The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1919-07-18
THE AGE

Until the summer of 1914 people of that day were wont to regard
the fifteen or twenty-five years through which they had just passed as
the most wonderful age OF all time and that the world had reached
the pinnacle of civilization. The world now looks upon the inventions
and accomplishments OF those days as but pmy sruggings when com
pared in the light Of the wonderful achievements OF the past five
years. Especially is this SO in those triumPhs OF transportation which
have taken place during the fore part of 1919, in which the forces
Of the air are slowly being conquered and it has been proved that
they no longer will be able to mysily us and battle our efforts any
more than do the ocean currents OF today.
The U. S. Navy seaplane NC-+ flew across the Atlantic ocean
and back again, with a stop at the Azores islands. Captain Alcock
and Lieut.. Brown shortly after this feat made a nonstop trans-At-
lantic flight in a Vckcr-Nimy plane from Newfoundland to England,
when Harry Hawker had failed to make it. This week saw the COM
pleton Of a round trip flight by the English dirgbe R-3A. Thus it
has been demonstrated that the secrets OF the air can now no longer
be secrets, and that it will soon be possible to make trip to Europe
or Hawaii or China via the air route.
To one who has had the opportunity to watch the airmen in their
efforts to conquer the air forces these deeds parake OF the mracul-
Gus. The writer well remembers the frs. long disanc flight that was
attempted. 1t was by Aviator Hamilton, now deceased, who flew
from New York to Philadelphia and return in a Curdss biplane, a
distance of 1872 miles. Crowds waited on the shores OF New York
City to watch for the return of this intrepid airman. The journey
was never completed, because the plane got stuck in the mud about Is
miles from Governors Island where he awas to land. When Curtiss
flew from Albany, N. Y. down the. Hudson River to New York City,
a little over 143 miles, it was considered a wonderful feat. When
Cabranh Rogers flew across the United States from the Atlantic to
the Pacific Coast, the people at the end OF the journey nearly went
wild when they saw his machine coming through the air, but before
Rogers could put his discoveries of the air currents into print the air
took its toll of his life, from a height of $50 feet
Innumcrabc attempts have been made to sail a dirgbe across
the Atlantic Ocean, but not until the R-34 completed her recent trip
has the feasibility Of using dirigbes for long distances been success
fully demonstrated.
Yet 1t took the greatest calamity III the WORLDS history to BRING
this wonderful age about. When one stops and contemplates the
forces which have done this, they are forced to turn again to that
verse from the Psalms: "The Lord works in mysterious ways his won
drs to perform"
1t seems cruel that in order to have achieved these wonders it
should have been necessary for so many to have laid down their lives.
History shows, however, that no progress has ever made without q
sacrifice of human life. We should rejoice that the sacrifice was not
in vain, for by the necessities Of war have we been brought into closer
relation with each other, physically as well as spiritually. BY the
successful conquering Of the air currents over the ocean the peoples
OF the world will be in closer communion, and each to know the other
as it has never been possible for world peoples heretofore to do.