The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-10-16

GLENN CURTISS,
Who will command one of the aerial
Men-0f War.
different air strata ana crosswise air
currents are met every hundred fces
or so. as is proved by the undulations
of kite strings leading to considerable
heights. In addition to being played
upon by these irregular and constantly
changing forces, the bomb dropped
from an aeroplane will, In Its descent,
describe u curve depending on the
exact velocity at which the aerial craft
is going when the missile Is thrown.
Furthermore, altitude. velocity OF the
target, velocity OF the falling bomb,
wind velocity and direction of aero
plane-not in a single plane, as in the
case OF a ship. but In any Of all pos
sible directions-must all be taken
into consideration.
Armored Autos tn Shott Aeros.
Armored automobiles for attacking
airships are now being developed by
the military powers, notably Germany.
which has adopted motor vehicle
heavily armored and armed with high
angle guns for firing at balloons and
aeroplanes. These little land mont
tors weigh four tons and attain speed
Of forty miles on good roads, but our
army officers do not think they will
cut much figure over rough highways.
turned out what is believed to be
better type Of craft for the same pur-
pose. This is Major Davidson. OF tho
Northwestern Military Academy. who
has reconstructed two 30-horse power
automobiles of 1910 pattern by mount
ing upon each a 30-calibre Colt ra pid-
firing gun. giving $50 shots per min
ute and having sighted range of
1000 yards. With this armament and
an additional equipment of tents and
blankets. strapped in the rear; lothing,
cooking utensile. etc. strapped to the
running board, and 5000 rounds OF
ammunition packed in compartments
under the rear seat. these machines, a
few weeks ago. made this Somplete run
OF the Glidden tour. from Cincinnati to
Chicago, via Dallas. Tex.-a total dis
lance OF 1850 miles-without showing
any undue wear and tear.
An airship field gun, which can be
brought to bear in any lateral direc-
ton, and which can be elevated to
an angle of so degrees, has been lately
turned out by the Krupps. 1t throws
a shell of SIS pounds. And another
recent Krupp invention for use in such
weapons is faring shell. designed to
explode balloons by setting fire to their
gas when striking them. Such inven-
t1ons appear to be needed by nations
wishing to protect themselves against
war balloons, for experiments complet-
ed last month at Lydd show that the
envelopes Of such air craft may be al
most riddled with bullets In the lower
portions and yet be held In the air by
the upward pressure Of the gas.
Hnrd to Hit Aeroplnnes.
But our aeroplane fleet will be much
more difficult to hit than the dirigible
ated, not only for the reasons above
stated, but for additional ones not
hitherto taken into consideration. M.
Esnault- Pelterle, French experiment.
er, on several occasions this summer
stood behind his aeroplane while the
propeller was going ct full speed and
tried to fire shots into the stern of
the craft, but all of the bullets were
thrown aside by the column OF afr
thrown back spirally by the rapidly
revolving blades. His experiments
seem to indicate that aeroplane oper-
ators will be immune from rear at
lcGh ny 1lIlS W VA III q.
Wireless Messages From AcrOpInnes.
That aeroplanes can be used for
sending wireless kilograms describing
movements of the enemy observed from
great heights was first demonstrates
few weeks ago by two Americans, Fl, |
M. Horton and James McCurdy. Mr. |
Horton attached to the steering wheel
.of Mr.. McCurdys aeroplane an in
genious sending apparatus connected
with minute battery in the waistcoat
of the aviator, and an aerial" con-
sisting of five feet of wire held straight |
by lead weight. A nineteen-word |
device was accurately received by Hor- |
ton on the roof of the grandstand at
the Sheephead Bay race track.
Our army, although 1t set the pace
for the world by its successful aero
plane tests, eliminating in the pur-
chase of its single Wright blplane for
$4,000, Is now far behind France in
the matter of aeroplane equipment.
France. which gave the world its tiras
balloon, in 1883, and which eleven
years later--during the battle OF /
the worlds first way
balloon. now has q fleet Of over q
dozen military aeroplanes including
four new Wright biplanes, built this I
Farman machines. France has also
established in recent months military
aviation school, and a few weeks ago,
when 1t announced that three add.
tional lieutenants would be selected
to take the course. applications came
pouring in from 100 subalterns am.
bilious for the training. Indeed, our
great sister republic across seas Is
aeroplane mad and note In French
Journal Just arrived by post. that there
are now distributed throughout France
more than 500 aeroplanes, representing
a total value Of $2,500,000.
What Aeroplnncs Now Cost.
The French are now paying $kO00|
apiece for Wright bplanes and $4,000
for Formans, while Bleriots Which were
$4,000 before their makers success in
crossing the channel Immediately after
ward jumped to $4,000 and are now