The Washington herald., 1910-09-21

New York, Sept. 2O-The United states
Aeronautical Reserve has leased the old
Lenox mansion at Eighth street and Fifth
avenue as headquarters and club house,
and it will be ready for occupancy by
the opening Of the international meet late
in October.
A few weeks ago no one had even
thought OF such an institution. nation
wide association Of aeroplane inventors,
professional and amateur aviators. de-
signers end builders Of aeroplane en-
gines and other aerial equipment. army
and navy officials, prominent IN the reg
uiar service, and in the militia of the
States; fnancers, newspaper men. sports
men and statesmen, and hundreds OF
others interested IN aeronautics, from
President Taft down 10 the humblest
aeroplane mechanics-and all banded to-
gether 20 advance She aeroplane as a
war engine, and 20 make Of II something
better than mere exhibition toy, and
of its aviators something besides air
chasers of prize money
The actual recruiting work began three
weeks ago. To-day II was announced
from the temporary headquarters Of the
reserve at the Hotel St Regis that since
the first impetus was begun on the Squan-
tum aviation meet during the earlier days
Of the Harvard Boston aero meet. 300
citizens have Joined t5e association.
Aviators Are Members.
Besides the interest in the reserve
shown by President Taft, Secretary
Meyer and prominent army and navy
men, the membership includes practical
aviators such as Charles F. Willard.
OF New York: Walter r. Brookins. Of
Dayton; Greeley S Curtiss. Of Marble
head. Mass. Glenn II. Curtiss. Of Ham
mondsport: Gardiner A Hubbard. OF
Boston: clifford b. Harmon. or New
York; Ralph tombstone. OF Kansas City
and a string o. fliers whose machines are
housed IN the hangers at Mineola, Mar
blehead. Dayton, al the aviation field es-
/ tablished by Alexander G. Bell, at Bad
deck, Nova Scotia. and al other testing
and experimental stations scattered
| throughout the country.
/ Also the reserve numbers many busy
men Of public affairs whose interest in
/ the objects OF the reserve has been
strong enough 10 set aside their private
/ interests on several occasions TO give
their attention to fuTthering the organi-
cation The commodore Of the assOcia-
/ tion. John Barry Ryan, son OF Thomas
/ F. Ryan, today left for Washington 10
keep an appointment with Secretary
Meyer to confer with him about plans
/ under way
! Clifford B. Harmon, OF New York, best
known OF the American amateur avia-
tors. has been appointed chief Of stan.
Among the men who are serving on the
general board Of the reserve are Herbert
L. Satterlee, CORTLAND F. Bishop Prof.
A L. Rotch, OF Harvard; Charles II.
Allen, Of New York, and Messrs. Har-
mon ard Ryan.
! Long List of Members.
The Secretary Of the board. r. r
Sinclair of New York. to-day showed a
! list of 300 members among whom arr
Gov. A. ". Gilehrist, Of Florida Mayo:
( Fitzgerald. Of Boston, vice commodore OF
the New England division, who made hi:
| first flight with Grahame-White on IN,
Squautum field; Russell Alger. who al
ready has opened the state headquarters
for Michigan, az Detroit: Augusta.
/ Thomas, the playwright: John Hays
Hammond. John NJ. Garrere, Everett
Jansen Wendell. Vice President Byrnes
Of the New York, New Haven and Hart
/ ford: Hugh Bancroft. OF Boston, Aller
ton Cushman, Of Washington, D. c., ant
H. c. Mccoy. State captains for each OF
the States and Territories in the UnioI
have been selected, but the list Will no
he given out for a day or two. The cap,
tain OF the New York State reserves
with local, rank next 10 that OF Russell
Alger, OF Detroit. vice commodore OF th'
Middle States division. is Harry II. Hark
ness
II was decided 10 divide the reserve
into active and associate members. AnnI
al dues OF s. were fixed upon for the ac
tive members and 81 for the associate
workers The active members includ,
only drivers Of aeroplanes and owners
designers, inventors. builders. and Others
who are doing practical work for the ad
vancement Of aviation.
Patriotic Body.
The basic idea OF the United State,
aeronautical reserves is a patriotic one
the organizers explain, quite as much
as IL is an effort TO advance aer0nautiCa
science. The main hope or the oTigina
workers in the association is TO establish
body OF men trained in the practic,
as well as the theory Of aviation, ready
to take the field when needed.
Even though the first test of th'
aeropIane's usefulness in real warfar'
has yet to be made" said an officer o
the reserves to-day. the experimental
scouting. bomb dropping, and large
shooting from aerOplanes already dom
IN America and Europe leave no doub
that the heavier-than-air machines vii