WAR IN THE AIR.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 1271, 12 February 1910, Page 1

WAR IN THE AIR.

A lecture by Major Baden-Powell, read at the Royal United Service Institution, dealt with the dangers of an aerial war. . "There can be no doubt. Major Baden-Powell declared, "that the machines which are now actually in axistencc, both dirigible balloons and aeroplanes, can be made great use of in war. It seems fairly certain that in another few years' timei their efficiency will be greatly increased. "Reconnaissance will be much more efficiently carried out. Operations will be quickened, and wars more, rapidly lost or won. "Though it has been suggested thatlarge bodies of troops could bo transported over long distances by dirigible, airships, the idea seems hardly feasible. ± , . "If aeroplanes continue to develop as they have done, it is quite probable, however, that they will soon be used in hundreds, if not thousands. In al. probability we shall soon have machines 'capable, of carrying three or four men in addition to the driver. "Such 'mounted infantry' would bo transported to any tactical position and deposited there within a few minutes, and the machines sent back for reinforcements. "Eventually this might even become a means of invading a country. Hie discharge of explosives on troops, stores, and buildings could only be done with the full risk of. losing the airship, so would usually only be carried out for very special objects. "It may sound curious to speak or an aeroplane being used as a substitute for a cavalry horse, yet it seems possible that a small, compact form (like Santos-Dumont's Demoiselle) might a'.tuost lie used in such a capac'•'Such a machine could probably be built for £100, and the manipulation, to a thoroughly trained, man, need not occupy much more of his attention than would that of a horse. "Able to skim over the country, surmounting hedges and ditches, walls, and even rivers, travelling at an average speed of, perhaps, five or six tjmee that of the horse, his opportunities for reconnoitring would certainly be very great. , . . "For communication with a besieged place any form of airship is, of course, ideal." „ . „, , . . 7 Major Badon-Powell vividly depicted the battle in the air. "With machines as now constructed," ho said, "if one vessel is able to get directly above another it has it at its mercy. "A mere lighted match or a burning fuse or grenade dropped on it would cause its instant destruction. "The' upper machine could even descend right on the lower ono and ram it. "The fight between an aeroplane and a dirigible would seem likely to be very one-sided.. It has been compared to that Of a Jiairtt and a heron. The aeroplane, with its greater speed, better manoeuvring power, and less liability to damage, would have an immense advantage." . But the greatest fight of all, Major Baden-Powell declared, would be aeroplane agains aeroplane, with the grap- ! plinß irons and the lassoes used to foul the "enemy's propellers. -A collision between two aeroplanes, hei added, would he fatal to both.

In accordance with ancient custom the effigy of Colonel Lundy, who attempted to betray Londonderry to James 11., was hung from the Walker Monument on tho city walls and afterwards burnt. A Melbourne suburban draper, incensed at tiie application of the Victorian \Yag« s Hoard determination to his business, recently made up his mind to stand strictly on Jiis rights. It is Jiot written in the bond that lie has to provide a room in which his employees may have their lunch, and he has proved impervious to the appeal that it were sweet to do this much for charity. Girls employed there were compelled to' eat their lunch in the streets, and they feJfc very much the indignity to which they were exposed. The facts were brought uuder the notice of the Premier of Victoria (Mr. Murray) by an • inspector of factories. Mr. Murray describes the action of the employer as beneath contempt. He admits tnat there is no provision in the Jaw !>v which such men can be compelled to provide accommodation in this respect as fortunately no cases of the kind had been previously reported. However, it complaints of the kind were repeated, he would have no hesitation in -asking Parliament for an amendment of the law. The Premier is giving consideration to the question of publishing the employer's name in justice to those who carry out the law in the spirit and the letter.