The Washington herald., 1911-03-05
spes.l c.ble to The wsshinrt0n Her.d.

London, March 4-The experiments
made in America with aeroplanes under
conditions Of actual warfare, along the
Mexican border, have created strong
impression here, even among the officials
OF the war department, and this is un-
doubtedly the reason why it is now said
that in very near future a large num-
Der of aeroplanes will be bought for the
use of English army officers.
The British war department was, until
quite recently, almost assured of the use
lessness of the aeroplane for military
purposes, and. like German military au-
thorities, pinned its faith almost entirely
to the drigible airship, but now the au-
thorities will devote their attention to
the formation Of a corps of officers skilled
IN the use Of the swifter aeroplanes.
Officers Learning TO Fly.
Roger Wallace, president of the Royal
Aero Club, confirmed the report
THE recent discussion on the subject, -
he said, has been very useful, and I
know there will be a distinct change in
the attitude OF the war Office. The de-
yelopments in that direction will be seen
very soon.
The people who have taken the trouble
to think the matter out realize the neces-
sity Of orr having aeroplanes in England
If our safety IS to be considered. Over
a dozen army officers have already OBJ
tanned pilots certificates from the Royal
Aero Club, and many others are now
learning 10 fly.
There is no longer any doubt about
the increasing value of aeroplanes in
war. Mr.. Claude Hamilton's flight from
Ii PaSo across the besieged Mexican
town amply proves this, and still, what
he did might have been done six months
ago, and six months is a long time now
that improvements in heavier-than-air
machines are coming thick and fast.
But it is not in what has been done,
but in what is going to be done by the
aeroplane that the chief interest lies.
There will be great changes in the sta
bility of aeroplanes in a short time, and
then it will be a comparatively easy
matter to use aeroplanes under all con-
ditions
Money Wasted on DirigibIes.
Observations can already be taken
from an aeroplane with great exactitude,
and when an aeroplane is at any height
it can scarcely be seen below. When
silencers are fitted to the exhaust from
the engines of aeroplanes, they will not
only be almost invisible but their ap-
proach will not even be heard.
'fhe advance Of the aeroplane has
been conclusively proved by the fact
that the other day Bleriot carried eight
people. That shows that a quantity of
explosives could be carried if the neces-
sity arose.
The money that is being spent on
oIrigibles at the present time is, in my
opinion a waste of money. Dirigibles
are too unwieldly and unmanageable
under all circumstances. The difficulties
of keeping a dirigible up in a wind are
considerable, and then again so many
men are wanted to hold it down when
it lands. that it is impossible to move
sufficient men about.
Although much is being done in the
direction of perfecting the aeroplane, our
danger is that we have not sufficient men
trained in their use. The Royal Aero
Club has been doing what it could in
this direction by passing pilots from the
army and navy, and giving them cerif-
Gates, but official action must come soon
er or later"
Fear Plague In England.
The people of England must have some
thing to feel alarmed about. AS q result
of the tactics of the Tory politicians,
life does not seem worth while living
without real good scare to set your
nerves on end, and just now we are very
much scared at the thought that Eng
land may be invaded, not by the legions
of the Kaiser. but for the pneumonia
plague of the East All the sensational
newspapers are full of the most dreadful
stories OF what is going on in China
told with the most sickening details. Then
to follow up these preliminary stories we
the told how rats spread the plague, and
incidentally, that thousands of Asiatic
rats land in England every day, defying
all alien laws
As A matter of feet, the possibility
OF infection does exist and the au-
thoritie.s are taking every possible pre-
caution known to keep out the enemy
China is being treated as an infected
area. In the case OF any vessel coming
directly from a Chinese port, or which
has called at such a port, everybody on
board is examined at GraveSend. Fur
ther, the names and address are taken OF
all passengers and members of the crew
leaving the ship; and these are notified
TO the medical officers of the districts to
which these persons are proceeding. In
the event of a case of suspected plague
occurring, the London county council
have made arrangements to isolate, IL
necessary, at a moments notice those
who have been in contact with the case
Arrangements have also been made to
determine at the earliest moment, by
meteorological examination or otherwise.
the exact nature OF the suspected sick
ness.
In any definitely ascertained case of
plague, the case would at once be dealt
with by the Metropolitan Asylums board.
Political Atmosphere Cloudy.
These are the days of great political
suspense. That the liberal government
is in earnest no one doubts, what they
are going to do. IL opposed, is also known.
but what the lords will do not even the
lords themselves know. To-day they are
as anxious to reform themselves as a
schoolboy trembling in fear of a spank
ing; tomorrow they sulk, and refuse to
do anything. What they probably will
do Is to listen to the dictates OF Mr.. Bal
four, who is once more the absolute
master Of his followers in the House of
Lords, and Mr.. Balfour is an expert in
the art Of delaying matters. and viii do
so as long as he possibly can, but in the
end. II he thinks that a reform bill In
the lords viii help the fight@against the
veto bill In the House Of Commons, the
bill will be produced; II he does not, we
shall probably hear a great deal more
about its advent, but We shall never see
much of IL
Whichever policy the lords may adopt
, Is a matter Of indifference to the govern-
ment and the Liberal party. From their
point OF view, both policies have their ad-