Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-15
A|RSHP MIRACLES
;; e bIsod Ar
| THEME BANQUET
Predicted That Future Planes
bro a" ~ *
Will Have Dining and Sleep
ing Accommodations.
AIR MASTERY TO EHDsWARs

hundred passengers and equipped
with dining saloons, sleeping rooms.
roof gardens, upper and lower decks
and all things necessary to the COM
fort of patrons were among the mira
cles predicted for American aircraft
by Senator Thomas, Senator Mcclellan
and Col. Woods at the aeronauts' ban
quet in the Wardman Park Inn last
night.
Senator Thomas was loudly cheered
when he said that mastery of the air
would prove far more potent agent
In abolishing war than any league
os nations which could be con-
structed." He said that il America
did not master the air she would be-
come third rater among the ma
tons of the world, because England
and other countries were determined
to develop aerial navigation to the
highest possible efficiency and MAKE.
/. serve the highest needs of their
respective nations.
Cites "Epochal Event"
I'm 1909" said Senator Thomas.
"Bleriot flew across the English chan
mel. This was considered at the time
an epochal event. But proba IDLY within
the next ten years the heayier-tban-
air machine will be so developed thai
1t will be equipped with state rooms
oning saloons. promenade decks AMI
everything necessary to make the pas
sengers comfortable. This is not -,
dream. 1t is something that is taking
shape in the brain of the aviator and
will become an accomplished fact.
The age of militarism on land is
ended, but the time for supremacy I'm
the air has come. We should be first
| in the race. We should utilize the
wonderful resources of aircraft and
become mistress of the air as England
is mistress of the seas. Great Britain
will undoubtedly retain her supremacy
on the sea for years to come. but tnt
nation which will have accomplished
the greatest good for itself and civil
| lization is that nation which masters
the air..
Senator McKellar's Address.
Senator Mcclellan said he did not
! agree with Senator Thomas that Great
Britain would continue to be mistress
| Of the seas He declared that he ad-
mired England immensely, was i'm
pressed with the courage of her citi-
zenS, with the tenacity of purpose dis
played by them, both in peace and
! war and with their Willingness to sac
rifice life and treasure for country and
humanity.
"But as an American citizen ] will
! never be content until America has
Navy as large, as efficient and as pow
| erful as the navy of Great Britain.
said Senator Mcclellan. Il mean this
in no sense except that of honest and
| honorable rivalry in the cause of CIV
| ilization. / do not want. as an Ameri-
can, in any sense to be the inferior of
any other nation.
Our merchant marine should be
second to that of no other nation. and
! agree with Senator Thomas that in
the air we should he supreme. This
is not challenge to any other power.
We will make benevolent use of any
ascendency we might gain. We VIII
England has in the past controlled the
commerce of the world, but the time
has come when America should do
her share in this field"
Miss Egan's Humorous Suggestion.
Miss Egan, one of the aeronauts.
| said President Wilson had gone to
Europe to make the world safe for
democracy, but she wished somebody
would make Scott Circle safe for traf-
fic.
1.-The only way that 4 person can
safely navigate Scott Circle is by air
plane" said Miss Egan, and the guests
ilaughingIy applauded.
The tables were so arranged as to
give them the appearance of air
| planes ready to ascend. They were
| decorated with the American flag and
the flags of the allies. Miniature air
| planes of every type fioated around
| the magnificent dining room of the
! new Eostelry while the guests Iined
| and talked.
| was to..-stmaster
| Lieut. Emmanuel Franklin, pres
dent of the Aeronauts. delivered II
brief speech, in which he explained
| the purpose of the banquet and
lauded the war v orkers, who, he said.
had done real service for the gov
| ernn.s nt-a service for which all
should be thankful.