Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-18
NV An boAT LYING

is said TO be contemplating flight In 10
across the English channel.
Incidentally. hydro-aeroplane flights
over water comparatively safe, he
cause the wind conditions generally
safer than the land. and in case oc
fall there is less danger to the aviator.
THE very latest development Of TIE hy
dro-aeroplane-ore in which are now
interested-is the new invention OF Glenn
Curtiss which lie calls the flying boat
I have looked forward to this Develop
ment for some time expecting that sooner
or later the navy would have importsne
use for such a machine In rough water.
In this machine the hydroplane the body.
and the tail of the machine are all in one.
forming a more or less fish-shaped boat
with wings Besides its advantages in
rough water this machine has the virtue
of offering a body more commodious for
instruments more comfortable to the
aviator and giving less head-resistance.
So, in our recent specifications | have
promised special consideration TO designs
einbodying such boat structure.
IF possible we want to eliminate gaso-
burning motors from the navy's hy-
dro-aeroplane because the storage of this
fuel aboard a man-of-war is a danger
Gus proposition. The small amount or
gasoline now carried on board ship for
motor boats is stored upon the upper
decks. where il be Immediately
thrown overheard in case Of action or OF
extra premium will be given for
efficient motor operated by fuel-oil or any
fluid whose storage aboard ship is not
dangerous
a great deal Of effort is being expended
both here and abroad to perfect fuel
oil motor for aeroplanes and automobiles.
Such fuel-oil engines as now exist are
out OF the question Tor aeroplanes
account OF their weight but l know OF
some promising efforts now being made
which viii probably put new face on
this problem much sooner than is gen.
orally anticipated by aeroplane builders.
Indeed, from what / know is being done
along this line right here in America, I
am sanguine OF having a fuel-oil motor
for our nydro-aeroplanes within year.
But it is not absolutely necessary to use
fuel oil in order to overcome the gasoline
problem. Steam could be used in small
turbines. ii being generated by fuel oil
alcohol, which is less dangerous
Are you now able to send wireless
messages from your hydro-aeroplanes
while they are lowering over the sea-?
Yes, but neither here abroad can
this be done from aeroplanes of any kind
with entire satisfaction yet. We can
transmit over distances of from ten To
twelve miles, but the apparatus still
weighs more than want to allow.
However. improvements along this line
are going forward fast 1 anticipate
that will soon have instrumenr
transmitting for sixty miles and weighs
ing not more than fifty or sixty pounds.
VIII war aeroplanes render warshpa
useless or will high-angle guns operated
from ship or shore make aeroplanes help
less as war agents? Which Will win in
the competition between instruments oe
offense and defense-the battleship the
acceptance" | asked Capt. Chambers.
Don't forget that, If necessary. aero-
planes will be used for defense as we'll
as offense said he. THE problem oe
offense and defense has been pretty evenly
divided since the days of Adam and Eve.
i have no patience with extremists who,
as soon as new instrument OF war is
invented, go about predicting that the
battleship must now disappear from the
face of the seas. Greater effectiveness OF
: the battleship always accompanies THAI
of the very auxiliaries that are devised To
sound its death knell
Means for keeping aeroplanes at safe
, distance from battleships will doubtless
: be perfected by our navy. But aeroplanes
will not be as dangerous TO men-of-War
will submarine boats. l have little
/ patience with those geniuses who lay SO
much stress upon the artillery side OF
aviation. The question OF firing guns az
| or from aeroplanes is easy compared with
that OF making aeroplanes more efhcienc
! in flying"
|. What. then, will be the principal func-
4 ton of your hydro-aeroplahe fleet In case
of war;"
, principally for scouting and observ-
I ing" replied the captain. They will be
! very useful in many ways to battleshpS
! reconnaissance of harbors. observation
! of an enemys submarines and mine
a fields You know, the aviator when up
!, above the water has the ability of tha
, fish hawk 10 look deep down below tha
: surface of the waves Lately there was
a taken from an aeroplane the photograph
: of a submerged vessel forty or fifty feet
under water The outlines of the hull
r came out perfectly clear. This achieves
: ment suggests the hydro-aeroplane's fur
Their value as a means of discovering
c,rhr
) ton
Copyright 1912. by hn Elfreth watkinsD