Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-01


ascensional current; the manner OF n.y.
ing; special mathematics applied to
avionnerie: algebraical and graphic
calculations combined: resistance OF
materials; study of their elastic prop
critics. their utilization in avionnerie:
studies and properties in general; tho
establishment Of the arc of suspension
in air for aeroplanes: structure of tho
aeroplancs: frames; sails: special
mechanism for the function of wings
and body: mechanism of the notriee
force: machines and fractions: modes
of fabrication metallic threads: arm
ing of aeroplanes; the discharge Of
munitions: signals: lights. etc.
Thus the theoretical instruction
projected by Clement Alder in 1897 was
singularly practical
Clement Ader's and complete. Glenn
AL;.: ent Alder was NOT
oi'AoA' content to make his
pupils adrot and auda cious mechanics
and drivers he made them followers
of the great military schools, particu-
larly the Polytechnic.
AS for the pilot aviator. It was nee.
essary that he should possess educa-
ton, instruction as to his intelligence
az much if not more than his hand.
Aviation has ceased to be a clownish
exercise: it is a prodigious science and
A formidable arm The military art
was overturned by the invention OF
powder; the railroad operAed to military
art an unlimited field. Aviation Is still
another invention of Importance and
new civilization has been inaugu-
rated.
Alder foresaw the organization Of the
first aviation army. with a thousand
machines, thereabout, and the estab.
lishment of schools. workshops, areas,
q a "A q nj
tions. defenses, etc. He thought the ex-
pense would be 25.000.o90 and this
sum terrified him, yet billions will be
asked in the near future for the Gre
alton OF the air army and the conse-
quent rejection of the whole system OF
territorial defense, coasts frontiers and
interior of the country, to resist tho
offensive action of flying machines Of
all kinds.
Alder. having in mind the principle OF
specialization recognized by him al
necessary in strategy and war TACTICS
saw the necessity of having three class
es Of aeroplanes: First. the scout:
second, the torpedo; third the aero.
plane of the line. That division cor
responds nearly to that Of sea forces.
where light and quick sailing ships
serve as scouts to torpedo boats and
submarines and, finally, to great cruis-
ers and dreadnaughts. The scouts. said
Alder, have been given the role as
signed them. and subject to the speed
and length of the course.
Aviators should go up in twos in tam
dem, the mechanician in front charged
with the maneuvers, having command
of the motor; the officer in the rear.
on pivotal seat, able to scan tho
horizon. earth and zenith, make notes.
transmit signals AMI receive them.
correspond with other aeroplanes. the
areas of landing. the STATS. command
ers of armies and strong places. These
signals Will consist, the day, in white
and red disks. which appear and disap.
pear; the night, in white and red re-
Electors.
The armament will consist OF MOTH
ing or of but very little-genades on
sticks The veritabie
War Alrship's arm will be speed.
Armament Torpedoes are to prove
powerful engines Of
war. Terrible even in succumbing.
they fill the enemy with fear. Alder
would arm flying machines with tor.
pedoes varying in weight from one to
one hundred kilos. He furnishes them
with fireworks with which to light I'D
the ground during combats at night or
to recognize places with greek fire.
Destined above all to effect great de.
struction by demolition of fortifca-
hesitate to assign to aeroplanes the
less chivalrous role to torpedo the
enemys cities. -.. . r--.-.
Alder foresees for the army of the air
forma tons of combat quite similar to
those of troops on land or OF the
marine fleet. He imagines thus exer.
cises and maneuvers by company, by
battalion, by legion. by division.
combat and the divers formations and
transformations.
The armament foreseen by Clement
Alder for the aerial army is ingenious
and very rational. In the projected
conflict between aerial machines and
the submarines Adler has touched upon
a point of the highest actual interest
the armament of the aeroplane and
the hydroplane against the until now
intangible submarine, a problem
which Edison will perhaps solve. Alder
has imagined grenades, explosive
grains, harpoons, graphing irens for
hand-to -hand fighting, Greek fire. arfi-
powder, tow lines and dragnets with
which to entangle the enemy's screw.
and finally the arrows, which paren-
thetically have been used effectively.
Military aviation and aerostation,
Alder maintained. would revolutionizs
the laws OF war and
Effect OF change the defensive
Aaro,+,+;o, organization of the
country Aviation is
terrible menace to the world. The COM
bat is not circumscribed by frontiers,
but may be extended over the entire
territory of belligerent nations. Thus
a defensive organization in the. in-
terror is necessary in addition to tie
frontiers. Aerial routes must be studied
by the aviator Many think that the
air is everywhere navigable. 1t is not
SO. NJ. Alder emphasizes this by re-
ferring to the Grand Cordilleras Of the
Andes thus:
Every time the wind blows more or
usual slope, the atmospheric layers
CAPABILITIES of the land If there are
hills and watersheds, the currents of
air may produce ascending and de-
scending currents well known to me-
teorologists.
All birds have instructive knowledge
of this law, and they utilize the knowi-
edge marvelously in ascending these
currents. 1t is thus that vultureS and
condors rise to giddy heights without
the tapping of wings, that is to say.
without the expenditure of force. When
the day arrives these air currents will
be recognized as well as sea currents
on topo-meteorological charts, which
must indicate the aerial atmospheric
routes for flying machines. =
NJ. Clement Alder finally emits a cry