The Washington herald., 1916-04-19
By T.. b. JOHNS.

With the cooperation of some of the
largest engine manufa Cturerers Of the
country the Bueeau OF Steam Engineer
ing is making an effort to develop ali
aeroplane motor. An extensive expert
mental plant has been installed at the
Washington Navy Yard at which motors
are being tested
At the beginning of the European war
it became apparent that the United States
was depending entirely upon other coun-
tries for high-Class aeroplane motors.
While some of the aeroplanes were using
domestic motors, none OF them came up
to the specifications for military aero
planes. The American manufacturers
have been so busy building automobile
engines that they had paid very little at
tention to producing an efficient aero
plane motor. To encourage manufac-
turers in the producing of aeroplane
motors. the Navy Department advertised
for bids for domestic motors and advised
the manufacturers of the motors that
they would test any gasoline engine with
out expense that gave promise Of COM
plying with the specifications of the Navy
Department
Under specifications of the Navy De-
partment. aeroplane engines must produce
horsepower for every FIVE pounds. BY
using aluminium an engine can be easily
designed to come below this weight limit
but aluminium is not able to Withstand
the strain that is required for an aero
motor. More is demanded of motor for
an aeroplane than for an automobile. An
aeroplane motor must run constantly at
high speed, while only racing auto
mobile has this requirement. The aero
plane demands the minimum weight and
the maximum rate of speed. As a cOnse-
quence, the production Of an efficient
aeroplane motor is one of the most diff
cult problems that expert steam engineers
and inventors have been called on TO
solve. Out of six types that have already
been tested only one motor has given sat
isfactory results.
A sample of the new officers saddle
| which Is to be given field test has been
received at the War Department and is
on exhibition in the office of the Chief
of staff. 1t is almost an exact reproduc-
| ton OF the French field officers saddle
which is regarded as superior to any 9TH
er military saddle.
The only criticism that is offered is
that the new saddle will not stand the
| rough handling of the old Mcclellan sad
die which has been used in the army
since the civil war. II is generally con-
ceded that the French saddle has a bet
ter seat and would be easier on the back
| of a horse than the Mcclellan saddle
when it is new. Some Of the saddles
critics suggest that with the rough hand
ling necessary in field service it would
be rougher on the horse and not as sat
| isfactory to the rider as the old McClel-
Ian saddle.
The saddle sets we'll down on the horse
and makes it possible for the rider to
keep close to the back of his mount. II
has long side bars which are well pad
ded and will easily conform to the shape
of the horses back. The skirt Of the
saddle Is padded on its front edge and 1t
has new type of girth. The girth is
composed of six strands of webbing. The
girth Is generally admitted to be one of
the best features OF the saddle.
Col William Paulding, retired; Maj. j.
B. Vance, detached, and Lieut.. William
T. Boyd, C. A. c., reported at the War
Department yesterday.