Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-10-18

European War Responsible for
Plans to Build Up This
Country's Equipment.

Washington, Oct. 17.-Tests are to
be carried out this week at the Avi-
alton school of the United States ar
my at SanDiego, CAL, for the purpose
Of developing the aerOplane best
adapted to military purposes. All the
leading manufacturers of aeroplanes
in this country have been invited to
place their type of aeroplane in COM
petition at the San Diego grounds,
and there have been about a dozen
entries. &.
Since the European wal began there
have been inquiries as to the extent
of aerial work in the United States
army. Under the general direction
of Brigadier George P. Scriven, chief
signal officer, and the immediate com
mand of Capt. A. S. Cowen, there are
now in training at San Diego 81 Off
GERS and about 10 enlisted men and
civilians. An important adjunct is
the staff of expert civilian employees,
including areonautical engineers,
highly trained machinists and engine
builders, some of whom receive sal
aries as high as $4,000 per annum.
The corps is equipped with ten aero
planes and flying boats and will soon
be in possession of four more, now
under construction.
If, in the coming test at San Diego,
five or more machines qualify under
the conditions which the war depart
ment will set, the government will
purchase the three which make the
greatest number of points, agreeing
to pay $4,000 for the first, &c. 900
for the second and $4,000 for the
third. The experience of the aviators
in the European war has shown that
one of the most desired qualifications
is the ability of the aviator to rise
quickly, SO as to gain tie. advantage
in position over an antagonist or to
escape rife-fre. Therefore, the de.
partment's specifications require that
to be accepted, a machine must he
able to climb 1000 feet in ten min.
utes with a useful load of $50 pounds,
It must he Of the biplane type with
an enclosed passenger compartment;
two seated, with dual control and
with a maximum speed not less than
70 and a minimum speed of not more
than 40 miles per hour, whepy carry
ing fuel and oil for a four-hour flight
at 70 miles per hour. The, engine
must be in front Of the occupants
and the machine must be able to glide
at an angle not to exceed l on G.
Finally, the machines must qualify
by making a no-stop flight of -four
hours.
1t is probable that the signal corps
will place long orders for the man
ufacturers of such machines as may
successfully pass through the test.
While details of the performance Of
aeroplanes in the European armies
have not as yet reached the war de
partment through it's military at
taches, it is believed these have beer
so important as to demand a com
plete reorganization of military tao
tics. 1t is now practically impossi
BILE for a commander to mask the
movement. Of his troops or the dis
position of his artillery, so that
henceforth battles probably must be
decided. not by strategic movements
on the field SO much as by the origi
nal strength of the opposing forces
Consequently, in the opinion Of the
general staff, victory must come tc
the side that enters war most thor
oughly prepared in equipment anl
with organized forces.