The Washington herald., 1909-08-13
Await Meyers Consent to
Advertise for Bids.
THE WRIGHTS MAY RESPOND
Two Flying Machines WIZ Form
Nucleus of Aerial SGuad-EUpcrts
and New Department Expected 10
Receive Great Deal Of Attention.

L Secretary OF the Navy Meyer ap-
proves, and officers hope and think he
VIII, for, since seeing the Wright brothers
at work at Fort Myer, the head of the
/ department has been enthusiastic about
| flying machines. the Navy Department
viii shortly advertise for bids for two
aeroplanes. which Will form the nucleus
/ OF the navy's aerial squad.
The departments plans have gone no
further than TO frame specifications for
the two aeroplanes. but back Of it all
there is general plan. as yet not COM
pletely formulated, Of having an aerial
feet. with the possibility that in the
future every war ship shall be equipped
with an aeroplane.
The navy specifications for acropianes
VIII be more difficult TO fuldH than those
which the Wright brothers recently per-
formed for the War Department The
navy viii require an aeroplane which viii
rise from or land safely I'm the water
It will be required TO remain in the air
for four hours. carrying two passengers.
and have a speed Of forty miles an hour.
Europeans May Enter.
While these specifications. as compared
with past performances Of ac-opianes
abroad. seem difficult. experts Of the de-
partment feel they viii have responses
to the advertisement for bids. Some Of
the officials Of the Navy Department
talked the matter over with the Wright
brothers when the Dayton aviators were
az Fort Myer and they expressed conf
deace that they could meet the cOudi-
tions set forth. So Americas foremost
aviators will be in the neld and 1t will
not be surprising If there are not some
competitors from Europe
There viii be no price set by the Navy
Department. The specifications viii be
set forth in the advertisement ard the
aviators who have machines TO sell viii
make their bids 10 the Navy Department
The experts Of the department see n
wonderful future in the use of aeroplanes
in the navy. and It is a new department
Of naval warfare which viii henceforth
receive a great deal Of attention.
The two aeroplanos which the experts
now have in mind will be used for scout
ing purposes only. and there VIII be no
specification I'm the contract about car
rying guns or ammunition. That is Il
feature WHICH VIII ne worked out later.
The Navy Department people believe
that with an aeropane which can re-
main in the air for four hours and make
forty miles an hour they VIII have a
wonderfully efficient means Of scouting.
The time of four hours IS fixed because
that is the length Of a watch on ship
board. and is a unit OF time AT sea
With the airship going at the rate of
forty miles an hour a total distance OF
l60 miles could be. traversed. An air
ship would be particularly valuable in
scouting for submarines.
The plans Of the Navy Department now
are that the aeroplares should be carried
on scout cruisers. The officers Interested
have worked out a tentative plan of
erecting a covering for the machine on
the after-bridge. A shed-like structure
could be erected there which would pro-
tect the machine from the elements when
not in use When a flight is TO be made
this shed-like structure could be thrown
open With the cruiser going ahead. the
airship could be easily launched. Get
ting the aerial craft back aboard shin
presents more difficulties. and a feature
Of eeroplaning at sea which must be
worked out