The chronicle=news., 1912-12-02
WHEN WILL The
AIRSHIP Be As SAFE
As AUTO IS NOW?

That question. in many forms. has
been asked many times. and. perhaps
not more often in other ccntcrs OF
aeroplane experiment than ut the
United States army aviation field IN
College park on the Potomac river.
near this city.
II During the summer College park
has been the scene OF n number OF
aeroplane accidents. several OF which
have brought death to daring avint-
ors. The war department. It may be
said. tactictly admits that there is cx-
ccptional risk connected with the as
xiEnment to the aviation corps. In
the call for volunteers the war de-
pa rtment states that applications Will
nor from slnsl. men who weigh more
than l75 pounds.
Il The foregoing limitations. coupled
with the fact that Insurance compan-
les are now deciinin; to insure sold
iers who accept aviation assignments.
has discouraged many prospective
and desirable volunteers In the army
from Fastening forward with their
applications.
The airship. military men say. Is
going to be an important engine Of
warfare rs well as valuable scout
Ing medium In the future. and II W..
expect to keep pace with European
nations. notably France. we must do
, more TO develop and less to rotary
the art OF aviation in our army.
In Europe It is pointed out. an as
signmcnt to military aviation corps
usually means Il material advance
ment In rank aud substantial In
crease In pay ~ present We are
fourteenth In the list OF nations hav-
Ing aerial xIuadrons. We are likely
to remain in that position for long
time to come. Il Is thought. unless
congress authorizes the war depart
mcnt here To offer Inducements to
volunteers similar to thos. which
have proved so popular with soldiers
abroad.
Congress may 30 further. II !s sug.
rcSted. and make military aviation
service safer IN addition to making Il,
more attractive. Aviato,s who con-
tinuc 10 practice the art Of flying
At regular intervals. the record
shows. seldom work over eighteen
months at their extremely dangerous
avocation without being killed. Out
side the army the lnre OF gold and
glory are the magnets that draw men
into 80 hazardous u field Of cndcnvor.
In tho army. however. men risk their
lives without any hope OF reward cv-
cry time they go up In an acroplanc.
France has an aerial fleet of sew
cral hundred airshirs. while the
United States army has only dozen
blpiares and the navy bu, three.
Nevertheless several Of our military
aviators are recognized as among the
best aerial navigators in the world.
Why. 1t l. asked. should no; CON
yress do its utmost to protect the
lives of these brave and sclf-sacrific-
ing men?
Now, le, MS GO back to the first
question. Can the airship be made
as safe as the automobile? Where
we have airshirn by the dozen we
have automobiles by the thousand:
so VIC must not jump to conclusions
in making comparisons. Today the
automobile is so safe. relatively. that
We are inclined to forget that not so
many years ago 1t was hated by the
general public. Without recalling
needless details. We are all aware OF
the fact that swiftly moving au'omo-
biles can be stopped SC quickly today
that accidents considering the num-
ber OF machines in daily use. are
rare; hence the average person no
longer holds any prejudice against
them.
Inventors have mastered the auto
mobile, and. sooner or later. they
will conquer the airship. Within
few years. the improvements being
made indicate tnat trips in the air
will not be considered much more
ycnturesome than voyages across the
ocean today.
Control the main essential. is al
ready practically assured. according
to current article in the Berlin
TaKliche Rundschau. which states
that the invention OF new aero
plane. capable OF being arrested in
its flight and held stationary at any
point desirrd. is announced by those
In close touch with German aviation
circles. The new aeroplane, it is as
serted, is constructed on principles
hitherto unapplied to aviation. and Is
equipped with two sets of motive ap-
parutus, one propeller to give II
forward horizontal motion. and the
other a set of four rotary lateral
planes or wings to HIT it into tie air.
These planes, which are driven by
three motors OF ! so horsepower each,
are said to have sufficient power to
life the aeroplare directly from the
ground Into the air without any pref