The Washington herald., 1913-08-08
WOOD EXPECTS
TO Set RECORD
Aviator viii Race Railroad
Train from New York
Today,
LANDING AT FORT MYER
Amy and Navy officials viii Watch
Demonstra6ons Of the Powers Of
Moisant Monoplane.
LANDING AT FORT MYER
By J. STUART PRICE.

c. Murvin Wood, an aviator Of the
Moisant camp at Garden City, L. l.,
this morning expects to land his Moisant
monoplane at Fort Myer. after breaking
the nonstop distance record by flying
from Hampstead, l.. l., to this city. a
distance OF $50 miles. II the flight Is
successful, Wood will make the return
trip this afternoon, starting from Fort
Myer at about 3 o'clock.
A special train Of the Pennsylvania
Railroad will pace Wood. The aviator.
who will fly a specially built war aero
plane. which 1t is hoped by the Moisant
company will be accepted by the gov
eminent. will give the train handi-
cap Of thirty miles. He Is to leave
Hampstead at 40 o'clock this morning.
The train will start from the Pennsyl-
vania station, in Manhattan. at the same
time. When Wood sights the train he
will make for the Pennsylvania tracks.
He expects to pass the special without
much trouble. 1t is estimated he will
be required to make eighty miles an
hour to arrive here on schedule time.
Wood will leave Fort Myer shortly
after landing, and. in company with ].
r. Hall. representative of the Aoisant
company, will motor to the New Willard.
He will return to Fort Myer at noon.
when ne will give a demonstration Of
the powers Of his machine before OFF,
Gals OF the State, War, and Navy De-
partments.
starts Back at 3 o'clock.
1t is planned to start on the return
trip at o'clock. The delegations Of
New Workers invited to attend, will
watch Woods progress from the spe-
cial train. The trip is to be managed
by the Aero Club, and will be observed
by it representatives at each city along
the route.
serted by the army aviators, interest in
aviation has Jagged considerably in
Washington. The proposed race from
New York to Washington and return to-
Gay. between a fast Moiant monoplane
and a special express over the Penn
sylvania Railroad. brings to mind the
much-regretted fact that the United
States government is completely out
ranked by at least six foreign nations
in the number of aeroplanes used in
the army.
France. Germany. England, Russia, and
many other nations fully appreciate The
wonderful possibilities Of the heavier
than-air machine. In 1905 the United
States government was the first to recog-
nize the military future of the aero
plane. Since then this government has
bought but few machines as compared
with the hundreds purchased by foreign
countries
Combining the flying craft Of both the
Unite States Army and Navy this coun-
try could not muster an aerial fleet
Of more than twenty-five.
Their Value Proved.
During the war between Italy and
Turkey. and also during the Balkan
struggle. the monoplane and biplane
proved their worth an asset to a nations
offensive and defensive str tn.
Continuous fights of several hundred
miles have been made by monoplanes
and biplanes. What would prevent
France, Germany, or England from
bringing on board battleships a feet of
aircraft, to be sent flying over the coast
cities Of this country when a hundred
miles or SO out from sea? 1t IL possible
now to launch a monoplane or biplane
from the deck Of a battleship. This
makes an invasion Of this country by
superior fleet of aeroplanes possible.
Other nations are appropriating mil
lions each year to build up great flying
squadrons. The most Congress ever has
appropriated Is 100000.
Where Uncle Sam could put twenty
five biplanes of ordinary speed into ser
vice. France can press into use six
hundred monoplanes and biplanes.
Murvin Woods proposed flight to
Washington today. should he be successful
In making the trip without mishap,
ought to convince those responsible for
this country's slowness In organizing a
strong aerial fleet that the flying ma
chine IL no longer an experiment. but
q reality with a future great with possi-