The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1910-06-01
Government Experts Plan te
include Demonstrations in
Annual Military Tournament
This Month.
NEW YORK TO ST. LOUIS
WILL NET WINNER $50, ,OOC
metropolitan Newspapers Join
in Offering a Prize for
the Greatest Flight Ever
Z Conceived.

conceived.
New York, June IAN actual test
OF the aeroplane in warfare will be
made for the first time in history at
the military tournament to be held by
United States troops. and the militia OF
several states near Nashville, Tenn,
June %. to "a.
The government has engaged Charles
K. Hamilton, the aviator, to conduct
the most extensive practical tests in
aerial reconnaissance and bombarding
ever attempted.
In addition to Hamiltons machine
which is duplicate of the machine
In which Curtiss flew from Albany to
New York, there will be present at the
amaneuvers the Wright biplane owned
by the government, and the dirigible
balloon sold to the war department by
Captain Thomas S. Baldwin.
Aeroplane War Agent.
Hamilton, however, is expected to
give the most convincing demonstra-
ton OF the aeroplane as an engine Of
war.
He is considered one OF the most
daringly proficient air navigators In
the world, and upon him will rest the
responsibility Of showing the doubling
Thomases of our government. as we'll
as the military attaches OF other pow
ers that the aeroplane can throw pro.
jectiles upon Notifications, buildings
and troops below.
in executing the work laid ont fsr
him he will carry aloft from 200 to
300 pounds OF highly explosive nitro
glycerin bombs.
Racing at speed varying from As
to 55 miles an hour he will release this
deadly cargo while at height of a
quarter of a mile above the earth, rain.
ing 1t down upon targets in the two
mile-square area below in Is install.
mentS
Variety Of Targets.
The targets underneath will consist
OF dummy fortifications, batteries, ar
senals. bridges and trains and troops
In order that danger to life will be
minimized to the remotest degree. the
troops engaged in the maneuvers will
be employed to police the area over
which Hamilton will carry on his ex-
traordinary operations.
Previous to Hamilton's performance
as an invader from the skies he in
company with Lieutenant Benjamin
Foulois OF the signal corps in the
Wright biplane and other army officers
in the war dirigible will participate
In the maneuvers of the troops as aer-
ial scouts.
During the four days of the war
game there will be intricate evolutions
and several grand sham battles.
Foulois with his Wright biplane will
be attached to one arm as an observer,
while Hamilton will be connected with
the other. Just exactly who the officers
OF the dirigibles will be has not been
determined.
Balloons Worth Limited.
1t has been hitherto held that the ef-
fciency of the dirigible in warfare is
limited. In mimic battles held abroad
1t developed that the cumbersome gas
balloon propelled by motor was prin-
cipally useful in calm weather.
In winds of anything more than nor
NAL velocity it has been found that it
becomes unmanageable, no matter how
large and well officered it may be.
The aeroplane on the other hand,
has never been tested in connection
with any military evolutions, but it has
been held, on account of its extreme
mobility and its ability to fly at high
speed In almost any wind consistent
with its motor power. it would be. far,
more effective in war. For this reas.
on the entire civilized world will fol-
low the progress of the maneuvers at
with extraordinary interest
Battle Of Types.
To aeronauticaf experts the partici-
patton OF the Curtiss biplane and the
Wright. machine in the sham battles
presents an exceptional opportunity OF
the two types when used for
practical purposes.
Being pitted against each other, they
will attempt to demonstrate their re-
spective superiority. Both have cham
pions.
The Wright aeroplane. which will be
driven by Lieutenant Foulois is obliged
to start from rail with the aid os|
\ derrick. This is held to be draw
back because the rail cannot be easily.
transported to any haphaxArd point
where the machine may be Obliged 10
llight
Unless the conditions are unusually
favorable It cannot start from the
ground.
Start Made. by wheels.
The Crrtiss machine driven ~ Ham
Iltor. on the other hand. Eets its mi
lia, start BY running along the ground