The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-09-23
September Most Tragic Month
in Aviation History.
ONLY THREE RECORDS BROKEN
War Proven Impossible if Air
Craft Is Used.
MOnOpIanes Fall Into DisfavOr
With British Army.

Paris, Sept. pa brilliant, but the
most tragic, month in aviation since
heavier -than-air craft were discovered
was the verdict of the Aero club sum-
ming up the events thus far in Sep
tember.
Since September 1 thirteen aviators
have been killed. but three records have
been made. Military men acknowledge
that war perhaps has been made inn
possible.
Record of Fatalities.
The record of deaths follows:
September 6-Capt Patrick Hamil-
ton and Lieutenant Stewart killed by
the fall at Stevenage during the Brit
ish army maneuvers. Overturned by
the wind.
September 10-Lieut. c. A. Bettington
and Lieut.. E. Hotchkiss killed by fall
at Wolvercote during the British army
maneuvers. Due to a petrol explosion
Lieutenant Steger killed by the Gall near
Munich during Bavarian army ma
neuvers. Caught in air pocket.
September 11-Lieutenant Siebert kill
ed near. Dresden during the Imperial
German army maneuvers. Machine
buckled in the wind. Paul Peck killed
at cicero Field, Chicago, by fall IN an
exhibition flight NJ. Nikaramanlakis
drowned by the fall of his hydroplane
into the sea during fight from Athens
to Patras. -
September f4-Howard w. Gill killed
in collision of aeroplane with George
Mestach at cicero Field, Chicago.
September 20-Russell Blair killed by
fall of aeroplane during an exhibition
flight at Shenandoah. Ia.
SeDtember 21-Lieutenant Berger ana
Lieutenant Junghans were killed oS
fall near Freiburg during cross country
fight. Chemnitz to Berlin; }. u. H. As.-
lev killed by aeroplane fall at Belfast
Ireland
Toll for Year rs Lives.
The Aero Clubs records show that
seventy-eight aviators have keen killed
this year. as compared with seventy
three for all of 1911. Since aviation be-
gan. 1SS have been killed.
The week has proven monoplanes less
reliable than biplanes. so that the Brit
ism war office has ordered the use Of
the former discontinued. In French
military circles it is held that for war
purposes the monoplane cannot be dis
regarded, on account Of its speed.
At the nter-Parliamentary Union In
Geneva it was voted, however, that the
aeroplane be placed under the ban Tor
military purposes. 1t is understood thar
this applies to it's use as a means or
offensc, and that air craft may stih lie
u~ed fol- scouting.
How successful the flying men have
been as scouts was revealed in the
course of the week by the abandon
ment of the British maneuvers because
the aviators' reports to the rival COM
manders had made one another's move
ments so plain that tactics were impos-
sible Maneuvers were not abandoned
in France and Germany.
An Aid to Win "A Battle.
In reporting a victory won against
the Turks in Tripoli, General Ragney
of the Italian army said:
After we believed the battle near
ly won, an aerial scout signaled that
another column of Turks was advanc-
ing. Our reserves were accordingly
called up and after a fierce fight We
won"
Early in the month r. G. Garros
broke the altitude record by ascend
ing 16,240 feet at Houlgate, France.
Later George Legagneux broke II
again at Villacoubray by ascending
1882 feet. NJ. Tourney flew thirteen
hours and eighteen minutes, covering
62S miles. at Etampes. breaking the
duration and distance records over a
closed circuit. Pierre Brands aero
plane dashed into a crowd at Gray.
France, September 8, and killed four
persons.