TEN THOUSAND AEROPLANES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 14043, 29 October 1909, Page 3

TEN THOUSAND AEROPLANES.

A GKR.MAN FOUKCAST. Herr Rudolf Martin, who was formerly :iu official in tlie Imperial Ministry of the Interior, and who has made a name for himself li.v foretelling the recent development, in aerial navigation at a. time when his prophecies wen; ridiculed by all .serious men, has written a. pamphlet entitled "Wright and Zeppelin," which is being sold in Jierliu at the popular price of 2Ad. The fourth chapter of this pamphlet is entitled " England, no longer an island," and contains the following noteworthy passages, in which ho asks:— " What is the most important change produced l>y Wright and Zeppelin Y England, ceases to bo an island. The mighiest world-empire of the present time is Britain, and Britain has oh- I tained her world-power as an island.

"The defeat of the British tleet in the North Sea and the landing of a (iermaii army in England will be greatly facilitated by the development of the aeroplane .side by side with the dirigible airship. The number of dirigible airships will only ncreasc slowly because they are costly and dfficult to construct, hut the number of cheap aeroplanes will grow at an mormon.-; speed. •'Even if a war between Britain and (Germany were to break out in ten years' time, it is improbable that the number of German dirigible airships would exceed one thousand, but in view of the magnificent development of aeroplanes there can be no doubt that in 1U years time.' there will he more than ten thousand aeroplanes in Germany. '•A British fleet, iu the North Sea would be in a. very dangerous jwsition it compelled to encounter a l.erman aerial licet, of dirigible airships and aeroplanes. Aeroplanes and dirigible airships can travel luster than battleships. At an altitude of -»f<0l) tcet large airships are lairly secure from the guns ot battleships. "Night and fog and clouded skies for aerial warships give many possibilities of hovering over heating battleships or over nava.l ports and ciropping their destructive uynamite torpeiioes. W here could the British Heet of battleships take refuge? Jn the home ports it Sheerness, Dover, or Portsmouth, the tleet would offer an excellent target for aerial projectiles. "If German airships can cross the narrow Channel twenty miles in width in half an hour they are immune lrom the attack of the Hritish Fleet. Wright or Zeppelin, starting from Calais, could reach London in two or three hours. After the bombardment of London the huge airships i.f Count Zeppelin < r Professor Senuette could quickly return across the Channel. "Germany's success in war with Britain would depend upon two premises. First, that Germany shall immediately increase the number of her aerial vessels of all kinds, and second, that Germany shall not fall into the error of undertaking an aerial attack in unfavourable weather.

"William the Conqueror waited in 1006 with his arm and fleet more than a month for a favourable wind. ;>>:d, thanks to his patience, achieved Ihe "reat success of eanturing England and founding the English race and world Power."