Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-05-19

For instance, on a recent day, a motor
car was sent on a devious ten mile jour
ney over isolated Long Island roads.
Its top was broadly striped in black and
white, but otherwise il could not be told
from the tens Of thousands Of other ears
which are constantly on the move over the
island.
Twenty-four army airplanes went up to
seek the ear. Twenty-one left here and
three came from the governmnt school at
Govrnor's Island. New York City.
The car with the striped top represented
the head of m enemy convoy. The air
men were 20 detect the hcad Of the sup
posed column while the latter was still far
from its objective, the aviation field, for
there must be time to make the imaginary
artillery attack upon it effective.
For the problem the map Of Long Island
near the flying field was divided into
twenty four sectors, one being given TO
each scout. The lucky man who found
the ear whirrcd back to the field in short
order and Mineola was saved"
In another problem three fast l.. W. r..
%tractors were sent to n far distant point.
which was not disclosed To the students,
and there sent up n scouts Of an enemy
bent upon taking photographs Of the Min
cola field. The students were 10 locate
these machines and drive them back BY
heading them off. They did this with ease.
SHORT ON SWIFT MACHINES.
Not all the feats attempted work out
well, because real swift machines are lack
ing. The slower machines do not stand up
% well in a gale, although otherwise easier
to manage. II l. understood the fastest
machines now ut the field are the T.. W. r..
tractors. capable of ninety-one miles an
hour. British and French scouts made 1873
and 13S miles an hour. The new Moraine-
.Saulnier, according to Miss Ruth Law. the
flying woman, makes $50 miles an hour.
Airplanes much slower are useless on the
western battle front.
Students start learning to fly at Mine
ola on the poky j. y. I CurtiSs biplanes,
which 90 at the >nail'> pace Of seventy five
miles an hour.
iltNtNtIs u u tdktH LOT gTdUttu tnutI
the deficiency in fast machines will soon
be remcdied. All the art Of airplane build
ing the French and British have learned
in nearly three wears Of warfare will be
placed at the disposal of their new ally.
Commissions Of Anglo French flying men
and builders are on their way here 10 as
sist the United States army in manufactur-
ing and to teach the latest tricks Of the
trade TO our ayiatorS.
MUST PERFORM DIFFICULT FEATS|
The Mincola school j. officially an avia-
tion section Of the signal officers reserve
corps. Civilian volunteers enter a. ser
geants and become licutcnants in the re-
serve on passing their examinations. These
exams" are not to be shifted al. Here
are some of the things the young collie
gian must do.
lie must climb out of a field 1000 feet
square and attain an altitude of 500 feet
while keeping AL parts of his machine with
in the square; he must cut off his motor
at a height Of 1000 feet and land within
200 feet Of a designated point; he must
land over an assumed obstacle ten feet
high and come to rest within 5000 feet
Of il he must fly for forty-fivc minutes ut
an altitude Of 1000 feet.
"The psychology of this blying business
50 far n the students are concerned"
says the commandment Of the field. Il a
singular thing. In considering it YOU must
put fear out Of the reckoning. The stu
dents are never frightened. The fact Of
the matter i that they 20 into il thinking
that its a daredevil job. Then they 20
up and they're disappointed-ti isn't the
dare-dcviltrv they thought al all. So
what do they do. They tend To 90 to the
other extreme right away and We have to
keep them from killing themselves with
sheer recklessncss We have 10 teach them
with every ounce Of ability We possess that
if they make the one slip they seem deter
mined To make it will be the very last slip
they'll ever make.