■'.. ■-. , :" ' ;And with.this new. type'-'of speed mono-, plane "another, enormously important, aspect -presents itself- from the military ur naval: point of-view. Fast .flying spells' power to combat a contrary wind. With the new 100-horse-power models it will be possible to' defeat ■ a contrary .wind of: forty' miles an hour at least. ■"•■ .: - ■■■;: '■-;■?■■■■ ■■ l ' ' ''■'■ -'■ "■" ■;-> '