Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-11-15
PROVES MERIT OF SHIP
FOR USE IN THE NAVY
Daring Man-Bird Makes First Flight
OF the Kind the World Has Seen and
Shows the AeropIane Must Be Seri-
ousiy Considered in Future War
fsre-Prize May Be His.
,py Asseciasec Press,

tBy Associated Press)
FORT MONROE. VA. Nov. ii
Aerial navigation proved today that II
is a factor which must be dealt with
in the naval tactics OF the world
future. if the successful flight. made
by Eugene b. Ely in Curtiss bipiane
from the deck OF the cruiser Birming-
ham. can be taken as criterion. From
Hampton Roads. the scene forty-hve
years ago OF another epoch in the
history of naval warfare. when an
ironclad proved its superiority over
the former type Of fighting vessel, the
aviator today flew across the lower
end OF Chesapeake bay, landing on
the opposite side from this port
His Glide From Cruiser.
With broken propeller and In
weather conditions unfavorable for fly
ing. the daring bird-man, shortly after
3 o'clock his afternoon. slided from
the platform erected on the front Oh
the big, black cruiser, swooped down
like an immense bird of prey until ne
touched the water. then rose rapidly
into the misty air of the lower bay
and was off in the direction of the
DTOdU Alldlt run
having taken his sudden farewell OF
the Birmingham, he was a lost speck
on the eastern horizon and an instant
later had landed safely on Wilsoughpy
SPIT. The impact with which the big
machine struck the water after lis
thiriy-saven-foot drop from the front
of the cruiser caused one of the pro
peller blades TO be jagged as II
heavy. coarse saw had gone alone its
edge and small piece was split from
the blade But not for an instant was
the speed of the aeroplsne lessened
and il darted away with express train
rapidly on its victorious fight.
Faces Bad Weather.
Intermittent rain througho out the day,
several small hail showers and con-
tinuous fog almost compelled The ava
tor to postpone his fight. But he was
determined to prove, as he said aiter
the flight, that he could accomplish
more than had been expected OF HIM
Furthermore. he did net wait Tor
he Birmingham to get into motion,
which would have sdded to his mo
mentum and have been a great help
u him; but, Selling an opporiune
moment between showers. he was on
before those who were one the ship
with him and on the other vessels,
stationed at various points nearby 10
follow and assist him in case of need.
were aware that he was ready for his
wonderful flight. the first of its kind
the world has ever seen
Place in the Navy.
Ely proved today that it is possible
to fiv safely from a ship and. after
having done this, asserted with en-
phasis thar IL would be an easy rnst-
Ter for an aeroplane 10 alight on
vessel. either while the latter was
moving or standing still Naval *
perts who witnessed the flight ex-
pressed their belief that the navies OF
The world in the future must take the
aeroplane into consideration when
mapping out plans of action
Capt. washington l. Chambers. who
has been detailed by the navy de-
partment as chairman of board for
aaronautical investigation. declared
that the fight was more than he an
ficipated. and he is confident that the
time IS near when all scout cruisers
will he equipped with number or
aorcplanes. They would not be for
battIeship use. he explained. but for
scout duty in connection with the
work Of the scCIt cruisers Ct the
navy.
Merit Is Proven.
when Mr.. Elv few with such e7s.s
from 2 standing ship he said. -
showed beyond dovbi that his task
would have been much simpler u the
birmingham hid been moving
Starting cuf from TIE Norfolk navy
ward At 1880 O'Clock this morning. the
Birmingham. cioselv followed nv the
swift ereyhounds 81 the navy. the two
lforpedohoaf dcstroyeTs Roe and Terry.
ana bv the forpedobcsts Bailey and
Stringham. IL was fully four hours
lafar before Mr. Eiy's mschine vas
work nz to his full satisfaction.
The machine in which H. Sew was
the orc which Glenn Jurtiss sailed
down through the air channels o. the
Hudson river valley from klbanv 20
New York u bad seen two previous
cross water firh's. che over lake
Erie from Fuclid Beach 20 Cedar
Point and brck. a distance % seventy
miles. the other bv Mr. Curiiss him.
soIf over ;he Atlantic ocean OF ~.
iaufic civ whcr IL covered dis
lance o. 6f'- miles
Flies Fiv- Hil~s
Tho distance With Mr. Eiv rev %.
day was nearly Eve miles. Tho Bir.