The Washington times., 1908-08-06
Inventors Hope Germany'S
Supremacy Will Force Con
gress to Spend Money.
ADVANTAGE IN WAR
is PRINCIPAL AIM
Zeppelin Ship Shows Practicability
of Long Flights-Baldwin Bal
3 loon Gets Share of Praise.

The modest achievements Of the Bald
win airship and of other American ex-
periments in aeronauucs, as compared
10 the great voyage OF the Inflated Yep
peltn airship, constitute no discourage
ment to the people who are engineering
the air flights In this country.
On the other hand, the Signal Corps
officials are rather pleased that the
performance OF the Baldwin ship
should have synchronized with that OF
Zeppelin. and been decidedly over
Swallowed by that of the German count.
Explanation OF this is 10 be found in
the fact that the clever managers Of
the aerial navigation propaganda in this
country are quite willing that this coun-
try's hopeless inferiority in this line
of development should be understood.
What is wanted is 10 impress Congress
with the fact that Germany and France
are far ahead of as in such work, ard
that unless the American Government
provides money to carry on these eX-
periments, those and other countries
wiz presently have a tremendous ad-
vantage over tire United States.
Value in War.
gence work of the army recognize that
knowledge Of air navigation. and equip
ment for carrying it on represent@arf
lnestimabIe advantage in military oper-
atoms. The country which Is prepared
TO make the utmost use Of this arm or
the service viii be the winner, they say,
in the next great war. Japan won
against Russia because her intelligence
work was superior. But airship intelii-
Eence work was not then dreamed OF.
The International agreement against
dropping explosives from balloons ex-
pired while the Manchurian war was IN
progress. That represented the best
conception, even at that recent date, Of
the employment Of air vehicles in war.
Today. it is not the possibility OF at
tack from the upper air, but Of getting
information, that makes air navigation
significant as an aspect Of future MILL
tary tactics.
It Il Recognized here that rivalry be-
tween Germany and France really mas
been responsible for the sudden develop
Tnent of the possibilities Of air naviga-
tion in military operations. Those Two
great nations. watching each other con-
Stdntly across the International bOun-
Diary line. each jealous and suspicious,
the other may gain, have strained every
nerve 70 maintain the equilibrium.
Spent Money Literally.
They have been willing to spend their
money. to encourage inventive geniuses.
to do everything possible 10 gain step
IN the struggle for leadership. The
voyage of the Zeppelin airship is looked
upon as marking an epoch. II has prov
90 certain possibilities.
1t is pointed out that the destruction
OF the Zeppelin craft by a thunderstorm
IS certain not to arrest progress. More
likely, It VIII. by its very startling and
spectacular circumstances, ultimately
result i'll strengthening determination TO
90 yet farther. What has been proved
by the work OF Zeppelin thus Ear. II
IS pointed out, Is this:
A great steamship Of the air, carry
ing q considerable company Of people,
can fly at great speed and with ap-
parent security for hundreds of miles
1t can keep in flight for many hours
in war. IL could take a staff Of experts
In geography and topography into an
enemy country, and easily make a
complete investigation of a whole region
In when hostlities were IN progress.
As Spy on Enemy.
Equipped with a wireless apparatus,
It could keep The forces Of its nation
carefully informed as TO conditions in
the hostile camp. True. 1t would be LA
Bile to be brought down or disabled by
a lucky shot: but this would be one Of
the chances Of war, in which men have
even been known 10 be killed. The dan
ger of II would nOwise deter ami tious
spirits from embarking Tor the voyage
Of investigation and accommodating.
More than this, a great ship OF the
Zeppelin type, in case of a conceivable
war between Germany and France,
could start its voyage at night, and be
we'll into the enemys country at day
break Hours might be devoJeo to
careful observation and the sending On
wireless reports. from a high altitude
before the ship Could be wrecked, wing
ed, or perhaps even discovered Tne
Information perhaps would be of the
most crucial Importance, compared 10
which the fate of the ship and its people
would be utterly incidental.
The American military experts Lei
fectly understand that this is the real
significance of the Zeppelin voyage.
They have no doubt that Germany Will
60 right ahead with the development Of
this type Of air vessel, and are anxious
that the United States shall not long
lac nah