AISRHIPS IN WAR.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12400, 16 November 1908, Page 4

AISRHIPS IN WAR.

Major H. JBannerman- Phillips in the. "United 11 Service Magazine," laughs at many things that alarmists and sensationalists have written lately. >, But writing as a soldier who has' studied the subject at close .quarters,- he that,*, although tholcrews . of; dirigible* balloons may *sieyer,'6e able to hurt, and destroy .one -another, be picturesquely supposes that balloon . scouts will meet, in mid-air, in which' case, of course, ■they will cease, to be scouts and become' combatants :— ' 'ln these flying combats in.^the upper regions each aerostat will be manoeuvred as far as possible in^the fashion of a falcon endeavouring to strike down a neron. The crew will devote &U their efforts to soar above the rival airship, and from this position ;of vantage either destroy it by dropping explosives or launching other deatruotive ihisailes caloulated to^rip the.etiveldpe, or .they may upset tbe vessel's lpoise and . its motor power.- 'and th^en" dictate - terras^ of surrender; and"tow?tne crippled oraft back to their lines, In such engagements the spell ' and ' bandihes3 ofan : airship, the nerve, technical smll, and smartness of its crew will be very -important factors. A well handled, though nbinparatiyely small orafc, with poweiful motors and high speed, will have' a superiority over a larger but more unwieldly opponent. ■'■".,-; U -.,:. ■:■ .'■: „ : The-'lattflr, .6npe;.crippledr:^pr partially, disableajV if tpo '.*> large" to tow can be forced- to surrender at dis cretion anri compelled ; to -follow 'the captor, under threat ot destruction in mid-air. V , : . L -