COUNT ZEPPELIN INTERVIEWED.

Otago Witness, Issue 3197, 23 June 1915, Page 36 (Supplement)

COUNT ZEPPELIN INTERVIEWED.

IMPORTANCE OF AIR WARFARE. 'UNEXPLODED BOMBS AS BALLAST <Fbow Odb Own Cobbespondknt.) LONDON, February 16. Count Zeppelin's justification for the bomb-dropping air raid over East Anglia was cabled to London from New York this week, in the form of an interview .o-iven by the Count himself to the Berlin ‘Correspondent of the United Press The Count was passing through Berlin

on his way to Friedrichshafen and he had just returned from the North Sea coast, | where he had been examining the Zeppe- j lins that took part in the raid. The jour- j nalist asked Count Zeppelin what was his j opinion of aerial warefare, especially as re ; presented by Zeppelin aircraft. _ | He replied : “ War in the air is bound to become a vital factor in the strife be- i tween nations, and may become almost as : important as warfare under the sea, de pending, of course, upon the future de- | velopment of warships. Whether there will ever be great battles in the air between large fleets of aircraft, like those on the sea, only the distant future can tell. Personally, I am not inclined to think so.” As to the killing of non-combatants in the raid, Count Zeppelin said: ‘‘No one regrets that more than I do. But have

not non combatants been killed by othei engines of war? Why, then, this outcry; Simply because England fears that the Zeppelins will destroy her splendid isola tion because, failing in her efforts to build something similar, she hopes to arouse the world and bring pressure to bear against Germany’s use of a weapon which to her is unavailable. THE HUMANE CREW. ‘‘The crews of Zeppelins are exposed to far greater dangers than the fighters in any other branch of the military service, but they are just as humane. They have no more desire or intention to kill women and children than have the officers and gunners of the artillery. So far as is in their power they always try to avoid this. The best proof of their humane impulses

lies in the fact that unexploded bombs i were found in the English towns they j visited recently. When a Zeppelin is dis j covered by the enemy and comes into a heavy fire its safety often depends upon its ability to make a rapid ascent. For this purpose it may become absolutely necessary to throw off bombs as ballast. In this event, whenever it is possible, the ex- | plosive contacts are disconnected before the ; bombs are released. I have no doubt that this is what occurred over the English j towns.” The query was put: “ From the stand point of this new development of warfare what should define a city or town subject | to aerial attack?” j ‘‘l would apply the same rule that j governs land warfare. This rule is based | on two fundamental unwritten laws; the I

In Otago Dock (on extreme left). Tahiti. Gross tonnage, 7585; net tonnage, 3811; length, 460 ft. At Sheer Logs, Warnmoo. Gross tonnage, 3528: net tonnage. 2076; length, 345 ft At U.S.S.Co-’* w tonnage, 1288; length, MB. A. Railway Wharf, Maheno. G,oe. tannage. .282; net tonnage. «t 400(t M.nng.nn,, <l™ ;<.»»■». T.g P-W Aparima. Gross tonnage, 5704; net tonnage, 3684; length 430 ft. Te Anna. Gross tonnage, 1652; net tonnage, 1028; length -7011. In stream, Maman. Giv-st oi At Export Pier, Tugs Plucky and Koput ai. Totals: Gross tonnage, 41,452; net tonnage, 24 959; length, 3048 ft.

law of humanity, which forbids the killing of non-combatants whenever avoidable, and the law of military necessity or exigency. A city or town which is not fortified, but which is occupied by military forces, or is defended only by trenches is properly subject to land attack unless it is surrendered or evacuated. That such places are often attacked and badly shot to pieces you yourself have probably had occasion to observe on both fronts of this war. It seems, therefore, entirely rational to regard a city or town that is occupied by military forces, which fire upon airships, or that has mounted guns for such purpose, as subject to aerial attack, just the same as if the attacking force were infantry or artillery.” As to whether an aerial attack on London was planned or not. Count Zeppelin preferred to say nothing.