The Washington herald., 1908-08-20
The living Army.


II has taken the United states military
authorities some time longer than it did
the Authorities Of England, France. and
Germany TO become convinced that ex-
perimentation IN navigating the air was
bound 10 become a military necessity.
But now that we have taken hold. we
have made a good start and there is
every indication that our progress may
be so rapid that before the science OF
1 aeronautics has become reduced 70 real
/ Ipracticability. We may be, at least abreast
+ OF the other nations
Il was undoubtedly the part Of wisdom
Of the United States government to pur-
chase the dirigible balloon Of Capt. Bald
win, though It cannot be said that the
tests required by our military authori-
ties before accepting the machine were
either very rigid or severe. They did
not. for instance. come within hailing
distance OF the requirements made by
the Germans and the dirigible balloons
Of Great Britain and France have all
Of them accomplished more than was re-
quired OF the Baldwin airship.
But the interest Of the military author
tiles Of all the powers will probably be
directed. within the next few DAYS. 10 Fort
AIyer, where the inventor. OvHe Wright.
is 10 test his aeroplane in an effort to
win a prize Of S25ooo offered by the gov
eminent Il is the belief OF all who have
considered the military uses Of flight
through the air that +k4- real hope Of the
satisfactory solution Of the problem is
10 come through the heavier-thaa-air ma
chine Santos Dumont made as great prog
ress as any man had made in a dirigible
balloon. and his experience taught him
that what he had accomplished marked
about the limit OF usefulness in that d.
recti0n-
The Wright brothers have not been
anxious TO make public tests Of what
they are able TO do with The aeroplane OF
their Own invention. but while Wilbur
Wright IS giving public exhibitions for
governmental purposes at Le Mans.
France. where he has attained g. IS re-
ported. a speed In THE air OF sixty miles
an hour his brother. OrvUIs W-irrt
VIII be az Fort 8Iyer with a machine OF
similar construction. which II IS l7ona5
the United States military a-tho-itfas
VIII adopt. Tie tests 10 be applied TO the
Wright aeroplane are much n,o-e severe
than those required OF Capt Baldw.1-s 4
sas5ag flyer He must. il Is true. STAY
IN the ai- only Cze hour. as opposed TO /
The tTo hours required Of Capt. Bald 4
ain. but while many dlrigibiss before
have far outstayed this time
n The air. no aereplane. 50 far as. known.
has ever stayed aIoft one hour AZ q. time
n France. where interest IN aerial navt-
cation IS much farther advanced than
elsewhere they have expressed their be-
ief that the Wright form Of ae-oplsnes-
.ruly al airship and not a balloons
He superior Of any heavier-thaa-ai- ma
,hine ever before tried. II has demon
.1rated great speed; IL has shown thar II
an be thoroughly controlled both with
nd against the wind. and the French
'elieve that Wright holds all existing air
light records al his disposal when he tz /.
eady.
The experiments at Fort 1Iye-. then. will
.e OF vast Importance 10 our govern
mental authorities. for they may he ]
ake7-waatever their result may be-to !
epresent the latest word as TO the cana
ii'ies OF the true airshlp. should these
MEASURE Up = the enthusiastic reports OF
lights IN the past. and should the tests I
e so successful as 20 allow the govern
le1t 70 acquire the wrsghts' machine
may have vital and far-reaching e.
ect on military and naval problems TIA.
re awaiting a solution. Is