The sun., 1918-07-27
filters SHOW SKILL
IN BATTLE STUNTS
Mineola Experts Go Through
Man9uvres Which Would
Be Used in Real Combat.
AN AMAZING SPECTACLE
Two New Machines of Marvel
lous Power Soon to Have
Their Tryout Tests.

81 Jenkins. the early farm hand. shifted
a chew at daybreak yesterday morning
and sent wondering glance skyward.
So did all OF the other farm hands along
that section of Long Island that is near
the Mineola flying fields. For above
their heads was being fought the first
big aerial battle ever seen in these
United States Of America. 1t was the
real thing in cloudiand combat, except
it wasn't really real.
Major Rhinehardt, commander OF the
Mineola field. had some curiosity con-
corning the progress that. his airmen
had made, and he selected the most
skilful Of them and gave them orders to
get out and UP with the coming of the
dawn. Thus II happened that 81. the
farm hand, and his fellow workers with
the hoe, heard the hum Of many motors
and saw two complete air squadrons. in
battle formation. speeding 1000 feet
aloft and acting Just like persons who
arc bent upon destroying the other side
Of the martial sketch.
At times the fog was so dense that the
machines were lost to sight, but the
continuous humming OF the big motors
gave plain indication that the fighting
folk had not quit because of the wealth.
ers vagaries. The air men had in
struction to vary their fight practice by
taking notes of the appearance Of the
bay and by scouting for submarines. and
the notes were taken back to the Major
for his inspection and comment.
Fierce Combat Over Roslyn.
Part Of the battle was fought over the
waters of Great South Bay, but 1t was
in the neighborhood of Roslyn that the
fercest combat took place. Three or
four scout planes went after big
Caproni, and the machine gunners on the
scouts were making life miserable for
the Italian when a couple of big De
Haviland planes came along and started
after the little fellows. The small scouts
pulled away to seek something their size.
Some OF the machines went as far
over the island as Bay Shore, either in
pursuit Of other planes, or during their
own efforts to escape theoretical de-
struction.
EMPIRES who remained on the field
with powerful glasses In their hands,
followed the fighting and will make
awards when they have studied all Of
the reports.
There was some idea among the army
and navy officers thar two new ma
chimes. soon to be tested, would have
part in the battle, but their interesting
tryouts are yet to come. One Of them
is Familiarity known as "the whistling
Bill" because Of the peculiar whistling
noise that emanates from 1t as It's terri
fc speed makes the propellers hum.
"BiIl' Is said to be the fastest thing
ever developed in any land. 1t is a
gray painted triplane. designed by Glenn
Fl. Curtiss and c. f. Kirkham.
Guarded From Curious Folk.
Armed guards watch It when 1t Is at
home in the hangar and nobody Is per.
mitted to see 1t excepting when II is in
the air. 1t Is not more than twenty five
feet high and its wing spread does not
seem to be more than thirty feet. The
motor is entirely encased and no curious
ewes may pry into the secret machinery
that makes Its speed and power possible,
The other aerial wonder Is Hel!cop-
ter that Is said to be able to go several
thousand feet in the air with n passenger
and sundry bombs designed TO attend to
submarines, 1t has couple OF motor
driven, large horizontal propellers OF OPP
posite pitch. one above the other.
mounted upon hollow shafts. one within
the other, revolving in opposite drec-
lions and connected with a suspended.
non-revoiving platform which supports
the motor and the operator. The low
centre OF gravity makes for stability
and balance. The machine can scarcely
be seen when 1t Ia 1000 feet up. Its in
ventor says that it will replace the cap
tive balloon.