The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-12-13
WANTS AIRSHIPS
Secretary Dickinson Would
Use Them in Army.
DISCUSSES THEIR usefulness
Declares United States Has Stood
Still While European Powers
Have Made Big Progress
IL Aviation
DISCUSSES THEIR usefulness

Washington. Dee 10. Nj. Dickin-
son. secretary OF war in his annual
report recommends that the govern
ment provide the army with both diri-
gible airships and with aeroplanes ior
instruction purposes and for field
work, He says in part.
Aerial navigation is attracting
worldwide attention. Marked progress
has been made in this art during the
past year Its possible influence upon
the art OF war is much discussed
among military authorities the world
over. Recently in Berlin and Paris
opportunity was Afforded me to wit
ness aviation tests that were being
made there by the military, and | was
impressed with the interest and activ-
ity displayed in the development Of
this new art with special reference to
its possibilities for use in the military
service.
Information from abroad indicates
that at the present time Germany pos
scsses fourteen military dirigible air
ships and number OF aeroplanes and
France seven military dirigible air
ships and thirty aerOplanes.
France Orders Diriebles.
Late information received from
France indicates that the French gov
eminent has recently ordered eleven
new dirigiblcs OF different dimensions,
whose delivery will take place at diff
ferent times within the next twelve
months.
The following is an extract from
report of an officer OF the United
States army on the autumn maneuyers
OF the French army from Sept 10 to
Sept Is. 1910:
But the most striking thing was
the aeroplane. The French have made
wonderful progress in this respect |
saw Lieutenant Bellenger in his mono
plane rise right out OF a wheat stub
bic field The biplane and monoplanes
were everywhere. They travelled with
great speed and must have seen every
thing except where the troops could
be concealed in the woods. An efficient
aeroplane corps is certainly indispen-
sable to an army.
The United States. which was the
first nation officially to recognize the
aeroplane for military purposes and
which conducted at Fort Meyer in 1908
the first public fight of a heavier than
air machine. has since that date made
no addition to its aeronautical equip
ment. which at present consists OF one
small practice dirigible balloon. one
Wright aeroplane and three small cap
tive balloons.
1T is contended by some that diri-
gible balloons ana airships will at best
prove to be of doubtful utility in war
fare. The fact remains that all Eu-
ropean first class powers are devoting
great deal of attention to the sub
jet of military aeronautics and are
displaying marked activity in the de-
velOpment and supply of both the
dirigible and the aeroplane for war
purposes, while the United States is
practically at a standstill in this mat
ter
In my judgment the time has come
when il would be wise TO make APP
propriations adequate for providing the
signal corps with a reasonable number
Of the better type of machines for'i /
struction purposes and for field work.
The Panama Canal.
THE total excavation Of the Panama /.
canal during the fiscal year amounted f.
TO S1,S5S,12 cubic yards against 3D.
966,926 cubic yards excavated during I
the preceding year. OF the amount eI-
cavated during the last year 19,9O3.4SO /
cubic yards were taken out by steam .
shovels and 11,954,642 cubic yards by /
dredges against 22,67O.955 cubic yards |
by steam shovels and 15.295,97l cubic |
yards by dredges respectively in the |
preceding year.
Strength Of the Army.
AT the date of the last reports re- /
ceived from the military departments |
(Oct. Is, 1910 the actual strength Of |
the regular army was 1910 officers and /
67,459 enlisted men. a total of 7l.769. /
AS compared with the strength report I
ed last year this shows an increase Of /
101 officers and a decrease OF 1881 en- /
listed men. making a net decrease OF /
the regular army during the year OF |
1880 These figures do not include the |
1886 men of the hospital corps exclud- /
ed by the act of March !, 1887, from |
as part OF the enlisted /
force of the army. There were also in /
the service 166 officers and 300 en-
listed men of the Philippine scouts.
Enlisted Men.
THE total number of enistments in
the army during the fiscal year ended
June 80, 1910 Exclusive of the hospital
corps and the Philippine scouts was
1873, of which 1868 were re-enlist-
ments and 1905 were original enlist
ments.
THE death rate from disease is the
lowest which has ever occurred in the
army.
Seacoast Defenses.
During the past fiscal year three
teninch guns and forty-six rapid fire
guns have been added to the number
OF guns actually available for service
at our seacoast defenses."
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