BOMBS AGAINST AIRSHIPS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 3946, 31 May 1913, Page 9

BOMBS AGAINST AIRSHIPS.

SPURTS OF FLAME AT ZEPPELINS.

Colonel Cody has revealed his plan for combating and destroying dirigibles of the Zeppelin type, declaring his ability to render them a source oil danger to those who man them rather than to others.

In an interview, he said:—“l call iny method ‘fishing for the enemy,’ and that is really what it is like. My dovice is based on the knowledge that aeroplanes can fly faster and higher than any Zeppelin, and the process has been already tested and found practicable and efficient. J

“My plan is to fly up until my machine is one or two thousand feet above the dirigibles and then to fish for them with a long, thin steel hawser, at the end of which I propose to have a bomb of my own invention. That bomb will bo of very high power and easily exploded. In fact, the loast touch will fire it, and it will shoot flames in six directions at once to a distance of Silt each. In my first ‘drag’ misses its mark, all I have to do is to wheel round and try again. As the aeroplane can manoeuvre much more quick./ than a dirigible, the attack could a made again and again, without the enemy being able to get away.

“Following after the spurts of flame there will issue from my bombs pieces of lighted tow or other material, soaked in some highly inflammable spirit, which will inevitably fire any portion of the structure of. the dirigible that may have escaped the first effects of the explosion. “The vessel would be absolutely at the mercy of the man in the aeroplane sailing a thousand feet above it. He could trail liis bomb backwards and forwards to any point. The enemy meanwhile would have nothing to aim at with their guns except the quickmoving plane,'and would have to fire upwards. I have seen experiments in firing from dirigibles, and I am quite, sure their work would be practically useless.

A CHALLENGE. “Suppose a Continental enemy has determined to attack us with a fleet of dirigibles, she will have to employ vessels that can keep flying for long periods. All that we require to destroy them is a fleet of aeroplanes that will keep flying for a few hours.” Mr Cody lias made, through the press, the following challenge:—“l will try out an experiment with any Zeppelin airship built. I will start level with it from any spot appointed, and the vessel that first gets above the other, in a position from which it could drop explosives upon its opponent to train -guns to hit it, shall be declared the victor.”

“With an aeroplane ofl my own and a 31b gun I could circle round and round and above any airship I know of and fire a shot through every ballonet. I have been up over 7000 ft, and could easily get above them.” Colonel Cody has projected a great aeroplane that he believes would be a& invincible in the air as the Dreadnoughts are on the sea, to use a phraso of his own. ' But he has financed all his own experiments, and has done nearly all that lie can in that way. Now he suggests that those who have large interests in the safety of the country, or the Government itself, should provide him with £IO,OOO to continue his experiments and to provide the country with the type he has in mind.