Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-03
lndorse Plan as an important
i Move in Preparedness
T Agitation. a.
MAKING EXPERIMENTS
j. NEAR NEWPORT NEWS
Officers Are Assigned to Aid In
Studying Methods to Show
! Practicability of Service.

MANY Endorsements are being given 10
&,e nroiect for an aerial fleet to be
operated under the coast guard Tor pro-
lection of life and property at sea AS
a natural evolution of coast guard ac-
fiyities. and as A measure of prepared
ness for coast defense i'll spying out
an enemy approaching by land or air
in time of war.
The preparedness advocates, lnose
who are promoting the science OF AVA
ton, makers of airships. ship owners
who seek an increase in the protection
afforded by the coast guard for their
properties and the men employed on
ships, wireless men. men who fly. prac-
teal men and scientists, officials OF
the government and especially the rank
and file of the coast guard have dis
played an interest that finds expression
in offers of the use of devices ana OF
instruments in practical suggestion and
in hearty Endorsement.
At the aviation student camp of Glen
Curtiss maintained near Newport
News, Va, fronting on Hampton roads,
prepare tons are being made for ex-
perimentation to demonstrate the rela-
lions of aviation to coast guard work,
lish that there would result great
extension of the usefulness of the coast
guard in conserving life and property
at sea through the application or the
science of flying to its activities. This
is perhaps the most important offer OF
desperation.
Veteran Aeronaut in Charge.
Capt Baldwin. veteran aeronaut. is in
charge of this student camp. With the
consent and active aid of Curtiss he is
assembling paraphernalia and devices
necessary to the experiment.. Already
a wonderful and tremendous seaboat
has been sent to Newport News for the
experiments a gyroScope company
has offered the use of its drift COM
pass, without which there is no posi-
bility of dead reckoning in the naviga-
tion of an airship over water; and has
also rendered the use of wireless ap-
paratus, another essential to a tryout.
Third Lieut.. Elmer f. Stone of the
Onondaga had been designated s coast
guard observer and to lend his knowl-
edge of navigation to the expert
=. ments. But Mr.. Stone had his orders
with Second Lieutenant of Engineers
Charles Edward Sugden of the An
droscoggin. was ordered to Pensacola
to take the aviation course in the navy
school at mat place
Second Lieutenant of Engineers Nor
man B. Hall of the Onondaga has fall
en- heir to Mr.. Stones revoked assign
ment and has been ordered to aviation
duty for the experiment work at the
Curtiss camp.
Interest of Capt. Chiswell.
All this has been arranged without
cost to the government. And to the
personal enthusiasm of Capt. Benjamin
NJ. Chiswell. commanding the Onon-
daga, is given the credit not only for
developing the idea of these expert
Inents and enthusing the different fac
tors. but also for inducing the consent
of the Secretary of the Navy to the
assignment of two coast guard officers
at the Pensacola school: for obtaining
the approval and consent of the ad
ministration of the coast guard to the
detail of such officers to the Navy
Aviation School. and for the propa-
an aerial feet of the coast guard, as
presented to Congress in the bill re-
Gently introduced by Representative
Andrew ]. Montague of Virginia.
For a time all seemed sluggish to
bring about his hopes. Then his own
enthusiasm became infectious. Result
is that in d recent personal letter he
writes:
Things are moving along so fast
that they are tumbling over me and
have about got me bowled over. Stone S
detail to Newport News was a delight
full piece of news, and his promotion
to Pensacola also most pleasing. But
the latter leaves hole at Newport
News that should be filled as soon as
possible. Most important"
Second Lieutenant of Engineers Hall
had not at that time been designated
to succeed to the duty. 1t was in re-
Spouse to these representations of Capt
Chiswell that the substitute assign
ment was made, the very same day that
his letter was received in Washing
ton. Capt. Chiswell proceeded. in his
letter. to explain the situation in the
aviation camp.
Baldwin Boat Almost Ready.
Baldwin has got his boat aImos,
SnerrN q al r,aH