Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1918-10-03
Liberty Aeroplanes Create Interest.

R0m0rantIn, Central rrance, oePISn
Der 17.-Liberty airplanes were darting
across the sky, other Liberties were
drawn up in battalions across the big
plain, and still other Liberties were
putting and struggling at their anchor
tests, as The Associated Press cores
pondent arrived at this great centre OF
airplane production for the American
fighting army. The nearby town OF Is
sodoun is the great center for American
aviators.
Crowds of soldiers and workmen had
gathered to see one Of the fighting Lib
critics completely equipped with bomb
ing machines, wireless outfit, all its
guns, and every last device for going in
to combat. There had been other Lib
critics turned out, scores and hundreds
Of them now moving in steady stream.
In this and others which had preced-
ed, the last step had been taken to give
them their final equipment for actual
fighting. "
The big machine had spread Of wings
43 feet across, and like all the others
was OF grey cloud-color seen from below
though above the color changed to green
and merged into the green fields.
Ahead pointed the machine gun oper-
ated by the pilot, with synchronizing
device by which hundred shots min
ute flew between the arms OF the spin
ming propeller. Further back, in the
observers nests, two more machine
guns had a sweep OF both broadsides
and upward and rearward. There was
no angle they could not reach, and even
the Cotha trick OF shooting straight
down through floor tunnel was more
than matched though details Of how this
is done cannot, OF course, be given.
1t is sufficient to say that this new
type, long and anxiously awaited and
now reality, armed for combat was as
formidable as any car ever produced,
and in the judgment OF these experts
was far more formidable than any Of
| them.
Climbing into the pilots seat there
was an opportunity to see the workings
Of the big car-the pioneer OF the fight
| ing squadrons soon to come.
The powerful motor with all its pis-
tons jumping was just ahead with two
long exhausts sweeping back toward
the tail. Within the seat were straps
to hold the pilot in headlong flight,
and all the delcacy OF mechanism one
sees in an automobile-speed indicator,
gas meter, oil pressure, ,throttles, SWITCH
and much more besides; lights for sig
mailing, height meter and compass, and
fire extinguishers to fight blaze.
"This is the joy-stick," said Captain
X as he swung the lever controlling the
tail and ailerons for vertical movement.
He pointed out that the foot-rudder,
which controls the horizontal movement
worked on the same principle as the bob
sled.
"Truly it is WONDER he said, fond
ling the mechanism. 81 know them all,
English, French, Italian-and there Is
nothing like this for power and speed.
Why"
| And then he gave an instance OF what
had been accomplished in straight rise
from tn ground, which constitutes q
record far exceeding anything before.
| This was made in one Of the Liberties
recently turned out here. It was not
regarded as one OF the best machines
and the workmen even dubbed it "False
Alarm" But it soon proved its rights.
1t was sent to one OF the training fields,
and on one Of its irst ascents it shot
up straight from the ground to the
height Of 10000 feet in "a "a minutes.
at is the fastest time human be-
ing has ever gone up" said the Captain,
"and it gives an idea OF what is ahead
when these squadrons are in line"
| II details could be given on the num-
Der OF these planes and the squadrons
equipping for the battle line il would
cheer those who have grown heart-sick
with waiting and charges and investiga-
tions, and would let them know the day
Of real accomplishment was at hand in the
thick Of the fighting. Without giving
numbers, it an he said that he saw these
machines crowding vast workshop
in such arrays that their wings touched
and covering much more than the area
OF city block. They were not piece
meal cars, but all ready to 60 forward.
They have been passing by the score
daily into the hands OF the aviators, and
squadron after squadron ives being
made ready for the front.
We saw them in combat formation
over the flying fields OF Issoudon. This
was no longer vague promise OF the
remote future, it was at hand and We saw
these machines in vast number arming
and starting for the battlefront.
The testing OF the engines gave an
idea OF the tremendous power Of the
new cars. The cars were anchored
new cars. The cars were anchoded
by heavy chains, and workmen gripped