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Aviation History
1910
1910 - 0161.PDF
MARCH j, IOIO, AIRSHIPS IN PEACE. AND WAR. By R. P. IN issuing a second edition of "Aerial Warfare"* the author has taken advantage of the opportunity to change the title to that given above. Although less than half CAN ENGLAND BE RAIDED?—A map showing distances from the principal strategic points of France and Germany to the English capital and naval bases. Reproduced from the latest work on flight by Mr. R. P. Hearne. this book deals directly with the original title sub ject, the remainder, which is history, is so attractively compiled, and has been so conscientiously brought up-to-date, both with regard to airships and aero planes, that we can unhesitatingly draw our readers' attention to the publication as one which they would do well to acquire. The study of warfare in general is one associated with the especial province of a very few civilian experts outside the usual military schools, but as the author of the present volume modestly re frains from introducing himself—and as, moreover, Sir Hiram S. Maxim is far too busy expressing his own views on flight to be bothered with per forming this courtesy in the special introduction which he has written to the work in question— the reader is left in some doubt as to the exact point of view from which Mr. R. P. Hearne has investigated the subject. Apparently, from a perusal of the book, it is rather that of the dilettante than the soldier, and incidentally that, too, of one who labours under the very typically British depres sion caused by this nation's apparent sluggishness in keeping up with the times. Apart from this special aspect of the case, however, the work should make interesting reading for those who like to obtain a con crete idea of possible future developments, and as the author says what he has to say in clear and simple language, those who peruse its pages can very quickly grasp the leading points brought forward. One of the features of the book is the number of illustrations which it contains, and these without ex ception are admirably reproduced. The series of * John Lane. 7.?. 6d. net. HEARNE. strategical diagrams accompanying the Aerial Warfare section of the book are specially novel features; one relating to England we reproduce, as well as another which applies to an imaginary country. These are more than usually appropriate at the present time when it is fashionable to be scared at the very word "airship," and perhaps our readers may be interested in the following abstract from Mr. Hearne's book :— "Now, if we glance at the diagram, it will be noted that a straight run of 380 miles would take the Zeppelin from Lake Constance to Sheerness, one of our important naval centres, in less than thirteen hours, if an average speed of thirty miles an hour were kept up. If she chose to attack, we have absolutely nothing that could stop her. " She would travel over Germany, France, the Channel, and England during the night without the least fear of detection, and could strike with literally the suddenness of a bolt from the blue. Our forts and warships are not designed to fight aerial attackers. Indeed, without special high-angle guns, worked by specially-trained crews, and firing high-explosive shells, we could offer hardly any resistance. And, even if by any good chance such an attacker were brought down eventually, it could certainly get in its blow first. It could do enormous damage, it could send invaluable wireless messages back to head-quarters, and then, if destroyed by chance, it would mean but the loss of a vessel costing, say, ^20,000, and the lives of a few men. A torpedo-boat attack would cost more in lives and cash value of vessels destroyed, and it certainly could not effect so much. "An airship of the modern type is practically an invisible War between a Continental nation, Y, and an insular power, X, the former using airships. Reproduced from "Airships in Peace and War." enemy, it has greater speed than any warship, and, as it can pursue almost a straight line, it can get from point to point, over either land or water, more rapidly than any other form of military or naval locomotive. The upper air is free to all, and a German airship could take its line across France or any other country without protest. In fact, it would probably never be seen, and this matter of invisible attack is the most terrifying feature of aerial warfare." The several chapters added to this new edition include those giving brief illustrated descriptions of the leading types of aeroplanes, and dealing with the principal flying meetings of last season. 157
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