Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-11-07

and the adaptation of the flying machine to the
needs Of the army and the navy in time of war.
These officer students have gone into the work
with that spirit of professional devotion which is
az the utmost value to the promotion of helpful
knowledge, aud they have generally avoided
those hairratsing performances which are val
liable only as an asset for the Snowman.
These caImminded devotees-the term
thusiasts might be msleading-have earnestly
striven to make the most out of the instruments
placed in their hands, but in doing this they
have made more than fatal stumble despite
their caution. The use of the aeTOplane in re-
cent military maneuveTs has eXacted its dolefuI
price and it is time that due thought was given
some of these many accidents. Strange as it
may seem, the recent mishaps which have been
most suggestiyely illuminating have been those
that were generally not fatal in their conse-
Quences, although some have exacted the lives
of the participants
On March Is at Johannisthal just outside of
Berlin, flying machine driven by Schade and
an aeroplane handled by Rettinger came to-
gether while in the air a short distance above
the ground The machines were instantly smash
ed and sent crashing to the earth. Neither Of
the avators injured. but a passenger was
hurt UnquestiOnably, this collision brought
about by the mutual effect of the disturbed air
between the two machines. The next mishap of
a kindred character occurred at Douai. France,
on June 10, but with disastrous results. Captain
Dubois and Lieutenant Megnan. both OF the
fog. and drove into each other while going at
high speed. Lieutenant Meignan was killed al
most instantly and Captain Dubois died in the
hospital a few hours later The machines were
spntered by the collision Here We have
counterpart of conditions which have so often
caused trouble upon the water. but conditions
which may be even more frequent aIoft under
atmospheric circumstances of common occur
renee OF course, the gravity of a collision in
the air is unfortunately increased by the neces-
sariiy high speed at which the flying machine
must advance in order to sustain itself in flight
On June 20 at Ankles Baines. Mile Helene
Dutrieu, while aloft. fell upon two ascending
monopianes, and all three machines dropped to
the ground in a heap, The two neither avatOrs
were pretty seriously bruised, but Mile Dutrieu
uninjured, fortunately falling upon the
DERIVING machines and thus having the force Of
her drop greatly lessened Undoubtedly Mile
Dutrieu hit hole in the air and her mono
plane started earthward before she could check
or control its descent by a gliding volplane. The
question is What caused that hole in the air?
Did the movement of the two ascending aero
planes create the disturbance which narrowly
escaped causing a serious CatastrOphe2 This has
been answered by subsequent accidents
Two French army officers, Lieutenants Briez
and Burlez. on July started for RelfOrt on the
eastern frontier. leaving the aeronautic station
AZ Villa CoubIav, just outside of Paris Lieuten-
ant Briez had the start of his associate, and was