The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-02-25

BrindeJonc des MOulinais had toured
the capitals Of Europe and two be.
sides Vedrines have reached Egypt
from France. Yet thess Journeys pale
before the difficulties Of the race
around the globe.
1t 10 to be noted. however. that the
history Of aviation Is one succession of
surprises. Scarcely anything Of i'm
portance accomplished has not been
called impossible beforehand. Avia-
tors have done so much that one hest.
tates to doubt their ability to do any.
thing.
Special aeroplanss will be constructs
ed Tor the race. These will probably
be swift but not built for the maxi.
mum speed. They wilt make cay
so miles an hour. Reliability will be
the object. There Will be accommo.
dations for two men. both pilots.
who will relieve each other at tho ill.,
ler. A large supply OF fuel and oil
must be carried. 1t will be splen-
did test for the machine builders and
most Of tho factories on both sides Of
the Atlantic are expected 10 be In the
held.
In the United States the following
constructors have tentatively signified
their willingness to build a "round the
world plane: Glenn II. Curtiss OF
Hammondsport, n. Y, Orville Wright
OF Dayton. Ohio; w. Startling Burgess
OF Marblehead, Mass; Thomas
Benoist Of st. Louis, Emile Berliner
OF Washington, d. c.; the Heinrich
Brothers OF Baldwin, l.. l.; John r.
Sloane Of New York City, Edison F.
Gallaudet. Of Norwich. Comm. and
ngles Uppercut, Of New York City.
There are now 1000 licensed ayia-
tors in the world. Out OF this held
there must DO several hundred who
would attempt the proposed hight If
the haancal backing were forthcom-
Ing. The frat man In America to
get in his entry was Beckwish Havens
Captain Mathew A. Batson, Of Savan-
nah. Ca. q former army osTicer. who
10 the inventor Of q dying boat. an.
nouncss he will enter the race. Lin.
coin Beachy will also compete. From
abroad como many expressions show.
Ing enthusiasm for the race.
Tho time before tho start Is short.
however. BY May /. few could have
their machines In readiness at the
Golden Gate. Claude Graham. White.
the noted English aviator. thinks the
exposition ofncials should take of
the time limits entirely. He thinks
the trip around the globe cannot be
made this summer but might be ac-
complished' in 1916. He said:
They (the exposition odlcials)
might as we'll offer $1o.OOO.0 900. It Is
as safe as in the Bank Of England II
the offer is to be withdrawn Mt the
end Of 1915. ! do not believe you
would have time now to get machine
ready even II you worked day and
night.
81 think II would need 70 be 4 com.
paratively slow machine for The race:
that is. one doing 90 miles an hour.
I certainly would not have q mono
plane. for I do not think mouoplane
lends itself to a big
weight-lifting machine"
The London Daily Mail. Lord
NorthciifYe's Newspaper. doubts that
the feat can DO accomplished. It
says:
The Exhibition Committees offer
indicates remarkable confidence In the
future Of aircraft though there 10 lit
tie prospect Of the feat being accom-
plished by the proposed date. But 1t
IL merely q question OF time before
an airman puts girdle around tho
world"
Roland Garros said:
They can count me in provided
oceans are eliminated. as in the case
OF an automobile trip. and other con-
ditions are decently fair. am one
aviator who will not attempt the i'm
possible. I am positive that no engine
oday could stand the whole journey.
Without having to fly across the
oceans, ] believe l could accomplish
the feat with one cngine, provided
were allowed to repair it,
Captain Thomas Baldwin. IL veteran
OF the balloon field before he took up
tcroplancs, said the greatest difficulty
would be to cross the Atlantic Ocean
and for this trip special machines
with arrangements to carry provis-
ions and fuel for twenty hours at
least must be constructed.
"EyCCUt for the flight acrOao the