New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-12-01

CATION. by A. Lawrence Rotch, 5. b.,
A ~. Illustrated. l2mo, pp. X, lS2.
Moflat, Yard a Co.
Whether serial navigation has yet
reached 2 stage Of development which
sustihes the title given 10 both OF these
hooks may be questioned. perhaps. but it
has certainly made such progress in the
last few years as 10 excite the liveliest
popular interest. Besides. the recent
Rapid multiplication OF new airships calls
Tor Trustworthy descriptions Of their
Distinguishing features. NJ. Berget
meets this need I'm an exceedingly salts
factory manner. lie describes infinitely
and in thoroughly intelligible language
the distinguishing traits Of the principal
C.Iigible balloons and 3erOplanes. Of
which the world has this far had only
Iragmcntary accounts. lie discusses
both The design ans materials Of which
they are made. and tells how they differ
IN facility OF control. ability TO keep right
side up, speed and other qualities lie
makes frank hut Just comparisons be-
tween them. and enables his readers 10
see both their defects and merits. He
points out. Tor instance. that owing TO
lie bu0yaucy II derives from imitation
with gas the dirgible balloon is suited
20 carry heavier loads than the aero
Plane. but is not. and probably never
VIA be-, SO fast How complete NJ Ber-
sets record is VIII be appreciated when
che knows that Il includes an allusion
- N-Bleriot's flight across the English
channel only a few weeks ago.
AR. Rotch. though somewhat less vo-
luminous than NJ Berset, makes excep-
tionally good use Of his narrower space
IN the chapters devoted 20 the two classes
II self-propslled airshirs. He traces the
history ~ their development fully and
C. ascientiously. He broadens the scope
a. his work sufficiently TO include an in
structive chapter regarding the ocean
81 air" in which navigation. IN the true
sense az the term. is now feasible. lie
furnishes reformation about tempera-
lures and winds which possess 4 prac-
;lcal value for the aeronaut. and which
De is himself especially qualified 10 sup
piy. ar. Eotch has for years engaged
iu work with kites and sounding bal
Rooms" which has added materially 20
the store 81 previously existing llnowl-
,6 g. about Tie atmosphere. lie also in
dioates what has been accomplished 10y
balloons Which merely drift in air cur
r-ats and which even yet enjoy a singu-
lsr popularity.
N Hsr-ct and Nr. Rotch agree in
thinking tlat neither the diriEible bal
soon nor The aeroplane has Yet attained
perfection. For both the use OF separate
motors FOR the screws and higher speed
D. demanded. For balloons better fab
ric is necessary. SO that there may be no
leakage of the gas that gives them
bloyancy. Some aeroplanes yet lack
automatic means Of preserving equi-
llrium, and an Improvement in the
method OF launching is recommended in
order 10 give thom their largest indie
pondence. AS yet the heavier than-air
machine is unable 20 hover over a par
ticular spot. II lifcng screw should
Ice added, not only would such an air
ship be able 10 pause FOR any length Of
zine hat il would be enabled 10 rise al
most vertically from the ground.
IN considering the service 70 be per-
formed with airships. NJ Berget and Mr.
Ro-ch lay the chief emphasis on the ex-
Iioration II comparatively inaccessible
regions and scouting in war. The posi-
bnity of more aggressive military opera
tons IS discussed 10y both writer's, but
neither az them is confident that aerial
vehicles can be SO used as TO destroy
ships OF armies or cities. The invention
a. guns which can be fired upward al
them renders their destructive powers ex-
cccdlnEly doubtful at present. NJ Berget
Is optimistic enough TO believe that the
passion for speed VIII lead TO the pur-
chase of aeroplanos when they are able
10 move more rapidly than automobiles,
snd is sanguine enough TO think that a
velocity Of 80 miles an hour is not I'M
stialcahle' AS only persons Of large
means can indulge such a taste. the
] trcnch-nan does not expect 10 see flying
machines carry any considerable frac-
tion OF tho population. That mails may
be So Transported, he docs not consider
improbable. but lie is not sanguine
enough 20 look Cor The carrying Of mer-
chandise by the aerial highway.
4 good deal OF the credit for suggest
Ing the value Of balloon which could
Be made 10 move horizontally belongs TO
French military officer, General Meus-
n'er who lived much more than a CEN
fury ago. He made drawings 10 illus
trate his idea and devised propeller
blades Tor the service proposed. In 1852
Henry Ginard made the first practical
application Of the suggestion using a
ttoam engine 10 rotate his screws. In
1888 Tissandier employed an electric
storage battery, and his example was
followed year late- by K-ebs ana Re-
narG Franch army officers. Each OF
these methods Of generating power was
unsatisfactory. Hence nothing Ike the
success w.th tho dirigi5le balloon was at
tained until the cas0lene motor, which
had been adapted 20 the work Of driving
hOrscless carriages, was tried.
Santos-DUmont, IN 1900. was able 10
get an engine OF this kind which was
light enough 10 perform the work OF
propulsion without Unduly burdening his
sirship. That achievement was a turn
Ing poiat in aeronautic history. The
young brazilian. who had received the
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