Gilpin observer., 1912-09-26
AERoRXA1IE Sc01zZ7Vd-

maintain and the heights to which they ascend
give them tremendous advantage.
THE army aeroplane which the United States
expects to depend upon In case of hostile DEM
onstrations will carry $500 rounds Of ammuni-
ton. which 1t may discharge at the rate Of 500
minute. 1t travel 104 miles an hour.
carry enough fuel to 60 460 miles, stay up 11A
hours and climb to an altitude of 1888 feet
That is what has been done. and what aero
planes have done they do again.
Then the army like the navy expects to
make good Of the hydro-aeroplane, which
may alight upon. skim through and fly from the
water readily 1t does from land and from
plowed land well from level ground. Its
use would be mostly for observation OF the
emy at long distances.
What models are we now using?"
We'll. we have only Wright, Curtiss and Bur-
CESS Wright machines at present. but when the
money is forthcoming it is likely that we will
purchase some of the best of the foreign
chimes Should the necessity arise the United
States would certainly acquire the best products
Of modern invention to the complement of her
own supply.
Our present trouble is already have
machines than we have officers competent to
handle them. We must have more men who
are qualified to fill the requirements exacted for
this work
Successful aviation is a scientific problem
which, like every other wonderful achievement,
is only success after each detail is perfectly
worked out. The first great essential in the
practical of aviation in military tactics lies
in the necessity for safety in flying.
What would be the use of the government
spending money to train officers and soldiers
to the fine point necessary for successful airmen
only to have them meet mishap and DEATH to
say nothing of the losses through the destruc-
tion Of valuable machines representing the out
lay of thousands Of dollars Flying may be- will
be. as safe as any other mode of travel.
This is one Of the problems which gov
ernment experts working upon They
have already settled upon automati arrange
ments which should materially lessen the num-
ber of mishaps and fatalities. 1t is the unex-
pected which happens, taking man off his
guard for an instant. which experience and study
will avert"
General Allen believes that the requirements
for an army aviator include physical perfection
Only commissioned officers Of the army and mi
litia need apply and before they be admit
ted to any Of the aviation schools they must
pass rigorous physical examination.
To forecast what the war of the future may
mean It is only necessary to look over the field
of modern Invention in the production OF death
dealing weapons.
Battles will be fought in the clouds with ma.
chine rifles which throw out streams of bullets
aerial torpedoes which may be released by
levers strapped to the feet Of the aviator, bombs
OF powerful explosive which tear men and
horses to bits and the German aero guns which
send down brittle bombs containing $50 pounds
OF chemicals that upon exploding fill the atmos-
phere with poisonous gases calculated to kill
every living thing within 500 yards.
To overcome the disadvantages of the dark.
ness there is an electrically controlled search
light which may be suspended hundreds of feet
below the airship and thus illuminate for a brief
time the OF attack. Thus the flying artil-
leryman may see Just where he wants his fire
to strike. while he remains safe In his iron or
steel sheathed ship high above the danger of
being seen or hit. Then there is bomb which
leaves trail OF smoke by day and a line of
fire at night to mark Its course
For disabling aeros from the ground there ia
the American automobile gun said to be able
to discharge 100000 bullets hour requiring
but two men to handle 1t and performing the
work Of thirty regiments besides many others
for vertical firing. The Japanese have n moi.
sonous gas filed bomb which will explode and
fill the air with fumes guaranteed to overcome
any airmen within 100 yards Of its explosion
According to some strategists the next war
will be thrashed out largely by airships and most
probably in semi-darkness In the late twilight
OF evenings and in the gray dawn the airshins
will come forth from their sheds and hangers to
pursue their stealthy flights OF observation and
destruction.
With the twinkling lights Of the campires
of the enemy. the solitary signals of approach.
ing ships or the vague black shapes OF the scat.
tered houses in some sleeping village all open
to their observation they swiftly and silently
steal along overhead and fre their missiles OF
destruction upon the unsuspecting enemy and
away out Of reach before there is any DOS
sibility of their being or damaged
With the accuracy which constant target
practice gives even n small heet of these instrr
with their dropping shells and bombs. When
these winged foes meet in contest 1t will be to
the feet that IL the swiftest and more darins
that the vietory VIII bslonE.