The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1915-12-16
MEN MAY SOON CROSS THE ATLANTIC
IN NEW AEROPLANE, SAYS CURT|SS
Aviator Expects Successful Effort viii Be Made 1916-Remak-
able Development the Aeropane Result of the European
War Has Displaced Dreams With Deductions
Use in War Has Proved Utility in Peace.

But this | can say with definiteness,
he continued. Experience will show
that the seaplane is the safest as well
as the speediest of all the means OF
transit we have. One of our big sea
planes would ride at anchor through
the worse of storms, but would more
probably get above it and journey on
with complete Indifference to the
weather.
You asked me what in my opinion
are the chief outstanding features OF
the great experience which the war in
Europe is affording us in aviation.
would say that they are these: The
increase in the size, but principally in
the power of the machines, the amaz-
ing work shown to be possible by
flyers and, above all, the urgent need
of proper and adequate aerial forces
for the defense of the United States.
Lesson for U. S.
For us / think this last lesson is by
far the most important. We have
practically no machines and almost
no flyers. We could perhaps get the
machines, if the enemy was good
enough to give us the grace of little
time; but how about the men to use
them? It takes time to make a flyer,
lot more time than any foe would
give US. The situation is serious
one. No country can afford to take
chances these days. Something ought
to be done at once.
Congress has voted $2,000,000, but
most of it, understand, is going for
experimental workshops. That's all
right, but it won't produce aviators.
AS builder of aircraft / shall be
considered interested suppose. But
l will run that risk. / speak because
l know. For that matter, everybody
ought to know; it is SO obvious.
I'm the last two naval maneuvers
the defending fleet was eluded each
time and the enemy succeeded in
landing on our shores. We were told
we had not enough scout ships. The
obvious fact was that we had no sea-
planes. Efficient watch on a long
coast line like ours can only be kept
by means of seaplanes. The expense
of scout ships is unnecessary, and
they could not do the work SO we'll no
matter how great their number.
"Our entire coast, l believe, should
be guarded by system of seaplane
stations. The big seaplanes of today
can go far out to sea, drop anchor and
ride there for days if necessary. They
can see infinitely farther, their
speed is twice or three times that of
a scout ship, they can keep in touch
with each other more easily, they run
little danger from the foe, and are a
peril to submarines instead of being
in peril from them.
SeapIane All Eyes.
"The seaplane is the only thing from
which a submarine cannot escape. To
escape from a warship a submarine
has but to submerge, and once it is
below the surface it is out of sight
and, far from having to flee, can turn
back on the warship and have it at its
mercy. But experience on the other
side is showing that once it is spotted
from a seaplane submarine is
doomed as surely as a pigeon over
which a hawk is lowering, and from
the air it can be spotted and followed
even when submerged
British aviators have adopted an
ingenious, daring and deadly method
with the German U-boats when they
come upon them submerged. Unseen