New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-01-28
CONQUEST OF THE AIR
NEED OF VAR BALLOONS.
Tirid Picture of What an aerial
Fleet Could DO.

winthrop z. scarritt. former president OF the
Automobile Club OF America. and a member of
The Aero Club Of this city, delivered lecture on
"over the Playground Of History in a Balloon. e
,efore the Mems Club Of the North Baptist Church
a, East Orange few days ago.
IN the course Of his remarks, Mr.. Scarritt showed
that social and economic changes had been
wrought by the coming Of the automobile and
,-ophesied that still greater changes would be
made now that the conquest Of the air had been
accomplished He drew picture, fighting battles
IN the upper currents with aerial fleets and pointed
70 the need Of building balloons for use in time
Of
Mr. scarritt waxed bitter in speaking Of the
subcommittee on fortifcations Of the House of
REPRESENTATIVES. He said:
I notice by the press that the gentlemen COM
prfsing this committee have seen fit to cut out of
tie appropriation bill the $4,000 asked for to
build airships 10 he used by the government in
nsse Of war. This action shows these by states
men who nisrepresenr in Congress have no
adequate conception Of the imperative need Of
keeping War Department thoroughly abreast
with the other great powers OF the world in navi-
eating the air It has often been said that repub-
Hcs are ung-atefJl Morse walked the streets of
New York oenniless and all but starving. The
Wright brothers, whose fame will be sung in
far-eT generations long after the subcommittee
Notifications is forgotten, had to go to Europe
10 find the appreciation and capital necessary TO
EXPLOIT their airships-
The subcommittee on Notifications "a better
name would be the silly committee on fortihca-
tons cheerfully Endorsed the appropriation OF So
ea0o for battleship. and refused the pittance
necessary 10 build dirigible balloon that could
destroy the battieship in twenty minutes
Consistency is q Jewel not worn IN the small
hats Of the subcommittee on Notifications Let
your ina gination draw picture Of the next war.
Eostiities declared wireless message is re-
ce.ved in Washington demanding that $500 600 ooo
indemnify be paid at San Francisco will be
destroyed. Twentyfour hours notice is given. The
Indemnity is not paid. a second wireless comes
from the air. no one knows from what direc-
zion The enen1ys ultiratuu1 Is this: 'Twenty-four
hours notice is given 10 the inhabitants OF San
Francisco To move out the city. At the expira-
ton OF that time serial feet viii destroy the
city with dynamite
Thanks TO the subcommittee. we have power
70 cope with such an enemy. Most OF the inhab-
tants leave San Francisco The following midnight
q hundred ships OF the air rain dynamite bombs
On the helpless ciry, II is RACED TO the ground
Another message to Washington One billion
dollars indemnity is demanded. II not paid within
twenty-four hours, Seattle Tacoma. Los Angeles
and San Diego viii meet the fate OF San Francisco
The demand is granted and the second terrible
Judgment follows The demand is then made for
sn indemnity OF S5oo0ooo0 900 with threats that Chi
csro will be doomed otherwise. BY this time an
insane and panic stricken people will compel law
makers and the Executive to pay any sum
does this picture seem fantastic and overdrewnf
Il is not and stranger things have happened IN
The history OF civilization
would that there were some big men in Con-
eress who had the wisdom foresee the evil from
sfzr and provide It lest the awful day OF wrath
come upon US unawares
An automobile tour that is erousirg considera bic
interest abroad is being made by Lieutenant
Csraerz young German army officer. whose Cd
ect is 70 discover whether II IS possible 10 traHeI
across Africa in a motor car
f is almost seventeen months since he LEFT Oar
es-saiaam. the principal town In German East
Africa and from the latest report II Is believed
that he is now making his way across the kala-
be-f Desert Twelve months of the time have
been spent in unavoidable delays. such as bridge
building road making. motor repairs and frequent
running short Of petrol. fresh supplies having to
fe awaited He has beean fortunate with tires. his
first set having lasted 400 miles.
His tourney up last reports has furnished
rnanz thrilling experiences. When he had COW
cred 800 miles of his trip his chauffeur ran the car
into q river and the cylinders exploded New
cylinders had TO be for from Europe before he
eouId prooeed This misfortune was followed by
tie chauffeur being stricken with blackwater
fever.
Between Abercorn and Koronga Lieutenant
C;raetz came TO a river which It impossible to
Hatfirs he was compelled 10 make 600 miles OF
road through the bush. At Plea the petrol that
had been sent on in advance was found TO have
.ysporated and FIVE weeks were wasted while q
fresh supply was sent for from Fort Jameson
During this period Lieutenant Graetzs food con-
sisted Of such dainty morsels as cranes ana Irogs-
at Broken Hell there was months delay AS
a result Of the rain and heat. the WOOD Oh the
wheels had expanded and contracted, and the
spoke screws broke into the tires johannesburg
was reached on December Il