AEROPLANES IN WAR.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14322, 12 October 1910, Page 3

AEROPLANES IN WAR.

POWEHLESS AG AIXST BATTLESHIP. NAVY EXPERT'S THEORY. Of what value is the aeroplane likelv to prove as a defensive or an offensive iactor in warfare r The question is logically diseusseci. and new theories in regard to it propounded, by Captain Richmond P. Hubson—late naval i'oiistractor to the American Xavv, and who d:d brilliant service in the SpanishAmerican "War —in the September number of "Popular He trace?- the experience of nature, and from it draws parallel conclusion* with regard to scieutilie development. "In the air,' 7 he says, "nature has undertaken no provision for defence, direct. Of forms, there is bur one combatant type in the air, that of the eajzl-e or hawk, and tho maximum size is limited to a few pounds. On hmd and in the sea tho combatants are multiple in form and oxiend to ton* in weight. Never yet has tho bird uf prey been a menace to boast of prey or the fish of prey. If actual combat took place the outcome con!.l be hut one way. The bird, unable 10 lift i-be beast or fi.sh into the air, would of necessity be vanquished. '

Captain declare* that the most- effective work of aeroplanes >viU doubtless be done by tho.-e that become part of the equipment of battleships. chiefly for purposes of observation and scouting. Of the battleship he says: — It will be found difficult, if not imT>cssible. to .sink or destroy a modern battleship by a single blow, even helow the wat-erline. excein in case or the most powerful mine explosion. How can it be expected to destroy such a vessel by a single blow from tihe airy Any claims or armour penetration is out of the question.

NETS TO CATCH MISSILES. Even if llie aeroplane's missile did pierce ono of the protective decks, "it is hardly conceivable til at the ship would be destroyed by a single explosion 01 any missile "limited by the weight an aeroplane could adopt, for the ship's vitals are in multiple units and the structure is such that damage is localised. The luckiest- missile from an aeroplane would lie one 'hat missed the ship, hut fell close by and exploded under water and produced a disrupting mine effect to crush in -.he lower undor-water structure. -In this way, the target for the aeroplane is increased by a wall of water around tne ship." Already the sides and bottom compartments of battleships att- as cushions, and are built so as to localise a blow from torpedoes and mines. The weight of such explosion far exceeds what is practicable in aeroplanes. In addition, a battleship can readily adopt "new applications of armour and construction, if needed, against missiles dropped from above. It is readily seen how wire nettings could be carried high up, at two or more heights, capable of exploding if not of shopping missiles dropped from above, the lower net- being designed to catch fragments. Indeed, with adaptations, special captive balloons could maintain such a .let high in the air. and at the same time employ small weapons against approaching aeroplanes. In iiring at the aeroplane, the missiles mounting to the zenith in large numbers would tend to explode any missile dropped wth accuracy. Specal guns and ammunition could be devised to keep a shower of missiles constantly ascending to cover the zenith in the same way that a cloud 61 missiles could be kept in front of an aeroplane. At night, adds Captain Hobson, the searchlights from Torpedo-boar destruvers. sweeping the heavens and resting on the aeroplanes, would interfere with the latter locating battleships with lights screened, until the guns of the ships poured an .annihilating lire skywards. It must also be remembered that in defence, as in offence, the battleship can command the services of air craft to give combat to the enemy's aeroplanes. But "the limited offensive power of the aeroplane contributes almost nothing in the wnv of defence.''