The Washington herald., 1910-10-13

As the prince OF good fellows, and not
as a prince among the airrnen, Claude
Grahame-White was the guest Of thss
National Press Club last evening Il
was. in an informal way. his w-Ieome
to WashingtOn-and a right royal wei
come It was.
His first ay in the Capital was indeed
brilliant He made splendid trial fight
IN bis Rleriot monoplane at Benning in
the afternoon, and at last evenings re-
ception Clifford b Harmon, chief Of
American ayiators, paid him a richly de-
served compliment IN calling him "the
greatest aeroplanist who has yet flown
above American soil"
With characteristic modesty. and a
charming British dimdence. he gave one
OF those heart 10 heart" talks for which
the National Press Club IS famous. He
expressed appreciation for the warmth OF
the reception he has received IN the
United States. he told OF the hazards OF
the air. and Of his ambitious plans for
the future
Aero Reserves the Topic.
The event which was styled aviation
night at the club, under the supervision
OF J. Lynn Yeagle, and with Capt Charles
J. Fox as master Of ceremonies, was dis
tiHguished by discussion OF the recently
organized American Aeronautical Re-
serve. which viii DEF I'd the United states
in aerial warfare Commodore John
Barry Ryan. Clifford 3. Harmon. chief
Of stan. and Gen. Nelson A Miles gave
10 this feature of the evenings pro-
gramnle an Official and an authoritative
tone.
There are about 3500 members OF ths
reserve now" sai9 Mr. Harsson. "and
so0eo9 worth OF aeroplanes at Cur dis
posaL We have a new club house in
Fifth avenue, New York. Inside Of a
year I believe We viii have nearly 5000
600 worth OF aeroplanes owned by mem
bers, and men capable OF operating them.
That viii De a fair start toward & fer
ml5able air fleet"
Gen. Miles Praises Work.
Gen. Miles declared he thought the avl-
ators were doing the greatest work man
had yet accomplished. They had con-
quered an entirely new element and dons
work which had hitherto only been
dreamaa OF. He said one DTeadn0ught OF
The British navy costs as much as 200
aeroplaues. which could carry tons OF
high explosives. That aviation would
revolutionize warfare IS certain, he said.
when you think OF firing at an aero
plane" continued Gen. Miles, you must
consider the chances Of the bomb missing
its target and falling 70 earth again. IN
that case II may wreak great destruc-
ti0n among your own forces. That is the
point I wish 10 make.
Great credit Is due these men who ara
giving their time and their money so gen
erously to the aerial defense OF their
country. There are no words Of praise
too high for them The time has come
when the army and the navy must recog-
nize the aeroplane and these men ara
now doing a splendid work IN developing
II as a means Of defense
Ryan Explains Reserves.
Commodore John Barry Ryan, whose
wealth and genius for organization have
made the AeronauucaI Reserve a great
national body within a month of its in
ception, told OF the many innovations the
reserve has projected, such as the rules
OF the road, range finders for aero
planists, and an aerouau-cal compass.
1T is our plan TO have member OF
this reserve bear the same relation 10
the American navy as the captain OF the
Mauretania does 70 the royal British
navy" he said. We are aiming 10 keep
abreast Of Europe in this matter. The
French navy has already ordered seventy
aeroplaEes. Within the past few hours
Mr. Grahame-White has started plans for
a British aeroauucaI reserve, so il IS easy