Omaha daily bee., 1910-06-26
Congress Likely to Be Asked to Appro-
pirate Money for Airships.
STATISTICS ARE TO BE COMPILED
Plan to Ask for Money at Last Session
Was Considered.
GENERAL BELL FAvoRs PROJECT
Army Man Discusses the AcrOplanc
and the DirigibIe, Predicting
They VIII BE Used in
Future Wars.
nY RALPH NJ. MHITEsIpE.

WASHINGTON, June 25.--(special Tele-
gram.)-The United States government VIII
have a half dozen representatives at the
international aviation tournament which
VIII be held on Long Island In the fall
Following the tournament congress will be
asked to appropriate s1,00O,O00 to build and
equip an airship fleet.
A more generous recognition of the aero
plane as a factor in war will be urged by
the secretary Of war Secretary Dickinson
will probably be present at the aviation
tournament, win representatives of the
signal corps who will be delegated for
that purpose.
Officers of the signal corps have been
urging that the time is ripe for the gov
ernment to take a hand in aeronautics.
For some time Uncle Sam has been dab
bling in aviation in a desultory way, but
the plan now is to build and equip fleet
of flyers Just as we have fleet of ships
to guard our oests. The original plan was
to ask congress for an appropriation
earlier, but on account fthe stormy ses-
sion this project was deferred. Now sta
tistics will be compiled and a report Of
the doings at the international tournament
in the autumn will be compiled and read
to congress to induce that body to take
action.
Major General Franklin Bell, former chief
of staff Of the United States army, is dis
cussing the use of the aeroplane in war
times, says:
Opinion by General Bell.
"Theaeroplane has the advantage over
the dirigible, although at he present time
the latter has advanced further in a scien-
tific way. The dhigible can carry more
weight, but it cannot run against head
wind as can an aeroplane. The aeroplane
is also the speedier. The whole science is
in such state of development that only
experiments can work out a solution. How
ever, foreign countries have gone ahead
and in some instances have given impetus
to explorations in this field by offering
prizes
Il have no doubt that within ten years
and probably within five, aeroplanes
will have been perfected capable of car.
| rying from three to five persons TO.
| gether with several hundred pounds oi
additional weight. BY the time this
comes about ordinance for the destruc.
tion of aircraft will have been invented
Preventives, safety appliances and de-
fensive means are the outgrowth of con
ditions that make them necessary. As
the aeroplane advances by various stages
so, also, will destructive agencies aimed
at the airship also advance with equa
strides"
Japan In the Race.
The signal corps officers are gathering
data which will be presented for the
consideration of congress. Japan, not tc
be outdone, has tackled the aeroplani
problem with characteristic energy.
1t is believed that slO,OOO,OOO will bt
appropriated by congress. This will
start a chain of appropriations, fol-
money must be spent every year, keepins
up the work once it is undertaken.
In New York the Aero Club of America
has already rented tract of land two
miles square near Garden City. L.. 1,
where the great international meeting
will be held. A grandstand to hold 40,
900 people will be built and fenc,
fifteen feet high will be constructed
around the field. The land inside the en-
closure will be rolled and sodded unit
it is perfectly smooth. An elliptica
course six miles in length will ce lalC
out and judges will be stationed arount
this course. The way has been pave,
for the bringing of foreign built ma
chimes by foreign aviators. Through tn,
, agreement entered into by OrviIe anC
Wilbur Wright with the Aero club. thest
machines may be brought in without fea
OF subsequent litigation.