Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1918-01-18

IN the bottom Of the fuseIage. By means Of this
last gun IL can defend Itself from enemy ma
chimes attacking it from below and behind, a po-
sition in which all other machines but the GOtna
are vulnerable.
The Germans have been most ingenious in de-
signing their alrpanes for maximum effectiveness
OF gun fire. Their single-seated Albatross D.
and D III FOkker D. Halberstadt Roland ID, ana
Ago D have two fixed guns firing ahead through
the revolving propeller. and these machines are
able TO carry 1900 cartridges for each gun Their
twO-place reconnaissance machines Albatross'
Rumpler. Aviatik and L. V G. have one fixed for
ward gun firing through the propeller and sec
ond lighter gun on a swivel mounted behind the
planes and firing TO the rear over az angle Of 80
degrees The French have adopted this system
for the airplanes OF similar type
The most ingenious armament. however, Is mat
Of the new Pornilio scout plane. II is not adFis-
able to betray the secret Of this plane al present
but il is permissible TO say that the single piloI
controls five guns, al shooting ahead sinultans-
ousIy. and that four Of these are so perfectly
concealed that even photograph does not snO"
where they are situated II IS in reality a I'VE
barreled Calling gun On wings This machine Is
now on its way 20 America, If indeed il has not
already arrived
Talk p with the Italian aviators nOw here
about motors I found them deeply interested II
the new Liberty motor. but none WOULD venture
70 express an opinion about IL
u could not Judge Of its value said one OF
them until had taken it up 5000 or IOopvo
feet in the air and watched how It behaved there
The Fiat company, which has been making mo-
tors eyer since these were first invented needed
+vro whole years Of experimentation before II was
able 10 turn out g satisfactory airplaue motor
Several times IT thought it had IL; several times
II offered a motor that performed perfectly under
the most exacting laboratory tests, but each time
If failed when tested in the rarefed air OF 1000
feet above the earth. After two years OF trial
the Fiat people produced the wonderful motors
now so extensively used. The IsOtta-Frasehini
cornpanv had similar experience We all ad-
,,ire the perfection OF mechanism OF the Liberty
motor and we all hope that actual fight VIII
urove II 10 be as perfect as it looks, but no one
Of rs would venture 10 give verdict OF IT until
ha had flown with it at all possible attitudes
These men. all OF whom are youths who have
had thrilling experiences In actual warfare, are
fond OF discussing the probabilities OF G flight
across the Atlantic. Any one Of them would De
willing TO attempt IT, but they disagree as TO the
machine most likely TO be the first 10 make IL
some say the giant Caproni which would need at
least p hours and probably 20. 10 fly from New
foundland 10 Ireland 1.-THE shortest r0ute), while
others say some such machine as the 5 Y A. as
II could make the flight easily between sunrise
and sunset In the one case il would be ike
giant condor relying on the power OF its wings TO
sustain II day and a night in fight, in the other
case it would be a sea gull 4 swallow relying
on terrific speed TO carry il over by daylight