The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-11-21
SEES AVIATION A BIG
FACTOR IN FUTURE WARS
Continued from First PAGE.

of equal power with all his faculties.
with the Panama canal as well as
our coast fortiiications to be protect
ed not only from attack by land and
water, hut also from the air. steps
must be taken TO train a sufficient and
efficient naval air service able To cope
with the best air fleets of the world.
If "A time of crisis or sudden national
peril were to come upon us now. the
service Of the aviation reserve would
be beyond estimate. ] am one of those
who believe in this future and with
suitable assistance from Congress will
strive to bring aeronautics in nv
service abreast of the important no.
sition 1T holds in the various navies Of
the world.
France has led I'm the develorment
and use of heavier than air machines
and has a larger aerial war feet than
any other nation. She is said to have
now 600 aeroplanes, 900 aviators, T.
dirigible balloons and 400 balloon nj
lots. One authority says she will
spend next year s7,iOO.OOO on mill
tary flying. Another authority states
that the military grant in 1912 was
about $4,600,000 while a national
subscription of about $500, 900 was
raised in addition, which has already
supplied ~ aeroplancs with 9S more
to come ere this year is ended.
France has,, for the most part, re-
lied upon her aeroplane service for
scouting. mining and the command Of
the air by the destruction Of a pos
sible enemy's air craft. though she has
10 dirigibes with more building.
Germany Leads in Diraibles.
While France was devoting her
genius TO perfection of the heavier
than-air craft, Germany at enormous
cost in men and money, took the lead
in the development of the lighter
than-air machine. The latest model
of battle airshp i'm the German navy
has a speed of 45.7 qnots per hour. car
ries a useful load of 1900 pounds and.
with crew and ballast. can carry fuel
enough for 80 hours at FUN speed and
to l,37l knots: or at half power for
60 hours. at 80 knots, and go 2,16O.
The ship is armed with two one
Founders and four Maxims and has n
wireless outfit for 300 miles. Germany
owns Is mine laying and scouting air
ships. with five privately owned avail
able. She has eXcelled any other ma
ton in providing the sheds and har-
bors, adequate in number and strate-
gle in location. for the use Of her air
fleet
Italy has been active i'm the air. |
chiefly under the army auspices. She
possesses eight dirgihles and a large
of aeroplanes. She is ar
for IL flying squadrons, one
for each army corps.
Great Britain neglected the air
problem until aroused by the growinr
air fleets of France and Germany. and |
she has now created an air depart
inent in the admiralty and war do
partments, a Central Royal FLYING
School. with naval ami military wings
The strength of the army air corns
in April this year was 1913 officers and |
sos men.
Russia has dirgibles, acroplanes |
and even ships in her navy which
are equipped solely with aeroplarc
and Wireless. Russia, it is said. has
spent $4,000, 900 upon army and navy
aviation.
Proposes Memorial to Wriaht.
I'm conclusion, therefore, let me say
that since 4 was Wilbur Wright who
first gave aviation its impetus by ac. |
tually flying, il would be a handsome
thing for the American people. who
are proposing all sorts of monuments
To Wright, to perpetuate his memory
In the way he would have most an.
proved. by erecting. at the Langley
Laboratory a handsome memorial,
building. i'm which tn house the first
and instruments OF the
new National Institution. His fame
is national and Wright Memorial
building at the National Laboratory
would show that our pride In his
work IL not confined TO any particular
Iaoalituv