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

 At the present time Uncle Sam is falling behind in the matter of advancing the art of the new science of aviation among the rank and file of the masses, which has led many writers to infer that France, Germany and England will eclipse the United States, particularly in the develop ment of military and naval aeronautics, which in the future is destined to play ! tremendous part in the preservation of nations.
 MT. Berger, however, Is optimistic about the question: and over at the offices of the Business Mems league, said that if this country and all American cities will work In harmony that in the future the Goddess of Liberty will reign supreme on terra firma and above 1t will be the Stars and Stripes.
 Make America Queen of the Air There should be a more concentrated movement in this country to develop avia- tion and especially military aeronautics, says MT. Berger. This country is drop ping woefully, behind France. Over in our sister republic the large appropria- tion made by the French government for military aviation in 1912 has stirred the French manufacturers and aviators to re- newed activity. In addition to this from
 
 practical demonstrations of the enthu- siasm that has been aroused among the people in the effort to make France lead In aeronautics.
 Towns are voting various sums; athletic associations are arranging that gate money from their exhibitions will be given toward buying army aeroplanes and in many instances the hat has been passed around among the spectators at aviation n aeroplane fund.
 Paris banks propose to endow the army with aeroplanes. special industries for cot- lecting funds for aeropanes which will bear the name of the individual industry which provides them, and the Chatelet, a Paris theatre, has undertaken to make collections at certain performances, the sum to be devoted to purchasing an aero- plane for the army. In short, France has coined new watchword, which means -Four future is in the air."
 Time for America to Wake Up The United States and her individual cities should wake up and get busy in promoting aviation and military aero- nautics. The American newspapers should show great interest and financial support tor the same. A great impetus has been F, -.1 to aviation in Paris by the prompt response of the Paris press, headed by IL the contribution of $1o,00o, followed by La Journal and Le Petit Journal and Le Petit Parisien, each subscribing a similar amount. The Paris Press association is forming a national executive committee, which is to organize the campaign. part of which is the arrangement of aviation meetings all over France, the same as the Berger aviators conduct meets all over America only over in France the proceeds will be handed over to the war ministry French aeroplane manufacturers are lend Ing aeroplanes and giving the services of hviators free of all charge.
 Theatrical Aviation League Formed It would be a good idea for theatrical managers in this country to get together Ind show their interest as they do in France. A theatrical aviation league is now being formed, for which all the lead hg theatres will give shortly special mat hees. It has Mime. Sarah Bernhardt and hounet-Sully as presidents and will pre- lent several monoplanes bearing the James of the principal French actors and actresses. Among other combinations for he support of aerial defense may be men, ioned the school children, who have opened 1 cent fund with their teachers; Ele insurance companies, the employees in arge Paris stores and shops, the precious tone merchants, who will give an aero plane called ",rhe Diamond,' while shoot hg, fishing and hunting clubs are to be represented by three aeropianes called The Marksman," ''The Fisherman" and The Huntsman'
 The various boroughs of Paris are open- ng separate funds and subscriptions are touring in at the offices of the mayor. Such machines may be called the Third Paris" or '"The Ninth Paris" according b the number of the contributing arron- Easements.
 The colonies have also gotten into line. An aeroplane to be called "The Islam will be purchased by fund opened by hussulmans, amid scenes of the greatest nthusiasm in Algiers recently. Nor is he support confined to French subjects Ilone, a well known Polish nobeman hay ng just presented 5000, touched, as he lays, by the splendid heroism of French nrmen. Now why cannot some Ameri- ans do likewisess There is far more wealth iere than in Europe, and men who can imply afford to encourage this great lcience.
 Should Get Busy
 At the Squantum meet, where C1aud srahame-W White. a Berger. aviator, did mch splendid work, the Boston Globe of boston. Mass, had a prize up of Sl0,00O Offers from other newspapers for the ad- tancement of aerial work should follow remarkable feature of the subscription
 
 portion of poor persons who send in lew cents each. This aspect of the move- nent throws vivid light on the pride Aken in military aeronautics by the lower ,lasses of the population and is regarded Is a most hopeful sign of the vital force If the nation.
 Thus a collection in ward of a Paris hospital for the poor. which produced 19 Nnts only, although every inmate contrib ,ted something was duly forwarded to he committee. Even impoverished vet Tans of the Franco-Prussian war have forwarded sums varying from 10 cents to i, and many mothers and wives send mall sums, according to their means. in memory of a relative killed in the con tuest of the air.
 Among the numerous ingenious devices 'or raising money the most interesting proposed aviation stamp on some what the same lines as the tuberculosis ltamps were sold in this country. It will pe of the value of about three-ffths of