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Rh There is uo doubt that so long as the weather conditions are favourable to defence, anything in the nature of a daylight attack on London could be rendered impossible by a sufficient defending force of aeroplanes, but here even, in the event of an attack in great force, it is by no means certain that some measure of success might not be achieved; it would at least require an immense preponderance of power, if every hostile aeroplane is to be beaten back or otherwise accounted for.

When, however, the weather conditions are favourable to attack, also in the case of attack by night, there is no means of defence at present known to the author which would prevent the enemy from inflicting enormous damage if he attack in sufficient numerical force and is prepared to act with determination in spite of any losses he may sustain; no reasonable superiority in the defending aircraft, either individually or numerically, can be entirely effective. Neither can we pin our faith to counter-aircraft artillery; under the conditions in question it may prove to be useless.

We have so far not witnessed an attack by aircraft on an important city on a grand scale, such as, without doubt, the future has in store. The " raids " which have hitherto been carried out are quite trivial and ineffective affairs compared with what in due course will become possible. The critical point, and the point to be aimed at as an act of war, is that at which the fire-extinguishing appliances of the community are beaten or overcome. Up to this point the damage done may be taken as roughly proportional to the means and cost of its accomplishment; beyond that point the damage is disproportionately great: the city may be destroyed in toto.

There will always be the sentimentalist who has implicit faith (in spite of experience) in the omnipotence of peace conferences and the like and the unalienable