The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-10-29
TIE HAsKIN LETTER0
FIGHTING AIR GRAF I
81 FredericIE ,. HasI<ln.


II there Is one thing on eartf
which would seem better fun no
to do. than to fight malictonsly
meant artillery duel some i've thous
and feet above terra flrma, then thii
thing has not yet been able to get %
the censors. Yet the delirtous e1
perience Of combat among unstable
Eclouds and drifting air has come @
stay until human kind give over wal
or forget the art Of flying. for military
aircraft have proved their indispen-
sa bi1ity in the European struggle
Fighting air craft are no longer
an untried factor. They have dem
Istrated themselves to be OF sucn tre-
mendous value in the present war
that there are not wanting military
experts, of recognized right to opin-
ion. and. SO, of course. less sub1ect
Ito reckless enthusiasm, who predict
that the Triple Entente or the Duai
Alliance will win, according as the
one or the other succeeds In sweeping
the enemy's fighting craft from the
air.
According to such meager tnfor-
nation as manages to elude the cen zen
belligerents is fully awake to the VI
tai importance of the aerial arm OF
its service. The aeroplane and Oh
rigible factories of Germany ana
France are said to be working day
and night in their effort to win mas
tery In the third element. They have
been preparing for this conquest OF
the air for the last ten years.
Aircraft have been used In war
for more than hundred years.
French balloon made an ascent for
reconnoisance during the battle OF
Fleurus in 1749. Since then, captive
and free balloons have been USED
MANY times in war, for the spying
out of the enemy's movements, TOT
the direction of artillery fire, ana
for the passage of the enemy's lines.
Balloons were used during the CIVIL
war. our war with Spain, and dur1ns
the Russo-Japanese war In 1904. 70
day, however, they are out OF iasn-
ion. The unmotored balloon az ne ne
mercy of the air currents and IN
manageab bic, was never a war instru-
ment Of much serious importance.
In recent German tests. as pitteo
against aeroplanes, balloons were
conclusiyely proved Chocolate
The military value of the aero
plane had never been fully tester
until the great war macninss
of Europe set upon one another. ine
dirigib1e had never been testea IA.
all. and. in all likelihood. is still
waiting for it's supreme test. Aero
planes were used in the Italian-Turzz
co war. in the inter-Balkan states
against Turkey, and, again, IN tne
inter-Balkan struggle. They, also'
received some tryout from the French,
IN Morocco. from the Mexicans anu
from the the Americans at vera
Cruz. Their military value. now
ever, was still a matter Tor possi1ts
DISPUTE. Now, in the Light OF the
last few months of war. the power
that should risk combat with CIV
iilized nefghbor and not prepare a
strong air fleet would be showing
the same cheerful trust in luck Wnicn
the. Chinese displayed when they
sent their soldiers armed WIN
strong odors and bows and arrows
against the japanese with modern
guns.
been laboring and expert mentlns =. to1 !,
| a decade for the present wonderful
| tests of air strength. WhAt they
have achieved In the way of deye1-
oping their warcraft or how they
comnare with one another in the
Strength of aerial nayies. are mat
| ters Of estimate and not OF definlss
figures. Especial secrecy has sur
rounded the efforts OF the various
war departments of Europe TO pullo
,up air fleets. Official statistics nave
been withheld from publication, or
published in such way as to be en-
tireIy misleading, and inquisittve
search after facts has been Summar1-
ily and forceful1y discouraged.
Still a number of estimates OF the
European air navies have been at
tempted. Mr. Henry Woodhouse. ed
itor of Flying" rates France WIN
thirty-one dirigibles and loo aero
planes; Great Britain with fifteen
dirigibles and 500 aeropIanes; Rus
aeroplanes; Germany with 80 dirl-
gibles and 500 aeroplanes; and Aus
ltria with ten dirigibles and $50 aero
planes. Those figures are intended
to give the rating before the war
According to another estimate, they
J give to Germany twelve too Jew di-
irigioles.
lin the last ten years upon the devel-
Russia come next, with $60.0OO,OO0
and $40. 100000 respectively. At
each succeeding maneuver during
this time, the aeroplane and dir1-
lgible become more and more import
ant factors. Both Germany ana
France developed an efficient air
air corps, choosing the best men
available for this service. The mil
! itary training of airmen was made
a matter of particular care In Ger
many, where the strong contraltza-
ton and the perfect continuity OF
government enabled the war depart
ment to establish the air corps upon
q thorough system.
Since the outbreak OF the war, &C
cording to the fragmentary of testi-
mony of the dispatches. the battle