Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-05
WAR GOING OUT OF DATE
MOdern Inventions Making ~ Too
Terrible for Nations TO
Risk.

II is only a few years ago since those
who were devoting their strenuous atten-
ton to solving, once and for all, the con-
quest OF the air. we're regarded somewhat
In the light Of harmless lunatics,'
But within the past IS months such inn
portant discoveries have been made in the
art Of flying that there Is now no manner
Of doubt at all that, before very long, aerial
flight over both long and short distances
will be Of the most common occurrence.
There are scientists. however. who con-
slider that the aeroplane will never be OF
much practical use. except for sporting and
adventurous purposes, but such is not my
-opinion-indeed, l hold totally opposite
views.
The cleverest ~draughtsmen and scientists
in the world are now ~dev0ting their atten-
ton TO the invention OF a machine that
will be able to do eighty miles an hour-at
this high speed the machine could be re-
duced in size, and as such machines are
now possible, and as there are men in ex-
istence who can make them, I am strongly
OF the opinion that, within the next twelve
months, we shall rave them.
In fact you will see that am correct in
predicting that this year we shall nave a
machine larger than that OF the wrights.
TIL new ~aeDpIane, IN fact, will travel
faster than that Of the Wright machine,
It will have a perfectly made motor Of from
eighty to 100 horsepower, II will be able
to carry 1000 pounds, 1t will be able to re-
main up for three hours at a time, and will
travel at the rate of quite fifty miles an
hour, while in power, It will cost no more
than two-thirds as much as a motor car.
What will be the effect of this discovery l.?
Well, in the first place, the effect on the
nations will be that war will be made so
terrible, % deadly, so ghastly in its results
that we shall lave no more war, for with
flying machines. no matter how great and
powerful your nation may be, II will always
he open to attack.
Thus, under cover of darkness and clouds,
an enemy will be able to destroy a city, no
matter how carefully it may be protected,
for attack from the abr will never be able
to be resisted.
True. in fact that While the enemy is de-
stroyins your cities, at the same time,
maybe, you are destroying his, is an I'M
argueable one, but it does not make any
country's position in any way pIeasanter
or more secure.
What about projectiles? Well, to all in
tents and purposes, they do not enter very
largely into the matter as, although pro-
tectiles may be fired by the hundred thou
sand, they are far more likely to do dam
age to themselves than to the enemy and
thus in ten years time. I have the great
est confidence in predicting thai the three
great European powers will be able to say,
beyond all manner OF doubt, There shall
be no more war
The flying machine. It must be under
stood, however, will never be able to carry
passengers and freight in large quantities.
for IL 10 essentially a military instrument.
though, to be sure. IL will very shortly be
largely used for sport and discovery while,
when the weather is bad, before long. you
VIII see that eross-channel mails will be
carried by ~aeroplane; an instrument which
by the by, will be of extraordinary value
as a rescuer of the shipwrecked mariner.
We must now prepare ourselves to rec
osnise that what electricity was TO the last
century aerial navigation will be to this.
And on that account l repeat again that,
In ten years time, there will be no war.
1t is not long to look forward to and
when war Is ended once and for ali per-
haps those who now read these lines will
recall my confident prophecy.-Maxim. in
Parsons Weekly.