Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-06-27


Washington, D. c., June FL. - The
naval battle in the North Sea seems TO
have revived something of the old con.
troversy over the relative merits OF
the Zeppelin and the aeroplane. The
Germans claim that their lighter than
air machines rendered them service OF
the first Importance in scouting. while
the English deny that the zeppelin's
actions had anything to do with the
engagement or its results. II the Ger.
man contention Is correct, the Zeppelin
has scored point. to balance some OF
the many achievements OF the aero
plane in the hands Of leach Of the bel
'~e-~n-s The whole question Is OF
interest to Americans, because the
next deca lie will unquestiOnably see
great expansion in the art-or indus
try-of flying in this country, and the
character OF that expansion will be
based on the lessons taught by the
war.
There is small chance however, that
our progress in aviation will turn aside
from the path 1t has already chosen.
The America aviator Is, following IN
the footsteps of his French and Eng
lish brethren, and turning his atter-.
ton to the aeroplane. the heavier tnaA
air machine. This may OF course De
due in large part to the fact that the
aepplane is an American invention.
the product Of American brains and en-
terprise. while the dirigible balloon got
it's development in Germany. but our
national preference In the matter IS
probably due rather to an appreciation
of the greater all around usefulness
and practically of the aeroplane than
to any sentiment. m .>s '.s IL
The last few weeks have seen some
notable achievements in American
aviation. in the shape Of record break.
ing flights along the Atlantic coast anu
now comes the announcement OF
transcontinental fight contest TOT
trophy and big money prizes 10 star'
from New. York early In september
Som of our more enthusiastic support
ers of aviation, including. Ralph Punt
zer who offers the leading prize, are
beginning to get uneasy ABOUT ~.
standing in the game. They say ina.
the war pressure is pushing EUROPE
rapidlv ahead until we who invented
the areoplane are in danger OF losing
all place in the rank OF nations VINO
make effective use Of 1t.
or course. the tendency In the UNIT
ed states today is to- "lie low" Europe
is rapidly getting a great deal OF eA-
perience in flying but she IS paying
dearly for much of it. All sorts or lh-
novations are being tested out across
the water, some to be eventually adopt
cd others to be discarded. In the
meantime we can stick to q policy OF
massive observation, and profit oy
Euronean failures. Our factories are
building some Of the machines Tor the
hel,iperents. but on the whole, ava
tional development in this country IS
biding it's time until Europe, snall nave
produced the most successful types OF
machine which we can then lmltate
and snare, ourselves the intermedlate
stems of experiment and failure
Rut the aviation student tells us that
Europe is not only, working out the
most practicable. types Of the aero
Name, but also rapidly developing men
r. Av them. No one has any criticism
m make Of the American aviators as
cI.ss except that there are too few OF
than The American temperament
seems to be particularly well nt,eo ~
flight work. Some of the most dar'ne
and skilful feats accomplished III
france are to the credit OF the httle
corns Of American fliers. and mere IN
the United States our avlators are
daily proving themselves as emcleht As
anv on the battle fields. But wniie we
have two or three hundred skllied
pilots. England. France and germany
even Russia, are turning them out III
orally in thousands. :.
II is to stimulate public interest IN
this country in aviation and to sho"
what can be done with an aeroplane
properly handled that the transcontln-
entail contest will be held. One sucn
feat has been achieved by several ma
chimes. it is hoped that distance nylns
viii become mol.! and more OF com
nonn,ace in the United States. This
will require the cooperation or 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 ana
gasoline stations at frequent. intervals.
Several such stations will have to be
arranged for, to meet the needs OF the
aviators who fly in the contest, and
Doubtless there will be competition
among the cities on the route for the
honor OF being way stations on this
historic journey.