The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-06-04
The Growing Importance Of Mill
tary AeronautiCs.

IdTN htIohauthes
The plan attributed to the new Secre-
tary of War, Mr.. DICKINSON. of estab-
fishing on the Atlantic coast from Maine
to Florida a dirigible airship service,
including bases or stations $50 miles
apart, is so elaborate and ambitious that
knowing how little the Signal Corps has
been able to do in the way of military
a%eronautics, and now sceptical and in
different Congress is when asked for an
adequate appropriation, we cannot re-
strain a smile at the sudden enthusi-
asm OF the War Department.
The Germans might talk as grandilo-
auently of an a~eronautical system OF
defence and reconnaissance, for they
possess the Zeppelin, Parseval and
Gross dirigibles and have conducted
experiments on a large and successful
scale, sparing no expense. Our War
Department has no money to spend, no
equipment to speak Of, and the expert
ence of the Signal Corps in aeronautics
is very limited. 1t is not the fault OF
the Department, but it's misfortune. 1t
possesses Captain THOMAS BALpwIN's
Dirigible No. /, which on it's official
trial flew for two hours and scored
tventy-seven miles in that time. A
good beginning has therefore been
made by the Signal Corps, but with due
regard for Lieutenant LAHM's energy
and optimism we think that he was
rather o%verstating the case when he
said recently: with the experience
gained from this small airship the
Signal Corps is now in a position to pro-
coed with the construction of a larger
and more powerful one, capable of rem
dering valuable service in case OF a
The truth is that the aeronautical ac-
complishnents of the corps are as yet
meagr and it has not mastered the
fundamentals Of the new locomotion.
1t could not be otherwise when Congress
has denied the corps money for its
experiments and dashed its enthusi-
asm with stolid indifference. We shall
here quote a significant paragraph
from the latest report of the Secretary
of War:
During the past year the Signal Corps ha.
purchased under contract after satisfactory tests
a small dirigible balloon capable of carrying TWO
persons and having a speed Of twenty miles al
hour. and this machine Is at present being used
for the training OF ofncers and men. AS a result
OF efforts 10 secure a heavier than air nying ma
chine twenty four bids were received and con
tracts were awarded to A. n. HERRING OF New
York city and the WRIGHT brothers OF Dayton
Ohio The Herring machine Is not yet ready fol
testing. and although the preliminary tests o.
the WRIGHT brothers aeropiane at Fort Myer
Virginia, have publicly demonstrated the pracu
cabrity OF mechanical flight. the contract witt
them has not yet been completely closed"
Doubtless the Wright aeroplane would
have been secured but for the accident
that cost Lieutenant THOMAS f. SELF.
RIDGE his life. 1t was d~eplorable, but
why should the Government have hest
tated to acquire an aeroplane that had
already proved that aerial flight was
practicable? The official answer is that
MI. ORyILLE WRIGHT, who was himsel!
injured at the time, had not satisfied the
tests demanded Of his aeroplane, ano
having no %autocratic powers the Wal
Department could not disregard the
terms of the contract and accept the
invention on its general merits.
In the eyes of the world as the country
that has made the greatest progress
with heavier than air flying machines
the United States is very backward in
availing itself of the genius of its inven.
tors. In the operation of aeroplanes
the Signal Corps of the army should be
already proficient, and if proper en-.
enlargement had been given to expert
mentors it should certainly be abreast
of the British and French if not the
German military authorities in handling
the large disappearing diriGibles. The
whole subject is of such importance
TO theoretical warfare that before the
session of Congress in December Secre.
tary DICKINSON should discuss it thor,
oughly in his annual report and urge
that Congress make a liberal appro.
priation for aeronautical equipment anc
training There is no longer reason tc
doubt that the army deficient in air,
ships would be at q terrible disadvan.
tage in a campaign.
The Sugar Of Our Youth.