The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1911-08-31
Aviation School at College
Park, Nd, a Complete
Institution
II YNCLE SAM has started a school
Isl to teach the officers Of his
NR amy how to fly list q little

schools in many ways, but in other
ways is very different. There are the
teachers and the books, but then there
are aeroplanes, and all of the lessons
are in the open air and most Of them
are, not fgurahvely, but literally, up in
the air.
For some time the government has
been carefully watching the progress
OF aerial navigation and has recognized
that in future warfare the air craft
will play an important part, and it
may be that these scouts of the air
will be the very means Of turning the
tide of battle
Bachelors Preferred.
After careful consideration it was
decided to select a certain number Of
officers and have them trained in the
handling Of aeroplanes. So from all
branches of the service bright young
men were selected to go to the best
aviation schools and qualify to handle
the airships. Because of the risks in
volved it was decided to have only
bachelors, if possible, assigned to this
duty. At first it was thought there
might be some trouble in getting off,
GERS for this detail, but it was soon
found that opinion was all wrong, for
no sooner did it become known that
an aviation branch of the service was
to be started under the direction of the
signal corps than applications began to
pile in on General James Allen, chief
signal officer, and the applicants did
everything possible to have their
claims considered.
General Allen, however, determined
to move slowly and allow nothing but
merit in the applicant to count with
him. He realized that he was estab-
fishing new branch of the army serv-
ice and that men who were not quail
fled for the duty would not only retard
the progress Of the aviation corps, but
prove expensive, as the wrecking Of an
alrship is q very costly matter. He
gave the subject long consideration,
and after carefully selecting officers
the next step was to get school where
those officers who were first to quail
ify as air pilots could instruct the 9TH
ers who were selected for the aviation
corps.
College Park Chosen.
Many places were considered by the
general, and at last he determined on
College Park, which can he reached
by trolley from Washington in three
quarters of an hour. The railroad trip
takes only fourteen minutes. The gov
eminent took lease on the field for
a year, with the privilege Of renewing
1t each year for the next ten years.
and promptly detail of soldiers un-
DER Lieutenant R. G.. Kirkland was
sent out to get the field in shape for
the opening Of the school,
IN the meantime Lieutenant De Witt
*Mill1Gng Of the Fifteenth cavalry, sta
toned at Fort Leavenworth, and Lieu
tenant II. II. Arnold of the Twenty
ninth infantry were sent to the Wright
school to learn to handle aeroplanes,
and Captain Paul Beck Of the Eight
eenth infantry was sent to the Curtiss
school. These officers made rapid
progress in their work and soon quail
fed as aviators. About two months
ago the school was first opened, and
at the same time College Park became
an army post, with it's commandant
and soldiers.
Captain De Forrest Chandler Of the
signal corps is commandment of the
school and pupil also. He is we'll
known in the world Of aeronautics and
: is one of the prominent members of
TIE Aero Club of America. He comes
from Cleveland, O., and entered the
teers in 1898. He is considered one
Of the best balloonists in the country
and in October, 1907, was in the bal
loon as aid to j. c. Mccoy in the con-
test for the Bennett cup in the flight
from st, Louis to Chesapeake bay.
Their balloon was the first American
in the race and got fourth place.
Lieutenant De Witt Milling, one Of
the instructors in the handling of the
Wright machines, is a graduate of the
United States Military academy at
West Point, class Of 90. He is a Sec
ond lieutenant and one Of the youngest
officers in the army. He is known in
the service as "Dashing" Milling, is a
crack polo player and one Of the best
horsemen in the cavalry. Lieutenant
Arnold is also very young man and
ranks as second lieutenant in the
Twenty-ninth infantry He was grad
uated at West Point in 1907 and was
two years in the Philippines with the
ENGINEER corps. Captain Beck, the
other instructor, comes from civil life.
Lieutenant Kirkland, who with Cap
tain Chandler, the commandment, makes
up the present class Of the school, en-
tered the army and won bis first lieu
tenancy by merit. lie is a son Of t.: