Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 241, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 October 1915 — AERIAL ARMY NO LONGER A DREAM [ARTICLE]

AERIAL ARMY NO LONGER A DREAM

Monster Battle ’Plane Mounts Two Cannon On Wings and Carries Crew of Twelve Men. •Paris, Oct. B.—An aerial army is no longer a dream of romance. Such an army, formed in divisions and squadrons, with battle aeroplanes, cruiser aeroplanes, scouts and torpedo planes, all armored heavily, and carrying three inch cannon and rapid fire guns, is a reality. It has been made possible through the remarkable development of military aviation in France. The French government today permitted correspondents the first inspection of its new fleet of aeroplanes. huge battle plane was the chief center of attention. The monster actually flies, carrying a crew of 12 men, with two cannon on tKe wings throwing three-inch steel projectiles. The armored cruiser aeroplanes were put through tests high in the air. They are small biplanes of high power. Each is armed with a cannon and is capable of rising almost vertically from the ground at a speed of 9Q miles an hour. Each cruiser squadron will consist of nine aeroplanes of all types, including one battle plane, two battle cruisers and six scout planes. The complement for a squadron will be upwards of fifty officers and men, for the operation of the aeroPlanes and their transportation on lorries drawn by automobiles, with which each squadron will be esuipped. One hundred military aviators are under instruction.