Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-17

w AsHiNb On, u. c.. June 10Th c
naval bnttle in the North Sea seems 10
have revived something of the old con
troversy over the relative merits of
tho Zeppelin and the neroplano. The
Germans claim that their lishter-than-
air machines rendered them service of
the first Importance in scouting. While
the English deny that the Zeppelins' s
actions had anything TO do with the
engagements or its results. II the Ger
man contention is correct. the Zeppelin
mas scored point, 10 balance some
OF me many achiev6m OF the aero .
plane in the hands OF each OF the bel
tiEerents. The whole question is OF
ntrest 10 Americans, because the next
decade VIII unquestionebiy see great
expansion in the art---or industry--of
hyins III this country. and the char
acter OF that expansion Will be based
on the lessons taught by the war
There is small chance however ,ha,
our progress in aviation Will turn aside
from the path II has already chosen.
Inc American aviator is following in
the footsteps of his French and Eng
iish brethren, and turning his atten-
ton TO the aeroplane, the heavier
than-air machine. This may. of course.
p@ due in large part TO the faA tina,
the aeroplane is American inven.
ton. the product OF American brains
and enterprise. while the dirieible bal
loon got its development in Germany
but our national preference in the mat
ter is probably due rather to an ap.
preciaton of the greater ali-around
usefulness and praciicality OF the aero
plane man To amy sentiment.
The last few weeks have seen some
notable achievements In American
aviation. in The Shape Of record break
q /,
and now comes the announcement OF a
transcont!nental hight contest for "a
trophy and big money l.'iZes to start
from New York carly in Septen Der.
Some or our more enthusiastic support
ers OF aviation. including Mr.. Ralph
Pulitzer, who offers the leading prize
pulitzer who offers the eading l,ir.e.
arc beginning 10 get uneasy about our
standing in the game. They say that
The war pressure Is pushing Europe
rapidly ahead. until we. who invented
the aeroplane, are in danger of losins
all place IN the rank OF nations who
make effective use Of it,
froftinS by Iiurope's Experience.
or course. the tendency in the United
States to-day is to "lie low" Europe IS
rapidly getting & great deal OF eXper-
fence in dying, hut she is paying dearly
for much OF it. AL sorts OF innova :
tonH are being tested out across the
water, some Ia he eventually adopted
Others TO he discarded IN the mean
time, we can stick TO n policy OF pas
siVe observation and profit by euro
Fran failures. Our factories are build
ing some OF the machines for the bel
l!serents but or the whole aNiat!onal
crNelopmei. in rhis country is Ditliny
us limc until Europe shall nave pro-
Ghctd the MOST successful tvpes OF
!hLohiIG, whi:!i NC can then initiate and
spare ourselves ne intermediates Steps
OF c;.l'rrimen- AMI failure.
Fut The aviation student tells us that
'.'.roi's is not "hiy workir,: out the
nloSt i'racti:abl. types oc III. aero
rlaiit. hut also iaridly developing men
10 ny Them. y che has any criticism
of the American aviators as class
except that rhcTa ere too te;y of them
?hc american t:mperaman- seems tc
lc particularly Mell fitted to fight
woch Some OF lac most daring and
*killful fcats accomplished in France
a"r To the credit C! the little corps OF
Hmer::an fliara. ana here in Tho United
states our :tv!a:2rs are dai.r proving
t"In selves as -ircient as any on the
battle fields. Eut while we have 90,
or ac6 skilled lots England, France
ana Germany, even Russia. are turn
ing them out literally in thousands
IT is to stimulate public interest in
TINS country in aviation and to show
what can be done with an aeroplane
:
mental contest will be held Once such
a feat has been achieved by several ma
chimes. it is hoped that distance fv.
ing VIII become more and more Of a
comm onplace in the United States. This
VIII require the cooperation of the
man on the ground with the man in
the air. for the aeroplane cannot make
a practice Of flying across country in
the absence of adequate landing and
gasoline stations at frequent intervals
Several such stations will have to he
arranged, for. TO meet the needs OF the
aviators who fly In the contest. and
doubtless there will be competitiou
among the cities on the route for the
honor Of being Way-stations on this
historic Journey.
NuSt Have Landing Plain.
When the aeroDlane which made the
record breaking flight from New Yorl,
TO washington recently wns presented
to the New Mexico National Guard fo,
use In border scouting. the pilots of.
fered to fly it overland and turn /,
over to the guardsmen in person. Ar.
ter some consideration, the scheme hod
TO be given up because OF the lack OF
landing stations along the way. Tho
aero enthusiasts hope to see the time
when an inland town will have to pro.
vide a level plain suitable for lsndinc
purposes, with shelter for machines
just s 1t has to provide good auto
roads to-day. to keep itself on the
tourist map.
All this progress and all these plans
1t may be noted arc based on the us,
OF the heayier.than- machine -.