ENGLAND'S DANGER FROM AIRSHIPS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10041, 8 January 1909, Page 4

ENGLAND'S DANGER FROM AIRSHIPS.

England has for almost ten centuries been free from foreign invasion. Her last battlefield was the scene of a domestic conflict. Napoleon threatened the island kingdom and desired to do for her as he bad done for so many continental lands —soak her soil in blood 1 and strew her cornfields with human bones. But her land "6et in a silver sea" baffled hJ6 plans The question is now being raised as to the insular safety of Great Britain at a time when Wright and Zeppelin are accomplishing so much in navigating the air. This question is being very seriously discussed by some English publicists, and Major B. Baden-Powell, who is vicepresident of the (English) Aeronuautical Society, hasi written an article in the Westminster Keview (London) in which he strongly emphasises England's peril. He thinks that the low-flying gasless machine might easily be utilised, under a favoring wind, to land an army of some foreign Power in Kent, Sussex, or other counties of the south-coast. In discussing this question he remarks that highflying dirigibles are easily disabled by shot, but adds:— "There is, however, the other method, which seems to me that most likely to be of real use, at all events in _ the early days of aerialnavigation, yet it is one that has seldom been referred to in writings or discussions on the subject. This ; s the use of a swiftly-moving small machine skimming over the ground and seldom rising to any height except to clear such obstacles as trees and houses. Such a machine should prove invaluable in war. FOr reconnoitring it may be compared' to the cavalry horse, but, with the following advantages: it would be far speedier, could go across any country whatever, taking walls, rivers, and other obstacles 'in its stride,' it could probably carry two or three men, so that one could devote his whole attention to observation, and it could, when necessary, rise to obtain a distant view. As for vulnerability, the air car would be no worse than the horse, and if the seats and iengines wore Jfendered bullet-proof "t could hardly be brought down by rifle fire. For reconnaissance, for despatch delivery, for raids into the enemy's, territory, such a means of transport would be unsurpassed."

He thinks that in this lies the vulnera- > bility of England's insular position, and appeals to his fellow-countrymen - to be on their guard. These are his words: "What valid reason is there why, within a few years' time, a foreign nation should not be able to despatch a fleet of a thousand aerial machines, each carrying two or three armed men and able to come across to our shores and land, not necessarily on the coast, but at any desired inland place? The majority of the men could be landed while the fliers could be sent back for further supplies. No defence seems possible against invasion by such a fleet, since, like a swarm of locusts, itst destination cannot be guessed, and, after settling, it may rise again and swoop down on some fresh place, while an hour later it may have, returned to its base, haying wrought havoc in the district of its descent. All this may sound like fancy, but let us remember that Wright has already accomplished flights with a passenger of double the distance across the Channel. Let us bear in mind, too,"that 10,000 such machines would probably not cost more than one modern battleship. The only system of defence that I can see (Irish though it may sound) .is.to form a similar fleet to attack the homes, of those that dare to visit our shores unasked 1 . Then let us be prepared. It is not enough for our naval and military authorities to Bhirk the matter by saying that they do not consider it likely to be serious. The question is whether there is any sort of. possibility of this .mode of warfare .developing into one of importance If; there is, it demands our most .serious consideration, and the British taxpayer must put bis hand

in his pocket and provide the wherewithal to place us at least on a par with any foreign nation which attempts to form a large aerial fleet,"