The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-04-05

''The nation that controls the air."
says Professor Alexander Graham
Bell. will be the foremost nation Of
the world" That is safe statement
to make. because there is not the most
remote possibility that any nation win
ever control the air. II the time comes
when any citizen of any nation can
control any portion Of the air 1t will
mark a great advance in human
achievement.
The papers few days ago contained
thrilling accounts OF the disaster to
Count Zeppelin's airship in Germany.
As is generally known. Zeppelin is
one of the most expert and experienced
aeronauts in the world. He has
studied the science and experimental
with persistence and intelligence. and
4 perhaps is as we'll calculated TO
achieve srccess as any man living.
The machine In which he assembled on
this latest venture was doubtless as
well constructed. equipped and man
aged as any that has ever yentured
into the air. yet 1T come to grief, just
as so many others have done.
| What happened to zeppelin's
machine is just what has happened to
many others, and just what is liable
TO happen to any that may attempt
flying in future. We have no doubt
that he had made every provision to
ensure success. and had provided every
safeguard and taken every precaution
that human wisdom could suggest. He
could see no danger to himself and
the others who assembled with him,
and no Doubt they all anticipated a
pleasant voyage. but the unexpected
happened, as 1t so frequently does in
such cases. Violent winds were en-
conntered. their machine was at the
/ mercy of the storm and for time
the lives of the whole party were In
the most iminent danger. That they
finally succeeded In landing safely
might fairly be called providentiai
occurrence. for nothing that any Of
them could do could avail against the
contrary and violent winds.
We repeat that what happened In
/ this case may happen in any other.
| It was a repetition of what has oc-
cured in many cases. 1t is what may
be repeated at any time until some
new method of constructing and
operating flying machines shall be
discovered. That may come in the
future, but we confess that we are not
able to see how it is to be brought
about. To construct a machine that
will sail through the air as desired
and that win not be affected by the
winds is a problem that may be solved.
but we cannot see how it is to be
done.
How foolish, in view of these facts
and difficulties, It seems for any one
to talk about nation controlling the
air. And as to that matter It is hard
to understand what Professor Bell
means by "the nation that controls the
air." II he merely means that some
country will take charge of the atmos-
phere with airships and control it the
intimation is absurd. for that would
be impossible. No nation is power
full enough, or has vessels enough to
control the Pacific ocean. for example.
and when 1t comes to patrolling and
! ali oh "a
earth the possibility is infinitely less.
1t would be plainly so impossible for
the air to come under the domination
of any one nation that 1t would be
useless to discuss 1t.
On the other hand, II the eminent
Englishman means to intimate that
some one nation of the earth will be
able to create and maintain a
monopoly of successful flying machines
he is talking what we would call nom
sense IL uttered by the average man.
The time has passed. if it ever exist
ed. when a great invention or dis
covery could be locked up and kept
secret from the world. If Professor
Bell himself should succeed in con-
structing an absolutely successful
flyer he certainly does not suppose
that he could keep 1t for himself and
for England. All great inventions
soon become world property, just as
steam and electric power did. One
nation might as we'll try to control
steam navigation, or the telegraph or
telephone systems of the world. Such
things are the common property of all
civilized nations, and there is no
human power that can change it.
MOBILES UNDERTAKING..
The nronosed duo-centenary celehra -