Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-25
A|RSH|PS IN EUROPE
Chief Signal Officer Returns
From Abroad.
TALKS ABOUT FLIGHTS
Wants Uncle Sam to Work on Fly
ing Problem.
STATES BEHIND IN DIRIGIBLEs
Gen. Allen Says Old Country Has
Nothing Practical to Compete
With the Wright Aeroplane.

Gen. James Allen, chief signal officer Of
the army, has just returned from two
month stay in Europe. He was present
at the international balloon race and in
spected all the most recent apparatus for
aerial flight abroad. AS result he wants
the United States to work on the flying
problem. He says that Europe so far
is ahead of US in everything except
the heavier-than-air machines. They
have nothing practical to compete with
the Wright aeroplane. and If the claims
of Herring for his machine are substanti-
ated they will be still farther in the rear.
But in the line of drigibles they have
the United States beaten about five years,
Gen. Allen says that he saw the Parse.
val just after she had made her eleven
hour flight. Beside ner the Baldwin
dirigible, with which the Signal Corps has
been experimenting, is about as a house
cat to a Bengal tiger. The Parsevai
holds about 10000 feet of gas and is
driven by 100 horsepower engine. One
of the things that struck him about Eu-
ropean dirigible construction, said Gen.
Allen was the almost entire disregard oil
weight.
The Parseval engine is practically
100 horsepower automobile engine, and
the framework and the rest of the Struc-
ture is almost as heavy as though she
were designed to run on the ground in
stead of in the air.
Heavy Rudder for Airship.
In fact. he said. he was in one factory
where they were building the rudder fol-
a big airship that he said looked almost
as heavy as though it were intended for
steamboat. He asked why they made II
so heavy, and the manufacturer said in.
;,,u Cd
thing substantial.
Gen. Allen says that there has been
no specific amount decided on to ask
Congress for next year. but he thinks
there will be enough interest in the sub.
ject of flight to warrant Congress In DO.
ing something substantial in the way oil
appropriations.
The War Department has made a start
and has shown that all We need Is money
to work with The designers are capa.
BILE and the officers enthusiastic. and the
shops and workmen in this country Just
as good as any in the world. So there
is nothing needed but practice to put
this country on an even footing with Eu-
rope in the way of dirigibles.
AS to the Notwithstanding machines
Gen. Allen said he saw nothing superior
or even as good as the aeroplane they
have been experimenting with at Fort
Myer. All of the Frenchmen depend on
balancing for their lateral control. and
none of them has even gone so Tar az
the Wrights in their designs
French Enthused Over Wright.
He did not see Wilbur Wright while
he was in France, there being a delay
before the ambassador on the day OF
Wright's long flight that prevented Gen
Allen getting out to the grounds. But ht
said that Frenchmen generally were en-.
thusiastic in praise of the American
ayiator's work
Touching the wireless work for which
the Signal Corps is now preparing al
Fort Myer, Gen. Allen said he saw Q
number of small things abroad. all OF
which are good, and will help in thia
line of work Generally speaking. the
signal Corps is well equipped for the
experiments already.
The balloon tent that will be used ts
house the dirigible is already up. and II
is thought that the imitation of the bal.
loon will begin Monday AS soon as She
is filled flights will be made with the
wireless apparatus on board. 1t Is
thought that there will be little difficulty
in sending and receiving at distance o.
fifteen miles.