The Washington herald., 1912-09-30
ARMY AVIATION
WILL CONTINUE
Although Death of Lieut.. Rockwell
and Corp. Scott Is Deplored,
Work Will Keep On.
ADDITIONS. TO CORPS TO BE MADE

The deaths OF Lieut.. L C. Rockwell
and Corp. Frank S. Scott. as the re-
suit OF an accident to the aeroplsne
which the young officer was operating
at the army aviation field at College
Park. Nd. will have no effect upon the
steps toward the future development OF
military aviation in the United States.
Capt Charles De Forest Chandler.
commanding the aviation school at Col
lege Park. said last night:
1T is sad. of course. to lose our men.
but the work will not stop. 1t has been
begun. and, although it is a blow to have
such accidents. We cannot quit
Similar statements were made by other
army officials. The question has been
raised following each OF the five fatal
tiles which have occurred among the
army aviators. Officers engaged in the
development Of aviation regard its future
use in warfare as absolutely inevitable.
just IS much so as the other branches
of modern military science. In this con-
nection they point to the great strides
in aviation which the United States
Army must make to keep abreast OF the
countries OF Europe.
The board OF inquiry appointed by
Capt. Chandler Immediately after the
accident on Saturday to determine, IL
possible, the cause of the tragedy has
completed its investigation, and will
make its report to-day to Lieut.. Col
George P. Scriven, acting chief signal
officer Of the army.
To Exonernte Dead Lieutenant.
While the officers composing the board
of inquiry refused yesterday to discuss
their findings until after their report has
heen submitted, it N8 learned last night
from an authoritative source that Lieut..
D. nil H. I'LL.
of any blame, and that they are OF the
opinion that the accident was caused by
the failure OF one of the control wires to
work properly. An examination of the
wrecked machine showed that all of the
various controls were in perfect condi-
ton. The officers are convinced from
their observation of the fall that there
must have been something wrong with
one of the wires. The fall will be at
tributed to damned or caught control
or guide wire.
Arrangements for the funeral of Lieut..
Rockwell and Corpl. Scott had not been
completed last night. Officials at the
War Department have been awaiting the
arrival of Lieut.. Rockwells mother and
Corpl SCOTS sister.
Lieut.. Rockwelrs mother and two
sisters are expected to arrive in Wash
ington early this morning from Cas-
cade. N. Y. Until they make known
their wishes to army officials funeral
arrangements will not be completed.
The body may be laid to rest in Airing
ton, near the grave OF Lieut.. Leighton
w. Hazlehurst, who met a similar fate
in June. or his mother may insist that
the body be taken to his old home for
burial.
The following officers have been de-
tailed for aeronautical duty with the
Signal Corps at College Park, Md:
First Lieut.. Joseph D. Park. Fourteenth
Cavalry; First Lieut. Lewis E. Cooler,
jr., Coast Artillery Corps: First Lieut..
Loren H. Call, Coast Artillery Corps;
Second Lieut.. Eric L. Ellington. Third
Cavalry. and Second Lieut.. Lewis H
Brereton. Coast Artillery Corps
As result OF the injuries received
at Augusta, Ga, last March when he
fell fifty feet in Curtiss biplane
Lieut.. Frank NJ. Kennedy. one Of the
youngest of the aviators in the United
States army. will be forced to give I'D
flying at least for one year. and Second
Lieut.. William c. Sherman, Corps of
Engineers, has been detailed in his
place. to take effect upon the compile
ton Of his course at the Engineer
School, Washington Barracks.