The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-03-27
Shown Congressman in
Navy Seaplane While
French Flyer Circles 1t.
SCARCELY CLEARS
TOPS OF THE TREES
Military Affairs Committeeman Says It
Seems Only Fitted for Bombing-For
Present Speed Laurel Remains with
European Designers.

WASHINGTON, March 27-Tests of
the Liberty motor on an American built |
seaplane conducted by the government |
for the benefit Of senator's and represen- |
tatives suffered by comparison with the
maneuvers of wasplike French battle
plane and left the legislators with dis
tinctly unfavorable impression.
The army aviators, interested primarily
in scientific demonstration of the Liber-
ty motor appear to have overlooked the
fact that congressman would Judge the
test by the prowess of the aeroplane
equipped with it.
The aeroplane selected appears to have
been an old seaplane, which compared
with the French battle plane in the same
way that an old hack horse compares
with a thoroughbred. The legislators
formed opinions by comparing the aero
plane flights, it is understood, and went
away with the impression that the Ameri-
can aeroplane had had all the worst of
/ it
The French plane was driven by a
French Ace" and shot up almost per-
pendicularly while the American plane
seemed to have difficulty in clearing the
treetops, according to the observers.
This naturally led to much unfavorable
comment.
1t was explained by government Off
Gals, however, that the Liberty motor
used in the seaplane was what is known
as a navy motor a different design
from that intended for battleplanes in
that it is especially built for slow fving.
Seaplanes are not designed for maneuver-
ing and are supposed generally to carry
with them heavy airplane material
There was no fair standard of com
parison between one of these navy mo-
tors in seaplane and French combat
machine such as the Legislators witnessed.
The Liberty motor designed for Ameri-
can battleplaues has not been entirely
tested out yet. but it has developed 450
horse power at $50 revolutions a min
ute. The machines have shown ability
to leave the ground quickly and have
climbed 10000 feet with ease A govern
ment official said:
There is nothing disappointing so far
in the tests, always remembering that
, the Liberty motor is a new thing, and
; like a new automobile it has to be ad-
justed here and there and little changes
Members of the committee on military
. affairs, commenting on the test said their
!. information led them to believe the gov
!. eminent was doomed to disappointment
! with regard to the Liberty motor so fal
as its driving power in combat machine.
of the speedier type is concerned. 1t is
their belief that in the Liberty motor
will be found a sturdy and substantial
aircraft engine for use in chiefly bombing
!, machines. Great things they say arr
i promised from the twelve cylinder Liber
ty engine, but for the present the speet
laurel must remain with the European
{ designers 1t is not believed to be TIL
= intention of the aircraft production boar,
. to develop the Liberty motor along it
Q present lines.
At the hearing of the military com
mittee the question of the Liberty moto
T was put up to Gen. Leonard Wood an
i from that distinguished military authori
y ty came the admission that experiment
a with the Liberty engine hardly justifie
II the original expectation that it ha
Is proved to be the perfect aeroplane engin,
Ii as pronounced by the aircraft productio
NJ board and Secretary Baker.