NEW AIR BOMB.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13575, 31 December 1914, Page 4

NEW AIR BOMB.

FRANCE'S WEAPON

INSTANT DEATH FROM COLD AND SHOCK.

PARIS, November 4. % The new air bomb of the French air service, is now in use (telegraphs a. special correspondent). I have talked 'with an airman w:ho lias been allowed !<> experiment with it upon the enemy. He gives a lucid -description of the «"f : foot of the bomb, which is clearly visible from tho altitude of an -aeroplane: "I have used both the dynamite bomb and the new bomb." said this airman. "The two arc very similar in size and weight, but the effect as seen from above is very different. When the dynamite- bomb falls upon a body of m on you can see tlio bodies leap up in the air. ' R. is like a small volcano in action.

"When the new bomb bursts it siinujy lays everything out flat within tin? area, of its explosion. It se,ems to exert, the whole of ' its force in waves like the^ ripples when a large stone is thrown into a pond.. Men go down liko nineprn.s, buildings collapstf like a house of playing cards, siffis are turned over •as if by some -unseen hand. "The explosion raises pr.icticallv no (lust or- .smoke. Rven.' the earth* disturbed by the case of the bomb sinking «the ground is instantly flattened out by tho same extraordinary waves of force. "Extreme cold is produced at the moment of explosion, cold so intense that 1 felt it myself when I dropped my first bomb at a, height of about SOOft. I waa taking great chances in nyiiig so low, but I wished to see the effect of the bomb. It fell on a section of Germans ■'"bivouacking in a field. I estimate <tba-t at least 30 men were killed within the area of the explosion. Had they been massed more densely more would have been killed. "Death from these bombs oomes instantly ; from intense- ieold and concussion." .-.. ■ . The material composing the new bombs is ■ Tsiinple. -It can be conveved to any air baso, and- th6 bombs can be filled by the airman or his assistant before he starts.

- iFIVE TERRIBLE WEAPONS. ; -French airmen have now five terrible weapons of destruction .for use in aeroplane fighting. 'They '■ aro:-— 1« The steel arrows les flephes, 6iii. long, grooved to ensure , Airaight downward flight, about an dunce m weight, and carried in a box wliich lajinchfis lOOp at f a time. Dropped from ftn average flying height dnc of these will i^ lts " mail ' VTitll a drivihg force of 1001b. It will go clean through a rider and his horse. The airmen carry several -thousands on ea*h flight. A*n airman was ■ recently mentioned in despatches for the skill and daring with which he used his. bombs and arrows. 2. The quick,-firing air gun! Thw is earned in many of the French monoplanes. Two have been "mounted on biplances- in order to command the whole field of flight. They have accounted for. many of the enemy^s machines. '.' ■ 3. The ' shell pistol, reserved for action against tlfe Zeppelins. A lucky shot from bhe; of these will put a Ze\>pelm out 'or action... nrfi" The , dynamite bomb. This weighs 901b, and is dropped by the airman or ma observer. " This* has been used for blowing, up bridges. 5. The new air bomb.

With these weapons in the hands of daring airmen the French air service is makinh history daily. Hundreds of young men aro volunteering fox- the work, and many of tliem seem to bear charmed- lives. . They face' tho triple risk of death- -from accidental fall* the enemy's air guns— which ■ they all deolare to be admirably served— and the explosion of their own weapons.