Los Angeles herald., 1908-12-27
AIRSHIPS' VALUE
TO BE RECOGNIZED
GOVERNMENT WILL INCREASE
ITS SIGNAL CORPS
MIMIC WAR IN THE SKY TO BE
FOUGHT AS TEST
Apathy Which Has Existed Hereto-
fore Ceases, and Authorities at
Washington Realize Importance
of Flying Machines

Washington Realize Importance
of Flying Machines
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 26.-Aero-
nauts who have so generally deplored
the fact that the United States gov
ernment has fallen behind other ma
| tions in realizing the Importance of air
ships from a military standpoint VIII
be glad to learn that this apathy no
| longer exists. In order to keep up with
/ the aeronautic procession a movement
| is on foot to double the strength of
the signal service corps.
Although It is less than one year
ago since even officers Of the signal
service corps laughed at the Wrights,
Baldwin, Knabenshue and other air
sailers, and decried any enlistment OF
the government in advancing the con-
quest of the air, opinions have changed
so materially since that the war de-
partment is now actually committed to
an increase in the signal corps from
1912 men to more than 2500, exclusive of
officers Congress is being urged to
pass a bill providing for this increase
and for an appropriation of $500,0O0 for
the reorganized corps.
New Signal Service Bill
Inc new blEIdl EtIAlCG bllA PlO
that the signal corps of the army shall
consist of a chief officer with the rank
of brigadier general 4 colonels, lieu
tenant colonels u majors, 36 second
lieutenants, 100 master signal electri-
clans, 300 first class sergeants, 300 SER
geants, 300 corporals, 200 first class
privates, 800 privates, 60 cooks, 4S far
riers and blacksmiths, "A saddlers, "a
Wagoners, As trumpeters and a band.
n AT1bToEn HfuQing who at
one time was connected with the signal
service corps, but is now engaged in
the practice of law in Philadelphia and
New York cities, has been in Washing
ton all week using his personal intiu-
ence with congressman to bring about
| the passage of this bill, which means
so much to the service.
Captain Higgins consulted with a
number of congressman, and when the
urgency of the inrcease in the corps
was explained to them they agreed to
support the bill. Without this increase
in the signal service corps, Captain
Higgins explained, it would be hard
for the army to continue its experiments
with dirigible ballons and aeroplanes.
A general propaganda will be started
among the members of congress to in
duce them to recognize the need of a
greater signal service corps and ap-
propriate $500000 with which to con-
duet further experiments with dirigi-
BILE ballons and aeroplanes as recon-
mended recently by Secretary of War
Wright. The war department does not
want to be left behind those of other
countries.
over in the signal service corps room
in the war department some big brains
are working day and night on the
problem of the usefulness of aeroplanes
and dirigible balloons in war.
Dropping in there of an afternoon one
finds Gen. Allen and his staff up TO
their eyes in charts and plans and sig
nal lists. Models of aeroplanes and
dirigible balloons are continually under
investigation.
The United States would not cut
very fine figure in the modern war
theater with its present aerial equip
ment but the signal corps is doing all
it can to remedy this condition. The
chief officers of the corps believe that
the great war game that is to be played
will give the entire corps the most prac-
tical kind of a lesson in the modern
phases of aerial war craft.
"There is not the slightest doubt"
said General Allen to the correspond
ent, that the aeroplane will prove
of exceptional advantage as far as
scouting is concerned. All of the ma
tions in the world today are figuring
upon its usefulness in that direction.
Any country that is not equipped with
these air craft is not fully equipped for
war"
Mimic War in Air
A feature of the work of the signal
corps is the accomplishment of a mimic
war in the air in which wireless teleg-
raphy and telegraphic maneuVers will
be called into play. Dirigible balloons
will be tried for their effectiveness in
dropping shells, and experiments will
map out the feasibility of aeroplanes
for scouting purposes. These plans Will
be executed some time before June.
If the proposed increase in the ef-
ficiency of the signal corps is accom-
plished a third aeronautic station may
be placed on the Pacific coast, possibly
near Seattle, Wash, or Los Angeles.
Cal If this is done it will make
chain across the country, with the eX-
perimental grounds at Fort Myer, Va,
where the Wright aeToplane and Bald
win dirigible were tried out, and the
balloon house at Fort Omaha. Pa
cifc coast army balloon station would
be especially desirable because of the
different conditions prevailing on the
Pacific coast. An eminent continental
meteorOgical authority now advances
the idea that the weather of America
is really made" on the Pacific ocean
and that an understanding of condi-
tons cl Lne upper ar aloHB ILe western
coast of the United States would de-
Velop a knowledge of weather condi-
tions making for as great an advance
in weather predictions as has yet been
made on the ground.
Officers of the signal corps, especially
the chief signal officer, Gen. Allen, now
believe that a mapping of the air is as
essential as the work on this line that
| has heretofore beeen done in war times
| over hills and valleys. They hope to
see the United States take a more ad-
vanced step every year in military
aeronautics until it shall be as well
equipped for an air flight as any other
nation.
MO AERONEF MONOPOLY,