Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Third of a Century.] THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1915. WAR IN THE AIR.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14203, 4 February 1915, Page 4

Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Third of a Century.] THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1915. WAR IN THE AIR.

Though the air is still quite a novel battlefield, it is a field that has been providing plenty df excitement of late. So far, the nations have not arrived at any rules or regulations governing the operations of aircraft —though tha Germans would, in any case, treat them as a mere scrap of paper, which could not be allowed to stand in the way of "military necessity." Apart from that, a man high up in the air, practising the new art of dropping bombs, cannot distinguish every building on the earth—American consulates and all the rest of them—and even if he could, his aim might be faulty.. Holland is said to be investigating the statement that the German Zeppelins which raided Norfolk passed over Dutch territory, and jitissibly if it should prove to be true Holland will enter a protest on the ground that to fly over her territory is a violation of neutrality, just as to march troops over her frontier would be. But this is a point that has not so far been decided. So, also, the United States may protest against bombs being dropped on the American consulate at Dunkirk: but what satisfaction would sho be likely to get? There is little use in people*who live in glass houses throwing stones at those who sit in airships dropping bombs —they must take the risk. Apart from the navigation of the air, there are many points that will need to be cleared up after the war. What is an "undefended" place, for instance? In the rules of warfare among civilised nations we come across the terms "defended" and "undefended," but no exact definition of them is given. So Germany defines them to suit herself. After the "success" of the Zeppelin raid on Yarmouth ani Sandringham, the Germans will no doubt bo encouraged to attempt something on a bigger scale. Inded, the extra precautions that are now being taken in England are sufficient indication that tho authorities anticipate something of the kind. In all probability the .Yarmouth raid was nothing more than a."feeler"; it is almost unbelievable that„tho two or three Zoppolina

concerned inr ; it made the long and hazardous journey from their base in Germany simply to'drop a few bombs upon the peaceful towns of Norfolk. The visit of these large airships to the shores of "England has certainly de monstrated that they constitute a real danger. Writing recently on the subject of aerial warfare, Mr Fred T. Jane said: —"Germany's great air effort is yet to come. Sooner or later Ido think that tho air invasion will come, and we will be very ill-advised to treat it as an empty threat. Football has replaced bowls as a popular sport. Let us go on playing football a la Drake at- bowls. But let us take Germany's contemplat. Ed aerial Armada as seriously as our Elizabethan ancestors took tho Great Armada of Philip of Spain. This Armada will not sail until it is very numerous, and till certainty of success seems clear on paper. To put the fear of God into the civil population will, of course, bo the principal objective; no very real damage is likely to be ach ieved. Moral effect will be everything. The trial before us is probably no light one. London may well have to suffer several chapters of the 'Book of the Revelation.' We have no airships to meet a determined German airship attack. On our aeroplanes, and on our aeroplanes only, will victory depend. It is of the utmost importance that all concerned aro ready to meet this German aerial Armada iv the same spirit as our Elizabethan ancestors faced a similar crisis. After we have faced it and beaten it will be quite time enough to make songs about it."