TORPEDO IN THE AIR.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LIX, Issue 9214, 5 November 1908, Page 6

TORPEDO IN THE AIR.

A FORMIDABLE WEAPON

Messrs Kruup, of Essen, havo acquired the patent rights of tho now air torpedo invented by tho Swedish Colouel Uuge, subject to the oue reservation that the Swedish Government shall have tho right to make full use of this latest weapon in every form. Colonel Uuge, while satisfying his patriotic scruples, has douo au excellent stroke of busiuess. Messrs Krupp have paid a largo sum for tlie patents of this air torpedo, which is said to be the most terrible iustrumeut of destruction yet iuveuted. It will shortly be introduced into the Gernjau army aud navy, which will thereby possess a mare affective equipment than j_uv other army or "" ' ' .„_ „.,.,. M w itu th. single navy iv the wor_... D exception of Swedeu. Oolouel Uuge's torpedo cau be fixed without producing auy recoil, hence the torpedo tube is light aud easy to move quickly from place to place. The air torpedo tube is couveyed ou a motor car, which cau be speedily uumonuted aud fired without auy elaborate preparations, and much more rapidly thau field artillery cau be brought into positiou for firiug. The weapon cau b8 used iv every kind of warfare. In bombarding fortresses it will exercise a distinctive effect ou tbe most formidable defence works. Iv field operations the torpedo cau be burled agaiust troops iv covered positious. Tbe fact that the torpedo cau be fired without tho least noise will make it difficult for the enemy to locate the positiou of a torpedo battery by which it is beiug attacked. "In coast defence au air torpedo could bo fired in such a way as to drop on tbe decks of hostile battleship.. Colouel Uuge has invented au air torpedo of greater calibre for use in naval warfare,... so that henceforth warships will be liable to be tor- ; pedoed from above as well as beueath the water line. A smaller type of torpedo is constructed for use in mouutaiu warfare, where it cau be employed iv terrains quite inaccessible to mountain artillery of the preseut type. Military experts declare that the air torpedo is a truly epocb-maniug invention which adds oue more horror to modern warfare.