AERIAL INVASION

Northern Advocate, 20 August 1928, Page 5

AERIAL INVASION

TESTING DEFENCE SYSTEM BIG BATTLE OVER LONDON. ESCAPE FROM BLAZING PLANE. (British Official Wireless.) (Received noon.)

RUtGBY, August 18

The air exercises over London, which have been proceeding- each night during the current week, concluded before midnight. They have been conducted to tost the efficiency of the squadrons engaged in certain features of defence work, but .the total defence system has not been brought into play.

The manoeuvres presented an interesting spectacle, some 250 bombers and fighting machines being engaged over London, where beams of light from scores of searchlights have illuminated the night skies. The high efficiency displayed by all engaged in the manoeuvres is warmly praised. The exercises were conducted without a single mishap, involving the loss of life or serious injury.

Flying Officer Bennett, who was involved in last night’s mishap in a single-seater, which caught fire in the air, dropped from his machine, and landed gently on the roof of a house in Kew. By means of a drainpipe he was able to enter an upper window in the house and was none the worse for his hazardous experience. Having apologised to the householder for his intrusion he was greeted with cheers by an immense crowd in the street, who had witnessed the crash.

[Fire in the air iri British aircraft is an extremely rare occurrence and the circumstances attending it will be closely examined by experts.

EFFICIENCY TRIAL, FIFTY-SEVEN DAYLIGHT RAIDS. MANY BOMBERS BROUGHT DOWN. (Australian Press Assn.—-United Service. J (Received 10.5 a.m.) LONDON, August 18. An official communique states that the Mr manoeuvres included 57 daylight raids, nine of which completely evaded the defence, clouds and strong winds favouring the attackers. The day bombers were attacked 39 times incoming and 37 outgoing.

A large percentage of the nightrflying bombers were intercepted, the weather favouring the defenders. The fighters brought down 151 bombers,, anti-aircraft guns accounting for 20, while 139 fighters were lost*

Air Vice-Marshal Scarlett is satisfied with the efficiency of . all units. The aircraft flew 250,000 milfes. The only mishap involving injury was a pilot's nose being slightly hurt when a fighter overturned. The bombers could have carried a total of 202 tons of bombs, not deducting bombers adjudged to be shot down before reaching their objectives. The fighters’ interception of bombers was much improved ' since last year, likewise the standard of pilotage. The use of clouds and also

searchlight work were invaluable. The exercises were not intended to test the efficiency of London’s defences, but the operational efficiency of individual units.

( ‘ DEATH AND DESOLATION. ’ ’

AW,SOME PICTURES DRAWN. (Australian • Press Assn.—United Service.) (Received 10 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 18.

Britain appears to be faced with the fact, that had the mimic air warfare been real, at least half o| London would be in ruins and a big area across the Thames gas-logged with poisonous fumes, whence they would have been dispersed by the south-wes-terly -wind into crowded areas, bringing death and desolation. The evidence suggests that a mass of dugonts should be devised in West End. squares, usable as motor garages in peace time. It is generally estimated that 50 per cent of the bombers penetrated the defences and that 200 tons of bombs were technically dropped, equivalent to only a little less than the whole dropped by the German air forces during the entire war.

Exports •emphasise that the destruction would have been more terrific had not, the dice been loaded against the raiders, who were forced to use large slow night bombers, heavily weighted, whereas an. attacking enemy would prefer fast-flying, light machines, Earl Halsbury, who at the time of the Armistice was in charge of plans for the bombardment *of Germany, deliberately warns the nation that it. is in deadly peril. ‘‘While Europe is building colossal air armadas,'' he says, “England is content with squadrons, mostly of antiquated machines. Wo are practically disarmed. in the air and at the mercy of any hostile force." The Earl describes the air manoeuvres as a farce, carried out at night at a height of 20,000 feet, “What enemy would drop bombs from such a height," he asks, when it could attack by day, swoop down to 100 foot and drop bombs with safety. Everyone in the world is aware that bombers are safest near the ground, whore anti-aircraft guns could not be trained."

He adds: “When 1 was in France

recently, aeroplanes were skimming over roofs of houses. No scout would dare dive on a bomber only 100 feet from the ground. The first gas attack at Ypres cost us 5000 soldiers. What will be the effect of an attack on ci lians iu London with gas 1000 times more powerful?” . Earl Halsbury recently pointed out that 50 tons of the latest arsenical poison gas would suffice to wipe outcentral London. .

Brigadier-General Grows, formerly director of flying operations, states; “Each country will instantly despatch a fleet of bombers to the enemy’s vital centres. It will bo the aim of each side to terrorise civilians. London’s vital points would soon be in mins, and gas would render other parts uninhabitable. Local defence in air warfare can only be a palliative. The only effective method of defence is counter-attack.”

The “Daily Herald" satirically asks whether civilians should not be drilled in the sudden donning of respirators at five minutes’ notice and tearing them off. Would not it be better if they were instructed in rendering first aid to those gassed, and giving ■ rapid hygienic interment to thousands of dead?

Major Turner in the “Daily Telegraph," says that a force beyond practicable numbers would be necessary not merely to account for every raider, but merely to keep out a very few. A city such as London would need hundreds of squadrons. He suggests that civilians should be drilled in their part to be played. Air warfare is different from any other, and all must participate. Po’aee is more likely to be preserved in this manner than by neglect.