The Washington herald., 1909-05-30

NNA --HaAlSf h-A II NO-Al ~NH ---@ GOA-AN
broadcast
This was the real reason for the stub
born secrecy Of the Wrights Their re-
fussl 70 communicate caused the break
with the French syndicate. since the syn
dicate could not see the point OF paying
for goods unexamined. The deadlock was
just as firm against the inventors. They
on their side could not be expected, 10 re-
veal secrets that were worthless f5r sale
the moment they were known.
When the news came ouc that the
Wrights were not 70 sell 10 the French
syndicate. after all. there was q general
turn or sentiment against them Their
fights were discredlted That was easy.
seeing that an Official record OF the fights
had ever been taken. and that the COM
mon knowledge depended On unlikely
sounding accounts from ignorant bystand-
ers- II the machine was what IL vas said
70 be. why had the purchasers forfeit
ed Il?
The aero Club OF New York correspond
ed with the Wrights. and 10 It they made
a report OF their work. seeking 20 Justify
themselves as much as possible without
giving their secret away. This report
was published in January. 1907. nearly d
year after the breaking OF OF the French
negotiations In the meantime the
Wrights had been inactive. obliged 70 sit
stiIl in delay and disappointment and
await their opportunity. The report TO
the Aero Club again turned popular opin-
Ion IN their favor. It's matter OF fact
tone and its CircUmsjantial details of
fights were inspirers Of confidence.
German War Office Inquiries.
The report seems to have put the Ger
man war Office into motion. II is rather
a tentale point against the reputation Of
the much--omanced secret service OF the
European military nations that the Ger
mans had not been heard from BY the
Wrights before this, and that II needed
Sunday supplements 10 wake up the Eu-
rOpean military. For eighteen months IL
had been a matter Of general report that
the Dayton inventors were making half
hour flights.
Negotiations with Germany began n
May, 1907. The Wrights were TOW az the
end OF their own resources. They had 20
draw upon the savings OF their sister,
Miss Katherine Wright. 10 meet the ex-
penses OF laying their proposition before
the German authorities Again they were
in for disappointment After Witnessing
flights the Germans gave ID the oppor-
tunity Of a generation. Thei- verdict
was brief
"FOr AcrObats, Not sOIdiers.y
The machine" said the German report. I
is IT for acrobats. not for soldiers" I
That was costly epigram. Germany is
now trying 10 buy its share in the ma
chine. when It could have had the whole
secret two years ago.
In the meantime the French aeronaut- I
lists were very close at the Wrights' heels. /
Santos Dumont had flown some months /
before. and now Farman came out and
surpassed him in what was an Undoubted /
fight Nothing, perhaps. 20 compare to (
the WTights best performances, yet
enough 10 wOrry them. for Il showed that
others were close on their track. The
brothers had kept the utmost possible I
secrecy, yet they could not be sure how
far their ideas had been observed and 4
Initiated. To make matters worse. they 4
were In great need Of funds and could co 4
absolutely nothing further without mon 4
-. The success OF the French inventors /
had made 1t doubly difficult too, for them 4
10 market their own machine with rivals 4
IN the field Altogether, at the beginning 4
d 1905 the Wrights' fortunes were at 4
their worst i looked as II they might be 4
forced 10 step out OF the struggle and 90 4
back 20 working IN their machine shop. 1
and worse, as II others might supplant I
.hem with later machines
WTfghtU Fortunes Turn Better.
AT this point Charles r Flint. the ex-
porter, stepped in. He made a proposi-
ion 10 the wrights which. if It did not
secure them the whole OF the PROFITS OF
their invention, as they had originally
hoped. brought them good chance Of 4
profit Mr.. Flint, whnSe speciality, as II i
night be puJ, was dealing in the miscel
aneous, was a man above other men
qualified 10 see the value OF the Wright
machine as a novel and out Of the way
commodity. He undertook 20 act as their
Oacker. His proposition. new one 10
them. was this:
The idea Of keeping the flyer a military
secret was 10 be given Up. Instead the 4
machine was 10 be patented IN every
manufacturing country Of the globe. Mr..
Flint's lawyers and agents wEuld attend
% that II was an undertaking beyond
he Wrights' own modest financial pow
srs. The Flint interests were 10 attend
10 the advertising and the selling OF the
lyers. The Wrights were 70 demonstrate
he flyers and superintend their manu-
,acture. Tie terms offered were such as
he inventors we're glad 10 accept
While the patents were stiIl pending the
Nrights in the spring Of 1865 began oper-
ATOMS. The old policy Of secrecy was
,ast of at last. a new flyer was taken
;ewn TO Manteo. on the North Carolina
'oast, and public fights were made. The
machine made what were for the Wrights
;ssy flights Of a dozen miles or SO The
lights were freely photographed and
Clly reported They were described all
'ver the world.
ManteO Flights a Sensation.
The result was an enormous sensation.
The surprise had all the violence gath
red IN the long preceding suspense. Won
Ter and disbelief alternating for many
months previous only added to the worId's
.stonishment when the flying Americans
we're found actually TO surpass all expec-
stions. The effect on the various gov
rnments was Just as electrical. The
Yrights were sought for by several. In
ortunately there were but two Wright
'rothers. and they could fy in but two
llsces at once America and France were
avored first. Wilbur was sent 10 fly in
france and Orville remained here 10 fly
n government tests arranged at Fort
Iyer
The events OF last summer are too we'll
emembered 70 be recited again. The