The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-10-20
Weather Chief Says Well
man Trip Was Impossible
Without Power.
CHANCE SMALL
IN THE LOW STRATA
Prof. Moore Says He Is Not Ready
to Criticise, But Voyage Looks
Nearly Impossible.

Unless Walter Wellman, in his at
tempt to cross the Atlantic in low
strata. believed that his dirigible was
equipped with sufficient power TO drive
Il through adverse currents, his trip
was wrong in principle and never could
have succeeded.
This. briefly, is the opinion OF Prof
Willis L. Moore, chief of the United
States Weather Bureau, who today de-
clared that there never was and never
will be a time when a balloOnist can
keep down in the lower strata and ex-
perience steady winds.
Without knowing anything of Well
mans plans or the extent to which he
relied on his motor power. Professor
Moore outlined what he believes 10 be
the best results a dirigible can achieve
where It is without the necessary power
10 overcome contrary winds:
Carried By Storm.
IF a ballon starts behind a low pres
sure storm. in the southwest quadrant
of it, and remains in touch with the
water, II should be possible for II to be
carried with the storm, probably 4
third CT one-half way across the ocean,
as the storm center progresses east
ward
But, ultimately, and, in all probable
ity. before it reaches the other side OF
the ocean the balloon would be drawn
to the center of the storm, where many
complications would exist with regard
20 wind direction and force. and this
might make II necessary for the balloon
to escend into upper stratum in order
20 continue eastward
When wellman discovered that ne
was not successfully combating the
wind currents he might still have con-
tinued by cutting away from the
equilibrator, and mounting into hlgher
strata But such a course, IN EroI-
Moore's opinion, may or may not have
been prudent under the circumstances,
and. as 20 what Wellman should have
done. the eWather Bureau chief would
vouchsafe no statements.
Not Ready to Criticise-
IT do not wish to be put in the posi-
tion of criticising Mr.. Wellman the
slightest. II was an extremely daring
attempt he made. AS I do not know
what his plans were, cannot say
whether his attempt was preedestned
to fall
When asked as to whether he believed
the low or high strata area was the
most practical one for aerial naviga-
tors to attempt to establish a trans-At-
Iantic route in Mr.. Moore replied that he
was convinced balloonists would never
cross the ocean except by going above
According to Mr.. Moore. the wind in
the higher strata always blows east
ward However. balioonist must go
up from four to six miles in order TO
get the benefit of this wind. II is ques-
tionabie whether life can be sustained
In that altitude
In the light Of Prof. Moore's state
ment. Wellman, travelling with a storm
eastward, might have, under the most
favorable conditions, reached a point
half way across the ocean. At that
point, however. unless his dtrtSible was
capable of blowing its way through
the adverse wind currents II could only
have continued its course by rising
above the storm.
Equilibrator Useless.
Thus, the use Of an equilibrator is
an absolute bar to the establishment
of an aerial route across the ocean.
unless there is sufficient motor power
20 send a balloon steadily on its course,
regardless Of the contrary winds ex-
perienced.
Another feature pointed out by Prof.
Moore Is that the low strata evidently
lessons the buoyancy of balloons. AT
the time the America was deserted her
DuOyancy mad Deen greatly reduced. II
is decidedly doubtful II Wellman at
that time could have mounted above
the adverse currents by cutting away
nom the equilibTatOr.
Apparently. Wellman knew what he
was doing when he selected the time he
did for starting the America on her
hazardous trip. The chief forecaster Of
ehe Weather Bureau this morning said
TINT the navigator had picked ideal
weather conditions for a low strata
voyage. In the opinions of the officials
of the Weather Bureau, generally, the
trip failed simply because the big dir
igible could not overcome the wind
opposition.