The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1910-11-22
j. s. BACKWARD
IN WAR AVIATION

WASHINGTON, d. c., Nov. q
Aerial navigation has taken hold of
the entire civilized world as no other
subject in recent times, and represents
a movement that no forces can pos
sibly check. In it's military aspects
it is a subject which we must serious
ly consider, whether we wish to or
not, and the sooner this fact is ack-
nowledged and measures taken to put
us abreast with other nations, the
better it will be for our national de-
fense."
So says Brig. Gen. James Allen,
chief officer of the army, in his annual
report to the Secretary of War. He
recounts the action taken by Great
| Britain, Germany, France and Russia
for the encouragement of research and
tests in aeronautics, and says:
at is evident that the United States
should, without delay, make due pro
vision for carrying on similar work
for the various government depart
ments interested and to assist the
large number of American inventors
and manufacturers at present devoting
themselves to the problems of aerial
navigation.
Once First; Now Behind.
although the United States was
the first nation to officially recognize
the aeroplane for military purposes,
and carried out official tests in Sep
tember, 19OS demonstrating the prac-
.tlcability Of mechanical flight yet
such has been the rapid development
of aerial navigation since that date
that this country has been left far
behind in it's aerOnautical equipment
and its trained personnel. In fact, the
.cnly aeronautical equipment that this
nation possesses at present consists
Of one small practice dirigible balloon,
one Wright aeroplane and three small
captive balloons
ut may be said without hesitation
that the principal military subject at
present engrossing the attention of
congresses and parliaments of Euro
pean flrst-class powers is the possible
influence of aerial navigation upon
the military art; in the past year aer-
onautics, as far as our army is con-
cernej, has been practically at a
standstill. In the meantime European
powers are displaying marked activity
il the development and supply Of
both the dirigible and the aeroplane
for war purposes.
MneE
Experienced military airmen can
not be created after war is declared
and the demands of this new service
will undoubtedly require higher quail
ties of training, judgment and cOur-
age than any other branch of the
military service, Military authorities
agree that the only way to meet aerial
attacks is by similar weapons, and
that there is no chance of adequate /
protection being given locally. The
advent of aerial navigation has. in
fact, extended the vulnerable area of |
a country to every acre of its terri
tory.
Tine past year has been one of un- !
precedented activity and achievement !
scarcely ever before equaled in the
Development of any new art A year
ago ouly a very few specialists colld
fly in aeroplanes, and then only in
cry selected weather. At present
bLadreds OF e"ple can fly aeroplanea,
ana furthermore they can fly in weq-
ther which twelve months ago was
considered absolutely prohibitive. l.
may be said bat aeroplanes can ~
in at east hplT the days of the wear
and half the ho,rs of the day, if ,ilere
be sufficient reason for so doing.
"rhe Signal 1 & ps at present has