LAND AND W-ATER 
December 26, 1914. 
lin -with its present capabilities, could, from an altitude of 
tome 4,000 feet, scan, during the day, hundreds of square 
miles of sea surface, and, at night, by navigating at a sufli- 
ciently low altitude, would, very likely, be able to distinguish 
the various warships by means of the glare of the fire through 
their funnels. Moreover, at sea, the aeroplane and the air- 
ship have not the same relative value, as a weapon of war, as 
they possess on land. For naval work in the open sea the 
theoretical advantage undoubtedly rests with the airship. 
Hence the necessity for all the Admiralty's precautions, and 
for seriously considering the potentialities of the Zeppelin in 
naval warfare and for studying the methods of dealing with 
the new factor likely to be introduced into naval operations 
in the North Sea. 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
To the Editor of Land and Water. 
Dear Sib, — It appears to me that Mr. Hilaire Belloo is 
rendering a great service to this country and to the cause of 
the Allies by his weekly articles on the war, published in 
Land and Watek, of which I have read every word since 
they began. No other articles have been so helpful to me. 
They reveal a thorough knowledge of war and a military judg- 
ment of a high order, as well as an unrivalled grip of the 
geography of a theatre of war and of its significance. They 
are, moreover, so clearly written and so well illustrated that 
no one can fail to understand them. 
Will you please convey to Mr. Belloc my warm congratu- 
lations on his fine work, and will you also, in case you should 
think that the publication of my opinion would help to spread 
a just appreciation of the articles, make any use you think 
fit of 80 much of this letter as might serve that purpose 1 
Believe me to be. 
Yours sincerely, 
Spenseb Wilkinson. 
Chichele Professor of Military History. 
99, Oakley Street, Chelsea, S.W. 
SNIPING. 
To the Editor of Land and Water. 
Sir, — From accounts received from the theatre of opera- 
tions in Franco and Belgium, a considerable number of 
casualties appear to be caused by " sniping " after dark. The 
procedure apparently is that picked shots of the enemy 
penetrate our lines, as often as not in the garb of peasants 
or even in our own uniforms, secrete themselves, and lie in 
wait for any officer or man who may pass, and then shoot 
him. War, we are led to believe, is honourable and waged 
by brave men, but surely to shoot men from concealed places 
and in the dark savours more of murder and " moonlighting " 
than anything else. Are there no international laws regarding 
the question of "sniping"? Is it strictly fair and allowable 1 
in savage warfare on the North-West Frontier of India 
" sniping " is carried on, but from outside the limits of one's 
own lines. German " kultur " has gone one better. Perhaps 
Mr. Hilaire Belloc will give us his opinion on the whole 
question of the legitimacy or otherwise of " sniping " in 
civilised warfare. 
Yours, etc., 
Indian Colonel. 
AEROPLANE v. ZEPPELIN. 
To the Editor of Land and Water. 
Sir, — Your correspondent, Mr. W. E. Tycr, in suggest-. 
ing the use of rockets as a weapon of offence against Zeppelins, 
remarks that it is accepted that rifle fire is useless against 
them. This is doubtless true of the ordinary rifle bullet, 
which would merely pierce the envelope without doing appre- 
ciable damage. But it would surely be an easy matter to 
design a hollow bullet containing a charge of some pyrotechnic 
composition wliich would be ignited when the rifle is fired, and 
would burn continuously, emitting a shower of sparls after 
the manner of the familiar squib, for some seconds ' ufter. 
If such a bullet pierced the envelope it would ignite the 
hydrogen and infallibly cause the total destruction of the air- 
ship. It is this, and not tho crippling of the machinery (a 
comparatively very small and difficult mark for the gunner), 
which should be the' aim of the defence, and the matter seems 
BO simple and obvious that it is hard to believe that it has not 
already been provided for. — I am, yours, etc., 
D. S. Macnair. 
Edinbiftgti, 
TRANSPORT. 
To the Editor of Land and Water. 
Sib, — Colonel Maude's article referring to the difiGcultie« 
of transport on poor or worn out roads leads me to suggest tho 
use of strained overhead wire rope ways, constructed along 
such roads, from which the article to be transported should 
be hung from travelling trollies moving along them. 
It is not suggested that the whole weight should be borne 
by the rope ways, but that portion of the weight would rest 
on tho road surface, the remainder being taken by the wire 
ropes. 
If, however, a number of wire ropes are used, and the 
supports on which they rest are at no great distance apart, I 
am inclined to believe that very great weight could be carried 
without its resting on the ground at all. For crossing wide 
rivers the latter system would seem desirable. For road 
traffic I am assuming tho motive power would be horseflesh, 
since traction engines would, from their weiglit, be as trouble- 
some on a rotten road surface as the heavy article it is desired 
to transport; but there appears to be no reason, if horseflesh 
is not suitable, that the transport should not be dragged by 
wire ropes worked oS a drum by a stationary engine, as is 
done both above and below ground in many collieries, for 
pulling trucks up heavy gradients. 
The question is one of expediency, efficiency, and cost^ 
rather than of any engineering difficulty. — Yours, etc., 
December 14, 1914. R. 
ZEPPELINS. 
To the Editor of Land and Water. 
Dear Sir, — I have read your article on military Zeppe- 
lins in War, Series No. 17, with interest. May I ask whether 
tho figures in page 12* are accurate? I calculate that the 
cubical content of an airship which measures 600 feet in 
length and 75 feet in diameter is over 2,500,000 cubic feet. 
Are any Zeppelins built of such size? "The larger the dia- 
meter the greater the lifting power in excess of dead weight, 
so whereas it is doubtful whether one of the French airsliips, 
which measures 800,000 cubic feet and weighs twenty tons, 
could carry bombs up to 10,000 feet, one with three times 
that measurement might be dangerously effective at that 
height. On the other hand, the larger the diameter tlio 
greater the air resistance. It is said that the newer Zeppelins 
can rise 10,000 feet and get above aeroplanes in winter. Will 
the writer of your article examine this question 1 — Yours 
faithfully, T. K. 
Mathon Lodge, West Malvern, 
December 16, 1914. 
*** In the article referred to in the above letter, the term 
" diameter " was used to denote the " greatest diameter," or 
the greatest sectional dimension, of the airship. This in- 
cludes not only the diameter of the " cylindrical " portion of 
the envelope, but also the height of the V-shaped keel. The 
question of the height at which Zeppelins can travel will bo 
considered in a subsequent article. — L. B. D. 
TO YACHTSMEN AND FISHERMEN. 
To the Editor of Land and Water. 
Sib, — There is an immediate need of gum boots and 
waders, waterproof (khaki or black), and oilskins for the use 
of the troops, numbering many thousands, waiting at No. 1 
Base. Ovpingto the recent wet and stormy weather the caaaps 
are literally quagmires, and the tents are without floors. The 
men are never dry night or day. 
Will yachtsmen and fishermen give what they can, and 
BO alleviate the hardships of our soldiers waiting their turn ? 
Depot for receiving above : — ^No 8, Beauchamp Place, 
S.W. 
All communications to be addressed to the wife of the 
Commandant of No. 1 Base, Mrs. Bruce Williams, 22, Alex- 
andra Square, S.W. 
X. 
(Messrs. Chapman and Hall have recently issued in book form 
the first four dispatches of Sir John French, together with a complete 
list of the names mentioned in dispatches. The volume is tastefully 
hound in cloth, and is published at a shilling net. It is a useful 
addition to current war literature. 
The December issue of Colour, principally devoted to reproductions 
of Spanish art, makes no pretence at being a special " Christmas 
number," but in maintaining the high standard of reproduction set 
by former numbers, forms about the most artistic periodical of the 
month. Particulars are given of a competition for artists, and the 
names of the judges, including Hassall, Byam Shaw, Strang, and 
other leaders in modern art, bespeak the character of the competition. 
Colour is a decided innovation in modern monthlies, and, by tha 
excellence of its literary items and fine colour work, ia deserving ol 
every success. 
16.» 
