The Washington times., 1912-06-30


months II will be seen that military
aviation in this country has made splen-
did advances.
two biplanes in use at the Army Avia-
ton school at College Park. Nd. Today
there are five, with Ave new ones ex-
pected any day.
There were then but Ave Officers de-
voted to the cause-Capt. Charles De
Forest Chandler, Capt Paul w. Beck,
First Lieut.. Roy c. Kirkland, Second
Lieut.. Thomas Dewitt Milling and Sec
ond Lieut.. Henry II. Arnold.
OF these but three could fly with any
degree OF accuracy. They were Capt.
Paul Beck. Lieutenant Milling and Lieu
tenant Arnold. Since then Lieutenant
Kirkland has learned to ny the Burgess
Wright machine, and Captain Chandler
the old Wright.
In September Lieut.. Frank M. Ken
nedy Joined the school. He learned to
ny the Curtiss machine in three weeks.
When first of November came and It
was time for the men to 60 south the
party was made up of the above men,
toned officers and about thirty enlisted
men.
Augusta Successes.
At Augusta, Lieut.. leighton w.
Hazlehrsu, jr.. who rsncently was
killed, Joined the force. Then Lieut..
Harry Graham came. The aviators had
fair success at flying. though the
worst winter In seventy-fve years hit
Augusta while they were there.
After returning to College Park in
the first week in April Lieut.. Harold
Geiger and Capt. Frederick b. Hennes-
sy Joined the corps.
Lieutenant .Hazlehurst had Just learn
ed to ny when he was killed in the
Wright machine flown by "Ar Welsh.
Now Captain Hennessy is able to make
short spins by himself and daily IL be-
coming a better fiier. Lieutenant Geiger
ts at Hammondsport, n, Y. going
through the factory OF the Curtiss Com
pany to learn the finer points of the
Curtiss machines. Lieut. Harry Graham
will this week make his first flight
alone.
One other lieutenant will Join the
school shortly. his name being H. E.
Rockwell.
Want Ten Aviators.
1t Is the plan OF the Signal Corps to
have ten officers at the school, Now
since the death of Lieutenant HazIe-
hurst II will be necessary to detail an
other man besides Lieutenant Rockwell
In order to make the ten.
During the past year the ayiotors
have learned many fine points about
aviation. atni are today considered the
most reliable fiiers in America. Before
one passes his pilots license tett ro-
quired by the Aero Club OF America.
he also must pass an aerial examina-
ton prescribed by the Signal Corps even
| harder than that OF the Aero Club, one
test being to remain in the air two
hours. another to cover a distance Of
twenty miles without a stop, and to
ascend from and descend 10 plowed
ground.
One of the interesting possibilities
! that have been developed is the art Of
gliding from great attitudes with power
cut on. While the officers could do
| that before last July 1t was more or
| less OF a dangerous task, but now II is
one of the easiest things for them to
| do.
Many fatal accidents have happened
| head in the air when the engine went
dead. Not only have the army men
mastered this. but the professionals as
general rule.
Learn to Drop Bombs.
During the year they have discovered
a system of communicating with land
forces at great attitudes by dropping
"aerograms' to the earth. They also
have learned how to drop non-explosive
bombs, and no doubt in case OF a cam
paign could handle explosive bombs just
| as we'll.
They have learned to fly over a given
space. sketch position OF roads, rivers,
| swamps, and other information that
| would be OF vital importance in case OF
a war. They have learned to fly AT
| night, though In this experiment they
have only been successful but four
times. On each occasion the aviator
trip to College Park after a cross coun-
try ride and then landed bv big bon.
fires. This has opened up a wonderful
possibility and Lieut. Thomas De witt
Milling now is busy studying out some
means OF artificial light TO make night
flying as safe as day flying.
Although the sad death OF Lieutenant
Iinzle hurst threw a damper over thu
spirits Of the aviators. they neverth4
less feel that they are carrying on g
wonderful work. and have the consola
tIon that they stine day may go dowr
in history as pionenrs and martyrs lr
q causs worthy Of their best efforts.
The avu.ora themselves have adj
vancA1 the Hience of aviation. but 'h'
Government has maintained its appar
nnt Indifference toward aviation that !
has for the past three years. France