aeroplanes and dirigibles of war-第29章

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below。　　Naturally　the　latter；　directly　it　observed　the　airman's

object；　would　endeavour　to　elude　the　pursuing　trawling　mine；

either　by　crowding　on　speed　or　by　rising　to　a　greater　altitude。

The　aeroplane；　however；　would　have　the　advantage　both　in　point　of

speed　　and　powers　of　climbing；　while　there　is　no　doubt　that　the

sight　of　the　mine　swinging　in　the　air　would　exert　a　decisive

moral　effect　upon　those　in　the　airship。



Attempts　to　render　the　mine　harmless　by　discharging　it

prematurely　with　the　aid　of　rifle　and　machine…gun　fire　would；　of

course；　be　made　by　the　crew　of　the　airship；　but　the　trawling　mine

would　prove　a　very　difficult　target　to　strike。　　If　such　a　missile

were　used　against　an　airship　of　the　proportions　of　a　Zeppelin　the

mine　would　inevitably　be　trawled　across　the　vessel　sooner　or

later。　　Once　the　airship　had　been　fouled；　the　aviator　would

merely　have　to　drive　ahead；　dragging　the　wire　and　its　charge　

across　the　gas…bag　until　at　last　one　of　the　contact　levers　of　the

mine　was　moved　by　being　dragged　against　some　part　of　the　vessel；

when　the　mine　would　be　exploded。　　In　such　operations　the　aviator

would　run　a　certain　risk；　as　he　would　be　more　or　less　above　the

airship；　and　to　a　certain　degree　within　the　zone　of　the　ultimate

explosion。　　But　there　is　no　doubt　that　he　would　succeed　in　his　

〃fishing〃　exploit　within　a　very　short　time。



This　ingenious　scheme　has　already　been　tested　upon　a　small　scale

and　has　been　found　effective；　the　trawling　bomb　being　drawn

across　its　target　and　fired　by　contact　within　a　few　minutes。　　The

experiment　seems　to　prove　that　it　would　be　simpler　and　more

effectual　to　attack　a　hostile　aircraft　such　as　a　Zeppelin　in　this

manner　than　to　drop　free　bombs　at　random。　　Moreover；　we　cannot

doubt　that　the　sight　of　a　mine　containing　even　ten　or　twelve

pounds　of　high　explosive　dangling　at　the　end　of　a　wire　would

precipitate　a　retreat　on　the　part　of　an　airship　more　speedily

than　any　other　combative　expedient。



The　advocate　of　this　mine…trawling　method；　who　is　a　well…known

aviator；　anticipates　no　difficulty　in　manoeuvring　a　mine　weighing

30　pounds　at　the　end　of　300　feet　of　fine　wire。　　Success　depends

in　a　great　measure　on　the　skill　of　the　aviator　in　maintaining　a

constant　tension　upon　the　line　until　it　falls　across　its

objective。



The　process　calls　for　a　certain　manifestation　of　skill　in

manoeuvring　the　aeroplane　in　relation　to　the　airship；　judgment　of

distance；　and　ability　to　operate　the　aeroplane　speedily。　　The

rapid　ascensional　capability　of　the　airship；　as　compared　with

that　of　the　aeroplane；　is　a　disadvantage；　but　on　the　other　hand；

the　superior　mobility　and　speed　of　the　aeroplane　would　tell

decisively　for　success。



Among　the　many　wonders　which　the　Krupp　organisation　is　stated　to

have　perfected；　and　which　it　is　claimed　will　create　considerable

surprise；　is　the　aerial　torpedo。　　Many　of　the　Krupp　claims　are

wildly　chimerical；　as　events　have　already　proved；　but　there　is　no

doubt　that　considerable　effort　has　been　expended　upon　this　latest

missile；　for　which　the　firm　is　said　to　have　paid　the　inventor

upwards　of　L25；000125；000。　　Curiously　enough　the　projectile

was　perfected　within　gunshot　of　the　British　aerodrome　of　Hendon

and　is　stated　to　have　been　offered　to　the　British　Government　at

the　time；　and　to　have　met　with　a　chilling　reception。　　One　fact；

however；　is　well　established。　　The　inventor　went　to　Germany；　and

submitted　his　idea　to　Krupp；　by　whom　it　was　tested　without　delay。　

Upon　the　completion　of　the　purchase；　the　great　armament

manufacturers　did　not　fail　to　publish　broadcast　the　fact　that

they　had　acquired　a　mysterious　new　terror　of　the　skies。　　That　was

some　three　years　ago；　and　in　the　interval　the　cleverest　brains　of

the　German　firm　have　been　steadily　devoting　their　time　and

energies　to　the　improvement　of　the　missile；　the　first　appearance

of　which　was　recorded；　in　a　somewhat　hazy　manner；　in　the　closing

days　of　December。



While　the　exact　mechanism　of　this　missile　is　a　secret；　the

governing　principles　of　its　design　and　operation　are　known　to　a

select　few　technicians　in　this　country。　　Strange　to　say；　the

projectile　was　designed　in　the　first　instance　in　the　interests　of

peace　and　humanty；　but　while　engaged　upon　his　experiments　the

inventor　suddenly　concluded　that　it　would　be　a　more　profitable

asset　if　devoted　to　the　grim　game　of　war。　　At　the　time　the

military　significance　of　the　airship　and　the　aeroplane　were

becoming　apparent；　hence　the　sudden　diversion　of　the　idea　into　a

destructive　channel。



This　aerial　torpedo　is　a　small　missile　carrying　a　charge　of　high

explosive；　such　as　trinitrotoluene；　and　depends　for　its

detonation　upon　impact　or　a　time　fuse。　　It　is　launched　into　the

air　from　a　cradle　in　the　manner　of　the　ordinary　torpedo；　but　the

initial　velocity　is　low。　　The　torpedo　is　fitted　with　its　own

motive　power；　which　comes　automatically　into　action　as　the

missile　climbs　into　the　air。　　This　self…contained　energy　is　so

devised　that　the　maximum　power　is　attained　before　the　missile　has

lost　the　velocity　imparted　in　the　first　instance；　the　result

being　that　it　is　able　to　continue　its　flight　in　a　horizontal

direction　from　the　moment　it　attains　the　highest　point　in　its

trajectory；　which　is　naturally　varied　according　to　requirements。　

But　there　is　no　secret　about　the　means　of　propulsion。　　The　body

is　charged　with　a　slow…burning　combustible；　in　the　manner　of　the

ordinary　rocket；　whereby　it　is　given　a　rapid　rotary　motion。



Furthermore　it　is　stated　to　be　fitted　with　a　small　gyroscope　in

the　manner　of　the　torpedo　used　in　the　seas；　for　the　purpose　of

maintaining　direction　during　flight；　but　upon　this　point　there　is

considerable　divergence　of　opinion　among　technicians；　the　general

idea　being　that　the　torpedo　depends　upon　an　application　of　the

principle　of　the　ordinary　rocket　rather　than　upon　a　small　engine

such　as　is　fitted　to　the　ordinary　torpedo。　　The　employment　of　a

slow　combustible　ensures　the　maintenance　of　the　missile　in　the

air　for　a　period　exceeding　that　of　the　ordinary　shell。　　It　is

claimed　by　the　Germans　that　this　projectile　will　keep　aloft　for

half…an…hour　or　more；　but　this　is　a　phantasy。　　Its　maintenance　of

flight　is　merely　a　matter　of　minutes。



The　belated　appearance　of　this　much…lauded　projectile　and　its

restricted　use　suggest　that　it　is　unreliable；　and　perhaps　no　more

effective　than　the　aerial　torpedo　which　appeared　in　the　United

States　during　the　Spanish…American　War；　and　proved　a　complete

failure。　　An　effective　and　reliable　means　of　combating　or

frustrating　a　dirigible　attack；　other　than　by　gun…fire　or　resort

to　the　drastic　remedy　of　ramming　the　enemy；　has　yet　to　be

devised。







CHAPTER　XVII

WIRELESS　IN　AVIATION



In　a　previous　chapter　the　various　methods　of　signalling　between

the　ground　and　the　airman　aloft　have　been　described。　　Seeing　that

wireless　telegraphy　has　made　such　enormous　strides　and　has

advanced　to　such　a　degree　of　perfection；　one　naturally　would

conclude　that　it　constitutes　an　ideal　system　of　communication

under　such　conditions　in　military　operations。



But　this　is　not　the　case。　　Wireless　is　utilised　only　to　a　very

limited　extent。　　This　is　due　to　two　causes。　　The　one　is　of　a

technical；　the　other　of　a　strategical　character。



The　uninitiated；　bearing　in　mind　the　comparative　ease　with　which

wireless　installations　may　be　established　at　a　relatively　small

expense；　would　not　unreasonably　think　that　no　serious

difficulties　of　a　technical　character　could　arise：　at　least　none

which　would　defy　solution。　　But　these　difficulties　exist　in　two

or　three　different　fields；　each　of　which　is　peculiarly　complex

and　demands　individual　treatment。



In　the　first　place；　there　is　the　weight　of　the　necessary

installation。　　In　the　case　of　the　dirigible　this　may　be　a

secondary　consideration；　but　with　the　aeroplane　it　is　a　matter　of

primary　and　vital　importance。　　Again；　under　present　conditions；

the　noise　of　the　motor　is　apt　to　render　the　intelligent

deciphering　of　messages　while　aloft　a　matter　of　extreme

difficulty；　especially　as　these　are　communicated　in　code。　　The

engine　noise　might　be　effectively　overcome　by　the　use　of　a

muffler　such　as；　is　used　with　automobiles；　but　then　there　is　the

further　difficulty　of　vibration。



This　problem　is　being　attacked　in　an　ingenious　manner。　　It　is

proposed　to　substitute　for　audible　signals　visual

interpretations；　by　the　aid　of　an　electric　lamp；　the　fluctuations

in　which　would　correspond　to　the　dots　and　dashes　of　the　Morse

code。　　Thus　the　airman　would　read　his　messages　by　sight　instead

of　by　sound。



This　method；　however；　is　quite　in　its　infancy；　and　although

attractive　in　theory　and　fascinating　as　a　laboratory　experiment

or　when　conducted　under　experimental　conditions；　it　has　not

proved　reliable　or　effective　in　aeronautical　operations。　　But　at

the　same　time　it　indicates　a　promising　line　of　research　and

development。



Then　there　are　the　problems　of　weight　and　the　aerial。　　So　far　as

present　knowledge　goes；　the　most　satisfactory　form　of　aerial　yet

exploited　is　that　known　as　the　trailing　wire。　　From　300　to　700

feet　of　wire　are　coiled　upon　a　reel；　and　when　aloft　this　wire　is

paid　out　so　that　it　hangs　below　the　aeroplane。　　As　a　matter　of

fact；when　the　machine　is　travelling　at　high　speed　it　trails

horizontally　astern；　but　this　is　immaterial。　　One　investigator；

who　strongly　disapproves　of　the　trailing　aerial；　has　carried　out

experiments　with　a　network　of　wires　laid　upon　and　attached　to　the

surface　of　the　aeroplane's　wings。　　But　the　trailing　wire　is

generally　preferred；　and　certainly　up　to　the　present　has　proved

more　satisfactory。



The　greatest　obstacle；　however；　is　the　necessary　apparatus。　　The

average　aeroplane　designed　for　military　duty　is　already　loaded　to

the　maximum。　　As　a　rule　it　carries　the　pilot　and　an　observer；　and

invariably　includes　a　light　arm　for　defence　against　an　aerial

enemy；　together　with　an　adequate　supply　of　ammunition；　while

unless　short　sharp　flights　are　to　be　made；　the　fuel　supply

represents　an　appreciable　load。　　Under　these　circumstances　the

item　of　weight　is　a　vital　consideration。　　It　must　be　kept　within

a　limit　of　100　pounds；　and　the　less　the　equipment　weighs　the　more

satisfactory　it　is　likely　to　prove；　other　things　being　equal。



The　two　most　successful　systems　yet　exploited　are　the　Dubilier

and　the　Rouget。　　The　former　is　an　American　invention；　the　latter

is　of　French　origin。　　Both　have　been　tested　by　the　British

Military　Aeronautical　Department；　and　the　French　authorities

have　subjected　the　French　system　to　rigorous　trials。　　Both

systems；　within　their　limitations；　have　proved　satisfactory。



The　outstanding　feature　of　the　Dubilier　system　is　the　production

of　sine　waves　of　musical　frequency　from　continuous　current；　thus

dispensing　with　the　rotary　converter。　　The　operating　principle　is

the　obtaining