Evening star., 1909-05-16

raised and lowered. The machine which
the Wrights will bring 10 Fort Myer In
June will be substantially a duplication
of the one used by Orville last Septem-
ber with the addition of the new device
The motor used in that machine was
constructed by the Wright brothers and
was not of unusual lightness. although
speed of thirty-eight miles an hour was
attained
Military experts believe that the aero
plane for war purposes will be confined
largely To carrying dispatches and oh
serving the position OF the enemy. While
the development of the aeroplane may
eventually permit the carrying Of twice
or three times the weight which Wright
machine now carries. even the most san
suine aeroplanists do not claim that their
Weieht-carrying ability will ever become
a factor in warfare Tie Signal Corps
will give its attention principally to the
advantages of the aeroplane as "A means
of maintaining communication and for
signaling purposes.
The Artillery Corps is preparing to CO.
operate with the Signal Corps in lis ex-
periments at Fort Myer. \ special gun
is being built and will be tried at Sandy
Hook proving grounds. the object being
10 experiment with gun that can be
used 10 fire at objects in the air. such IS
aeroplanes and balloons. The Signal
Corps will probably supply one of its old
balloons for these experiments
Ii is possible that the Signal Corps and
the artillery branch of the army may
conduct experiments with the motor-ba
loon at Fort Hyer to determine the posi-
bilitieS of using il for purposes of at
tack. Nothing is known as to the ability
to launch projectile with any degree
of accuracy from a fast moving object.
The tests at Fort MNer may result in
the invention OF special attachment or
gun for launching explosive shells from
an airshp. Gen. Allen believes that great
havoc could he wrought by the use Of
Greek fire or other incendiary fluids, the
advantage Of these being the lighter
weight. \ drisible such as the army
motcr balloon could carry little weight
in the shape of heavy projectiles, but
with an airship of the size Of the Yep
pelin. several tons could be carried.
France leads the various nations in the
strength OF her aerial navy. With four
teen motor balloons and four more build
ing. the French army is well equipped
for an emergency. Ii has been evident
frcm the time of the earliest recognition
given the dirigible that France and Ger
many were distrustful of the progress
made by either. None of the French bal
looms are equal in size TO the Zeppelin.
but most OF them are capable of carry
ing six or more men. The French have
two types Of airships. the 'Patrie and the
Vile de Paris.
Russia has two motor balloons. having
recently purchased the Clement ayard,
a large dirigfble of French construction.
somewhat similar To the French airships.
n
italy also has two dirigibles. the latest
of which Is to make twenty-four hour
flight within A few days England has
one airship, little better than that OF the
United States. while Germany has six. in
addition to several owned by private in
stitutions Even Belgium has two motor
balloons, and Holland and Austria are
each having an airship constructed for
their armies.
The United States is today SO far behind
nj he
il is hardly possible that Congress will
fail at its next session to provide funds
for the construction of a dirigible of at
least three or four hundred thousand
cubic feet capacity, in addition to provid-
ing prizes for the encouragement of aero
nauts In every country of Europe a
national aerial league has been formed
TO cooperate with the government I'm the
est blishment of an aerial navy, but the
people of the, United States do not seem
to be alive TO the importance of military
aeronautics.
JEROME S. FANCIULLI.