University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1911-02-20


Each of these men spent something
like 100000 in endeayoring to give
the world successful flying machine.
Their work was of great Importance
| to furthering the interest in and fur
lnishing information about the air.
The real successful development Of
the aeroplane began with the expert
ments of the Wright Brothers at Kitty
Hawk. N. j., in 1903. Since then the
development and utilization of the
|aeroplane has been rapid and spectac-
|ular. When 1t was first proved that
man-carrying. .heavier-than-air, power
driven aeroplanes were practical the
world of science with the many gen.
fuses therein, turned Immediately To-
ward this new field with new energies
and new interests. Up to the year
1906 Orville and Wilbur Wright were
the only two men who could fly.
Since then men have gone up into
the air almost two miles and they
have made their frail machines speed
along faster than the fastest express
trains; but they are just now discov-
ering the many means of utilization
of the aeroplanes.
Aviation is yet new art. Man is
but as the fledgling, proud of his
power, but as yet uncertain and wab-
bly, in his attempts to fly. 1t is risky
business, as the loss of life in Ameri-
ca due to this desire to fly in the
year 1910, will show. These bird-men
are giving their lives in the benefits
Of science, that the world may learn
from them the way to fly. Particular
instances of this in the last year have
been the deaths of Ralph Johnston,
his friend Arch Hoxsey, and John B. |
Moisant. Johnstone's and Hoxsey's |
deaths were due more to spectacular |
flying. They performed spiral glides |
and dips from great heights for the |
of cheering crowds be-
meath them. But in the death of Moi |
SAINT, who was a conservative and not |
so rash a driver, the true hazardness
Of flying is best shown.
Experiments have recently been
made to determine the usefulness of
he aeroplane in warfare. The most
important of these experiments were
conducted on the Pacific Coast by Eu-
gene B. Ely and Glenn H. Curtis. Ely
made several successful attempts to
fly from and light upon the deck of
United States cruiser. Thus he
demonstrated the pract!cability of a
,ruiser or battleship carrying with It
IN the sea an aeroplane to be used
'or scouting purposes. Curtis demon
'trated that an aeroplane could light
IN the water and rise again. Both of
hese experiments have proved ve:y
uccessful in demonstrating the possi-
'ilities of the aeroplane as a scout in
ime of war.
The immediate Importance of these
experiments has been shown by the
which are being made to K
mobilize the active members of the
erial reserves of this country at the
dexican border. It has been planned
o have six aeroplanes in command of
tx Of the best known aviators- in
america actively engaged as scouts IN
reserving the neutrality laws of the IL
United States during the Mexican re- g
olts. The aeroplanes will be sta
ioned at intervals of fifty miles or
lore and will make wide sweeping Y
atrols over the territory assigned Il
, them. It will be their duty to watch Y
DR. the movement of bodies of insur- l
ents from the American side to pre-
ent them from going into Mexico and
, watch the Mexican side to see that
one of the Mexican troops or insur- ]
ectOS seek re1uge across the border q
ito the United States. This action t
the commanders of the United q
tates troops will be epoch-makfng. Il
will be the first time in the history A
the world that aeroplanes have
zen used in military maneuvers at
le seat of actual warfare. Thus the G
eginning of the usefulness of the Il
,roplane goes on, each day finding te
new means for its employment. lq'
'ho can or will attempt to say where tt
rial possibilities will end? IA
c. A. H.
DINNER FOR r. II. DUNLAP