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Aviation History
1917
1917 - 0973.PDF
SEPTEMBER 20, AIR RAIDS AND SOME CONCLUSIONS. OF the still surviving primeval feelings of man there is that, although this distance was covered in a peaceful cross- probably none stronger than that of retaliation. If a man country flight, it does not necessarily follow that the same knocks you down, your first impulse is to scramble to your distance is possible over enemy country. Since, however, feet in a healthy desire to " get at him." This feeling is the bare possibility of to-day is, in aviation at any rate, pretty strong among the population of a raided district, the accomplished "fact of to-morrow, the radius has been especially immediately after a visit from the Gothas, and chosen as indicating the possibilities of the very near future, the question uppermost in the minds of the majority of people Berlin, then, may now be said to be within bombing distance 1C T7QT-T7 V\ of Urn MTT 1*TIMT -»f if 4-V**-*4- 4-V\ y» f~~* f\v>m ntlfi f~*J-l »"\ -fr-Al » yl *-^flT" rt-f *-tm 4- 1^ rt *- 4- V*. .~_ i ..'—.^ ~^ .,-* 1_ « ^ Ti-rt 1J ^ _ X — J_ ~ . J1 T(*j1 ~T T __ _— _ __ *. J_is, very naturally, why is it that the Germans can raid our shores and our capital while, apparently, our efforts in this particular direction are confined to raids on aerodromes and ammunition dumps in Belgium and other places situated at no very great distance from the frontier. In order to show more clearly the radical difference in the problem from the enemy's and from our own point of view, we have prepared the accompanying sketch map, which should show at a glance how favourable are conditions to raids by the enemy and how unfavourable to raids by the Allies. First, let us deal with air raids against the two capitals, h h G id hi fli of either the French or Italian fronts, and, if the Huns persist, the day should not be far distant when bombs instead of pamphlets are showered on Wilhelmsstrasse. Reference has already been made to the fact that the British overland portion ol the German raiders' route is only some 40 miles long, with consequent short time in which to give warning and send up pursuit machines. On the same reasoning, the Germans are more favourably situated in having some 430 miles t>f country over which Allied squadrons would have to fly in order to reach Berlin. Let us examine this point a little more closely and see if this fact is an un- itid bli fIf we presume that the German raiders start their flight mitigated blessing. If Berlin were the only objective tog y j be aimed at, the time for warning would necessarily be so long as to enable the enemy to make all his preparations Denrnark Sweden from some point in Belgium, Bruges for instance, the distance to London, taking a direct route, is only about 140 miles, 100 of which are ovejr the sea. From the time when the raiders cross the English coast to the time when they arrive over London only about hal^an-hour elapses, which leaves little time for giving warning and sending aeroplanes up in pursuit—although it is true a somewhat longer warning of their approach should be available through our organised system of defence. On the other hand, the distance from a point on the French front, as Verdun or Nancy, for instance, to Berlin is in the neighbourhood of 430 miles, giving a total distance to be covered of 860 miles. This is in itself a serious problem to solve from a technical point of view, quite apart from the fact that it is to be expected that every mile of those 860 will, figuratively speaking, be contested by the enemy's anti- aircraft defences. Opinions as to the possi- bility of making the round trip are probably divided. As for ourselves, we have for some time been firmly convinced that it can be done, and we feel quite confident that it will be done. We are keenly aware of the difficulties, and do not underestimate these, but it is now already many months since a French pilot flew to Berlin and thence to within a few miles of the Russian front. It is true that this-pilot did not drop anything more frightful than pamphlets on Berlin, but so rapid is the development in aviation that to-day there are undoubtedly in existence machines capable, with comparative safety, of the round beforehand and be ready for our bombers long before they trip of 860 miles. That we are justified in this assumption got to Berlin. Since, however, large portions of Germany appears to be confirmed by the report published last Week are within the 500 miles radius—in fact, all of Germany of the Italian aviator, Capt. Julius Laureati, covering a except East Prussia—there are a number of points Where distance of apprbximately 1,000 miles on a new Italian -•---<--* 4l---: 1J1 J~--•^--> '-— *>-*- aeroplane. The possibilities opened up by this splendid flight are enormous. In our sketch map we have taken this performance as a basis and have plotted two circles, with centres at Verdun and at Goritzia respectively, to indicate the portions of Germany and Austro-Hungary within reach of Allied air- craft. In taking the radius as 500 miles we are well aware p p attacks from the air could be made with advantage. • Between them the two circles include the greater part of Germany and the more important parts of Austro-Hungary. Thus we have, in Germany, the industrial centres of Westphalia, the Krupp works at Essen for instance, the shipping port of Hamburg, the fortifications and shipyards all up and down the German North Sea coast, not to mention the Kiel Canal itself. In the south there are such places as Stuttgart Where a few bombs would not be out of place.— A portion of the German arms and munitions factory, Berlin. These works should form an excellent target for bomb ing squadrons, espe- cially as they have probably been consider- a b 1 y extended during the war. ••if->--• 973
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