The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-30
PREPARE ID FIGHT
 WITH AIR VESSELS Subject Will Come Up Before
 Next Congress EFFECT OF MANEUVERS Army and Navy Men Will Also Con- slider Weapons to He Used in Re- polling Attacks Made By yes-
 sells of the Air
EFFECT OF MANEUVERs
BY RoDERIo CLIFFORD


 army and navy a sufficient sum to con duct airship experiments and also enougf money to experiment with the building of guns to fight attacks by airship.
 Certain minor experiments looking to ward the building of a satisfactory gur to repel airship attacks are now beins made at the Sandy Hook proving grounds, New York. Thus far. however little has been accomplished. due to the fact that there are no appropriations which can be used for such a purpose.
 It Is expected In army and navy cir cles that the formation of the aereonati- cal reserve, with John Barry Ryan, son of Thomas Fortune Ryan, the New York millionaire, at the head of it, will do much to awaken public interest and force pressure on Congress to give the army and navy adequate means for practicing military aeronautics such as Is possessed by several continental powers.
 Capt Washington Lee Chambers U. s. N. has been designated by the secretary of the navy to confer with MT. Ryan and Gen. James Allen chief signal officer of @-@N eNtAi.sf " <a1iiAS R0Nt ttl9i4 OI " dT Oliver, to work with him so far as the army and navy may assist in the forma- tion of the reserve.
 Graham Whites spectacular arrival a few days ago in the street or narrow ''canyon' between the executive office of the White House and the state, war and navy building has so wrought up army and navy officers that the branches of government represented by them are now seeking every way they can to be of service in the formation of the aeronati- cal reserve. It is not too much to say that the day may come when the aero nautical reserve will become part of the military organization of the United States, as the national guard is at pres- ent. MT. Ryan's organization, 1t is said, already has a membership of 4000
 Graham-White demonstrated to army and navy officers something they had only heard of from foreign military at taehes. All the large European govern ments have corps of military aeronautic experts. These officers attend every meet l Of consequence in Europe. The United States has but two or three such repre- sentatives (and these only in the armv) l F-AC oAt oNQAdiiilcQ GNtIl III d SllRlI Qe- gree with military aeronatics These are Brigadier-General Allen Nal George o. Squire of signal corps, and Lient. Benja- min E. Foulois, also of the signal corps The highest naval and army officers on duty here had an opportunity when l Graham-White informally called on them in his aeroplane the other day, to ob- serve that he could come and go as he wishes-that he was not creature of the wind or at it's mercy in any way, but that on the contrary he was the mas ter of his machine and in a way of the air. The consequence Is that the war and navy departments are seeking some way to get the money they need to do the things that Graham White has done Therefore, they are greatly interested in anything such as MT. Ryan's aero- nautical corps that will serve to quicken the public interest as to the military and | patriotic needs of the two arms of the service.
 MT. Ryan Is a constant visitor to the war and navy departments. Because of the great progress in military aeronaut- ics abroad, he believes he has succeeded in convincing. If they did not already know, army and navy officers that the vulnerability of the United States lies in every mile of her coast line, so far as a possible attack by a foreign power well equipped with air war engines as Germany and France are, is concerned.
 If war should come, say army and navy experts. there is little doubt that the aeroplane, no matter whether it be biplane, monoplane or any other kind, would play tremendous part in the conflict. It is realized by United States officers that the whole secret of what France, Germany and other foreign pow CTS possess in the way of military aerial machines is not generally known. One of the best known officers of the navy who would not permit himself to be Iquoted, remarked the other day that while naval attaches from foreign powers are told many military secrets the United States possesses with openness and in the interest of science, he regretted that the same opportunities for observation are not afforded United States army and navy attaches on duty in various foreign countries. The greatest secrecy, he said is maintained in those foreign countries as to inventions of military science and their preparedness for war.
 For the past two years" said Genera Allen, "the army has been at a stand still SC far as aeronautical develop ment is concerned, simply because ws have no money. We will have to posses. what European nations have in aeronaut 1Cal equipment. Italy, l understand, has
 just invested $2,000,000 in airships. Ali engines of war will play a great part 1T future hostilities. They will prove to b, the poor mans defense I do not believ, airships will ever prove very dangerou, to warships, which will be a poor mari to hit from a great height, and even | struck by explosion bombs I do not be lieve warships would be greatly damaged Neither do I believe that there should be any fear in the mind of the publi, that in war airships may lay waste de fenseless cities. There will be no attack on unfortifed cities. Airships of the en emy will, however, find legitimate pre-, in naval bases. naval yards, store house for war materials, etc These are legiti mate war risks. Airship attacks upol | them could be expected.
 Tt is a problem that still confront us, the military air machine. We mus adopt 1t, for we must keep apace wit the nations of the world in this respect Congress should give us the necessar appropriation. I hope the present tren of public opinion in favor of aerial navi gation will have the desired effect and despite the economy cry, prompt Con gress to be liberal with the peoples money and quick in appropriating it." 
 NOTICE