The Washington herald., 1909-07-26

In the midst OF all the eclat attaching
10 NJ Bleriot's successful flight across
the English Channel al dawn yesterday.
Wilbur Wright. the conservative. takes a
radical view OF the significance OF the
achievement
He predicts It viii cause a pronounced
feeling OF uneasiness in British military
and political circles by demonstrating
that a new power has arisen TO eliminate
the space between England and the Euro
pean Continent.
And this power" said Wilbur last
night TO a representative Of The Wash
ington Herald, rs one against which the
British navy will not avail
England has always rested more or
less secure IN the knowledge that she is
separated from the Continent by twenty
miles OF water. That fact has been one
Of the important items in her scheme OF
defense. Bleriot's flight Is a direct at
tack on that vital item.
Importance OF Feat.
The importance Of the feat does not lie
in its difficulty In my opinion the
English Channel Is easier TO cross than
an equivalent length OF dry land. But
as an eye opener IN the relation be-
tween England and the nations on the
Continent the flight is OF great signif-
cance."
Regarding the scientific value Of Bleri-
OTIS achievement. Orville and Wilbur
Wright agreed that while the flight was
an excellent one, IL did not come up 10
other performances OF aeroplanes on land.
As Orville put Ii:
The air conditions above the waters
OF the English Channel are exceptionally
good for flying. The currents in the at
mosphere due to irregularities OF to-
pography do not exist. The flight IS re-
markabie chiefly from the human inter
est standpoint. due TO the danger con-
nected with II, the spectacular features
Of II. and the fact that It IS something
new"
Wilbur was asked II he considered the
success Of the fight Of Bleriot an accl-
dent
NO" he replied. ION the contrary. OF
Ril the men who have been planning the
attempt Bleriot is the logical one to sue
ceed. He is reckless without fear. and
at the same time has an experience in
aeronauucs OF seven or eight years 20
back him up. He has had more narrow
escapes than any other man IN this line
OF work. How he has come through with
his life is hard 20 understand. But. all
things considered, II was very natural
That Bleriot should try to cross the Chan
mel and IL was also very natural that he
should come down on the other side"
The discussion turned 10 the probable
methods Of using aeroplanes and dirigibles
IN war
Differs with writers
L 90 not agree with the magazine
stories in which the prediction IS made
that the dirigibles and the heavier-than-
air machine will do away with armies"
said Wilbur. In my opinion. the fight
ing Of the future Will continue 70 be done
by men down on the ground. The flying
devices will. however. be widely and
efficiently used as adtuncts. 1t is also
said that Count Zeppelin intends 10 in
crease the size OF his dirigible even be-
yond the point it has already reached"
Here Wilbur grlnned
II that is DONE" he continued, 1T will
mean the doubling Of the size OF the Ger
man army. because 1t takes nearly the
whole army now to hold the balloon down
when II IS inflated with gas"
The feat OF Bleriot. in crossing the
English Channel from Calais to Dover.
thereby winning the prize OF 5000 offered
by an English newspaper, IS the subject
Of widespread comment
The Wright brothers have made much
longer flights. but this IS the first time
in history an aeroplanist crossed a large
body or water or started from a given
point and reached another specified point.
The more enthusiastic Of the commen-
tators can already see in the not distant
future fleets of aeroplanes regularly
crossing the Channel carrying passengers
and thus doing away with the generally
rough sea passage. but. OF course, IL Is
well understood that this win not occur
Tor many years. II ever-that is, with the
present type Of aerOplanes.
Aviator BIeriOt's Hobby.
Bleriot Is thirty-seven years old and IS
a well-known inventor He was q nuniI
at the Central School OF Engineering IN
Paris. one OF the foremost technical
training colleges OF France. Although he
Is not dependent upon engineering and
aviation for a livelihood. he has made
invention and aviation hobbies for years.
He came into prominence in 1886. as the
inventor Of one OF the first practical
acetylene gas lamps. and a short time
later he invented the well-known Bleriot
motor searchlight. Then he commenced
making aeroplanes and completed his
first full-slzed model in 1900
For a long time this machine was sus-
pended from the roof OF his Iamp fac
tory. He sold his country seat near
Orleans IN order 10 live near Paris and
his factory During the last nine years
he spent about $4,000 in experiments
with aeroplanes. and his factory in Paris
was the first OF its kind IN France.
Believes I'm MonopIune.
He always expressed the opinion that |
a monoplane was far more reliable than
a biDlene. and to demonstrate this last