Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-24
AEROPlANES NO USE
| IN WAR SAYS GRANT
May Be in Six Months if I'M
proved Type Should
Be Created.
WORLD PEACE FAR OFF;
TIME Is NOT YET RIPE
Higher Standard of Reasoning Must
Come First, He Thinks.
ECONOMY WILL BE FACTOR
Leaves Chicago for New York to
Command Department Of the
East-Interested in Coast and
Harbor Defenses.
Higher Standard of Reasoning Must
Come First, He Thinks.
ECONOMY WILL BE FACTOR
Special DISPATCH to The Star.

Frederick Dent Grant left Chicago today
for New York. where he will take up the
military command of the Department Of
the East, with headquarters at Governors
Island, in New York harbor.
Succeeding him in the command of the
Department of the Lakes, which he has
held since 1905. Brig Gen. Charles l..
Hodges, late of the Department Of the
Dakotas, arrived in Chicago today and
took up his duties at the federal building
As Gen. Grant was busy with prepare
tions for leaving the city the two gener-
ais did not meet today.
Gen. Grant, just before leaving for the
station, expressed at once his regret AZ
quitting Chicago and his pleasure at re-
turning to his old home in New York. He
also discussed the new duties that he has
been called upon to assume as the sue
cessor of Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood. These
duties will include harbor and coast de-
tense and authority over the corps that il
conducting experiments with aeroplanes
and war balloons at Fort Myer.
Grant Talks of Aeroplanes.
development of aeroplanes and bal
looms is something the War Department
is watching with interest and experiment
ing with at Fort Myer," said Gen. Grant.
The experiments will be in my depart
ment, but shall not have anything to do
with them directly. 1 shall not be con-
cerned with them, except as my personal
influence might extend.
"Airships can now be used for recon-
naissance. 1t will not be long, imagine,
before they may be used in offensive
measure The time of the aeroplane Is
the future. 1t is certain that they will
be employed in wars that may break
out not many years hence.
There will be chances for using them.
1t seems probable that their develop
ment will have progressed far before
universal peace descends on the world.
Peace Not Yet.
Peace has been preached for 1900 years.
Yet some of the greatest wars of the
world have been recent ones. When peo-
pie attain to a higher standard Of reason
ing and the cost of wars becomes pro-
hibitive, then we shall have peace
This will be some time in the future.
Meanwhile the United States and other
countries will continue experimenting
with aeroplanes for possible emergencies.
AT present a lack of aeroplanes in
case of a war would not be fatal to US.
although the aeroplanes would be con-
venient," continued the general I'm
six months the situation might become
different. A hostile nation might find
an improved type of machine in that
space of time.
II do not know just how far other
nations have proceeded with their expert
ments. In the Department of the East
the trials will continue as fast as the
resources for such work will permit.
1.-The proposed aerial race from Chi
cago to New York will be watched with
interest by the War Department. If ma
chimes can travel the 90O-mile course
there will be shown a near possibility OF
using aeroplanes for belligerent purposes.
/ myself shall be Interested in the out
come of the races.
Coast and Harbor Defense.
What will take more of my attention
than the experiments at Fort Myer is
the problem of coast and harbor defense.
Improvements were under way in the
harbor forts when 1 was transferred from
New York two years ago.
and old forts are altered more or less.
work in the east.
Next week / shall be in command Of
the mobilization of troops at Pine Plains
in Duchess county, n. Y. There will
be a large encampment there. After
ward l shall take up routine duties at
Governors Island. The new first field
directions
In going to New York Gen. Grant takes
upon his Soulders what are regarded as
the most important duties in depart
mental commands in the country. Ex-
cept for Gen. Wood, whom he succeeds at
Governors Island. and who is now chief
of staff. Gen. Grant is the ranking Of
ficer of the army.
Four years from now he will have reach
ed the age limit of army officers and will
then be retired, unless present rules are
broken.
Swinburne Discounts Aeroplane.
NEW YORK, July 23.-Rear Admiral
W. T Swinburne, L. S. N, retired who
returned from a trip abroad today, is
not one of those who believe in the
present possibilities of the aeroplane as
an instrument of war.
The aeroplane" h said tonight,
must attain development advanced
5000 times beyond anything il has
demonstrated yet, before ii can figure
against navies.
"A navy can destroy another navy or
attack harbor Notifications from a dis
tance of twenty or thirty mileS-too far
out at sea for an aeroplane to venture.
Again the aeroDlane, IL it wishes To
drop bombs on warship. must rise too
high to be sure Of accuracy, for other
wise it can easily be crippled by marks
men aboard ship. AT a height where the
aviator would be safe Intervening air
currents must defect explosives he might
DROP
xYY1I1TE AcKEn TO RECIGE