The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-04-07


 cent and be affixed to letters. It is hoped that the government will see it's way to have them on sale at every postoffice in France and so permit even the humblest members of society to participate in one of the most amazing examples ofs na- tional cooperation of modern times.
 Reach High Figure
 The public subscriptions to the military aviation fund in France has reached a. l total of s2S0, 900, enough to provide % ad- ditional aeropanes and biplanes already owned by the French government. places that country far beyond competition in that particular branch of the military | service.
 The United States seems to be badly outc1assed at present by at least i've other countries in the size and efficiency of it's aerial fleet. The French govern I ment alone has a sufficient number of aeroplanes to invade our country on its borders without meeting with any great aerial resistance. Although this country was the first to realize the possibilities of 1 the aeroplane as an agency of war. 1t has dropped far behind in later progress ], of the science.
 Even Germany Now Ahead
 According to the latest reports Germany is going ahead with aviation far beyond
 
 which calls for big aerial fleet An as- soclation has been formed for the pur- | pose of promoting national enthusiasm for military aviation. The work will be carried on along the same lines as the | great campaign recently inaugurated in France. In order to block the efforts of I France to become a superior force of the | air. this association will issue an appeal | to the nation to subscribe funds to fur nish the army and navy with fleet of aeroplanes capable of resisting the efforts of France to secure mastery of the air. In 1908 S1, ,500, GOO was raised In one month | by popular subscription on behalf of Count l Zeppelin, and 1t is believed that this now movement will at least equal, if not out | strip that record.
 | The Kaiser and Prince Henry of Prussia | have supported aerial navigation in the army and navy and thanks to their inter- | est, instruction in military aviation has made rapid progress. It is believed that | by the end of 1912 Germany will haev not | less than 400 qualified pilots. Substantial progress is also being made with dirigibe and in point of speed, mobility, carrying | capacity, the Zeppelin, Parseval and Sie- | mens-Shuckert types have all undergone remarkable improvements in the last six months
 John Bull Getting Into Game
 
 France in the matter of expenditure for | aeroplanes The army budget which has l just been presented to parliament carries | an appropriation of sS500O0 to be devoted | to the development of aviation in the 1 British army. A complete military avia- 1 ton school has been established at Sails | bury Plain, the great maneuverlng l ground of the English army, where off cers will be taught to operate the various types of aircraft
 | The British military competition is the most important step in military aviation | in England, outside of the budget pro- vision. This competition will be held in June next and is open to the aeroplane l manufacturers of the world.
 l The British builders protested against | this condition, for they did not want | Uncle Sam to get into their field, but the | military authorities showed a broad and liberal policy, desiring to acquire the best, no matter where 1t may come from, have thrown the competition open. A total of s55.000 in prizes has been offered in this competition. If all the $S50,000 called for In the budget is spent for aeroplanes the British army will increase Its aerial equip ment by 160 percent
 Aeronautical Show a Start
 After the big meet at the Alabama State Fair grounds there will be many people, no doubt, who will wish to pur- chase aeroplanes, having become inter ested in the new art and to them as well as to the general rank and file of admirers of aviation, the big aeronautical show which takes place in the New Grand Central Palace in New York. from May g to IS inclusive, will be both instructive and valuable. The various Berger aero- planes participating at the big spring ceie- bration can be purchased at the big show in New York, in duplication as well as other types of aircraft. The big show is the right start in the right direction to create national interest and enthusiasm.
 The affairs of the show. according to a. Berger aviator who has arrived from New York. are progressing nicely. A large number of the best manufacturers in the business have secured choice spaces. Among these are Curtiss. Gallaudet. Be- land, White Aeroplane company, Twombly Motors, Baby Model Engines, Goodrich Frontier Goodyear, Sturtevant, Electric Speedometer company, Roberts. Diamond, American Aeroplane company, Magnetoa, Kirkham Maxams Motors, Aerial Con struction company, A. F. Mangels, Aero, Aeronautics, F. A. o. Schwartz, W. A. O. Frost and H. W. Jacobs.
 Loan exhibits will be made of various foreign machines, including the Paris- Madrid winner. Nieuport, Farman. An toinetto, Morane. Deperdussin and Bleriot. while home exhibits are promised of the Curtis Gordon-Bennet winner of 1909, pos sibly of the first Curtiss water machine. "The Loom" the Burgess Flying Fish," chanute Gliders wind tunnel and other laboratory apparatus in working order from the Queen company. and 1t Is hope fully expected to have the original power machine of the Wright Brothers and one of the Kitty Hawk gliders.
 The management is counting. too. on live exhibits from the weather bureau, the navy and the signal corps of the army, and it Is expected to have one of the ma chimes now being built for the army under the latest order.
 Morane Monoplane to Be Here Among the machines which will be at the show. which is the first in America, will be the Morane monopane, and this aircraft will be seen at the aviation meet automobile show and races at the Ala bara State Fair grounds. for the first time in this country. Berger aviator will pilot the craft, which is a strange one in many ways. It has been doing some wonderful work. It is almost en- l tirely constructed of metal. including the landing gear. which is built up of oval steel tubes The landing gear is not pro- I .t..