AIRSHIP V. AEROPLANE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1300, 1 December 1911, Page 9

AIRSHIP V. AEROPLANE.

Writing in tho "Daily Mail" on the relative value of airships and aeroplanes from the military point of view, General Langlois, of the Frency Army, said: "One may conclude that in the present state of things the dirigible is ablo to render certain services which cannot be obtained from the aeroplane. In addition to its offensive power, the 'lighter-than-air' is chiefly made for long journeys, which would bo particularly useful, in the initial stages of hostilities, for reconnoitring the of concentration and the point's of landing of the ho.stilo forces. In. the battlo itself the dirigible will look out for the general reserves of the armies—reserves which in the future will bo kept very far from (he fighting lines. It is the dirigible again which will most efficiently connect besieged (owns with the rest of the country. It is obvious that in their present state aeroplanes could not to-day connect Metz and Paris separated by invaded territory as was the case in 1870. One is, however, inclined to wonder if tho dirigible would be ablo to escape easily from its enemies —airships aeroplanes, and artillery. As for tho aeroplane, it is mainly made for short-distance reconnoitring, for investigations of the likely battlefield, for the locating of reserves and' of mankind batteries, and for connecting big units with one another, etc." "The main characteristic of the aeroplane is its great speed—so to Go miles per hour; this is a precious advantage as regards reconnoitring and the transmission of information. It also'spells invulnerability for the machine and advantages in a fight against airships. But as the aeroplane is unable to moderate its speed it seems to be capable of general observations only. There has been much talk of the use of tho aeroplane for regulating and readjusting the tiring range of artillery. I have little belief in this, for the rapid'rate of travelling precludes the -precision and continuity of observation which range-finding demands. For this particnfar operation captive balloons an kites remain superior.