New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-22
Wright Says That Conflict
Proves Aero Can No
Longer Be Ignored.
.FAVORS SUBSCRIPTION
PURCHASE OF PLANES
Variety of Battle Conditions
and Increase in Flying Mean
Big Gain for Science.
By GORDON BRUCE.

One of the immediate results Of the
war will be the acquisition Of large
and powerful feet of aircraft by the
United States, whether this country
becomes embroiled or not. That is the
opinion of Orville Wright, premier air.
man of the world.
Sitting ct table in a little res
taurant in Pine Street. Mr.. Wright
gave the impressions he has gathered
from the great struggle in Europe.
This government cannot afford t
ignore the necessity of adequate aerial
protection" he said. Since the war
began there has been more flying. one
hundred times over, than in all the
years since my brother and | made our
first flights. Moreover, the flying in
Europe has been done under all kinds
of conditions, and we are thereby &C
cumulating fund of valuable knowl-
edge.
"The idea of stimulating government
interest in aviation by the purchase OF
machines by popular subscription is
good one. Excellent results were OBJ
tanned in France and Germany under
similar plan, but the American is
slower to give in order 10 support
principle than the European. He wants
to see something tangible at once in
the line of returns. A little more
idealism on this side of the Atlantic
wouldn't hurt US"
What do you think about the war. in
a general way?"
Mr.. Wright stirred his salad dress
ing thoughtfully. 81 generally conflne
my views to aeronautical matters" he
said. "but, of course. my visits to
| European countries and my associa-
ton with the military authorities there
have automatically formed an opinion
for me.
Germany Wanted war. believe. On
numerous occasions German ofhcers
have told me that they desired war.
/ To the best of my recollection | never
heard a similar statement made by a
French or an English officer. Then,
/ TOO, l nave nOllCtu luGb lOA o.
wears back everything The Germans
bought has been something that could
be used to advantage in military OPP
erations. They have wasted no money;
| there has been no graft; they were
preparing for war.
"However, | cannot believe that the
Kaiser would wilfully plunge his coun-
try into war. On the various occa-
sions when | have talked with him he
appeared to be the kind Of man who
would oppose the measures Germany
| seems to have adopted. He is. | think,
possessed of mere general knowledge
! than any one | ever met. When
talked with him in Berlin about aero
! nautical matters | was surprised TO
/ find that he knew the details OF the
patent fight we were waging in the
/ United States.
Before the war my sympathies were
with Germany in her commercial
aspirations There is no doubt that
she was taking trade from England
but she was doing it by the hardest
kind of work. No one will work harder
than a German, and when he makes a
success of anything he deserves it
But | cannot see how a man OF the
Kaiser's wisdom could reason that wal
would help his country in CONNER
J cial sense"
! Mr.. Wright spent many months in
Germany, and visited that country sew
eral times in connection with his IN
ventions. lie took the Grown Prince
on his first fight in an aeroplane. HIS
business dealings with the other Euro
pean powers have brought him into
close contact with high military and
civil officials, and his opinions have
been greatly valued by them.
He left this city last night after
spending two days here in conference
with his attorneys about the aspects
of his patent suit, which will come tc
trial In Buffalo next month.